290 kph on a train

Submitted: Friday, Apr 15, 2005 at 20:53

ThreadID: 22096 Views:1749 Replies:8 FollowUps:5

This Thread has been Archived

Bob of KAOS

The Japs may not be much chop at making cars but they sure can make trains and dunnies.
Sitting in the Shinkansen doing 290 kph is a great way of getting from A to B. I reckon we should have one running from the Sunshine Coast all the way south to Melb, then across to Adelaide. Bris to Syd would take 3 hrs, which is about what the plane takes by the time you frig around getting to the airport etc. Will this happen? No - the pollies are too gutless.
The greatest blast was sitting on the platform at Himeji when one of these mothers came hootin through on the centre tracks doing 250 kph plus.Unbelievable.
The dunnies here are also very interesting, and I only raise this subject because it is close to the hearts of bush travellers. The simplest ones are just a porcelain trough in the ground that you squat over - just like home but no shovel required. The flasher variety have heated seats@and a control panel set into the arm restBIf you press the `bum` icon a little arm swings out from somewhere under the seat (I`m too scared to look) and shoots warm water like from a Karcher at the freckle. The pressure is adjustable. If you press the icon with a shieler on it the old dusters get the same treatment. Nice. And vey hygienic too I imagine.
Anyway, I`m looking forward to bush trips in May and July.

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Bob of KAOS - Friday, Apr 15, 2005 at 21:00

Friday, Apr 15, 2005 at 21:00

I meant to say that the Magellan Map 330 with world wide basemap uploaded has been VERY handy. Firstly, making sure the plane stayed on track, and checking out the rivers in Papua New Guinea. Secondly, giving us a clue as to where we are in Japan, and how fast we are going at the time.

AnswerID: 106955

Reply By: PerthGQ - Friday, Apr 15, 2005 at 21:08

Friday, Apr 15, 2005 at 21:08

G'day Bob, I agree with you on the Shinkansen, I've done it a few times between Osaka andTokyo and it's never boring. Amazing the speed that the other train passes you in the opposite direction, and every 15 minutes! You hope to bloody hell they've got the points switched the right way!

The best dunnies in the world I reckon. love to have one in the house but then we do have water restrictions, at least for non-government dwellings any way.

Regards..Keith

AnswerID: 106961

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 08:08

Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 08:08

Bob, I have never been on a train in Japan but I did enjoy the Paris to Amstrerdam trip nearly four years ago. It was fantastic til we reached the Belgian border where the train slowed to a more conventional pace. Seeing the trucks going backwards at high speed was fantastic when we running parallel to a major highway at 300kph.

In Australia we seem to have the visions to do something about it but the environmentalists then see pristine rubbish everywhere and we can't get it off the gound.

French dunnies of course don't change much to here except they seem to be both genders some times, and sometimes pay-as-you-go. Haven't got used to their bidets yet for the warm Karcher up the Kyber on any regular basis

AnswerID: 106987

Reply By: Member - Peter A (VIC) - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 11:18

Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 11:18

Hi Bob,
Yeah mate I am working here in Japan offshore out of Hachinohe and last year as well, bloody cold but as you said it nice to sit on the heated dunny seats and yep the bullet train sure does get up and go, also great beer over here, pitty about the cold weather.
Rather be in the outback any day, and sorry mate they do make great cars espeically Prado's

Cheers Peter A

AnswerID: 107088

Reply By: Member Eric - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 11:31

Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 11:31

The Japs may not be much chop at making cars

you serious ?

AnswerID: 107090

Follow Up By: Redback - Monday, Apr 18, 2005 at 10:25

Monday, Apr 18, 2005 at 10:25

Deadly serious !!!

FollowupID: 364159

Follow Up By: Penguin (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2005 at 10:26

Wednesday, Apr 20, 2005 at 10:26

Oh come now Baz! I'll put my...no, make it Mick's L/C up against your Disco any day.

Really, what you're doing is trying what the US and UK have to offer before settling down like a mature adult with a Jap 4WD. Now, tell the truth!

FollowupID: 364397

Reply By: Member - Chrispy (NSW) - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 11:36

Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 11:36

Bob - I lived in Japan for a while (just over a year all up) back in 1974 and 1978. The Shinkansens were amazing - even back then. I remember only the "Hikari" (light) and the "Kodama" (sound) and not the newer "Nozomi" (faster than light ?? :) ).

I also remember that given the distances travelled, you could literally set your watch by the timetable - they always arrived on time - nearly to the second. amazing stuff. I reckon our train bods could learn plenty a lesson from the japanese on how to run a railway.

AnswerID: 107091

Follow Up By: BenSpoon - Monday, Apr 18, 2005 at 19:06

Monday, Apr 18, 2005 at 19:06

Apparently some of our WA train drivers are already testing the system here... Just no one told them that the train nor tracks were developed for the speed they pushed them to. (2x separate train derailments in one day, both exceeding stated section speed limits, on the same line as each other)

FollowupID: 364238