103 SERIES TRAIN SETS

The venerable 103 series was manufactured for 21 years beginning in the late 1960s; more than 3,400 units were built. Originally introduced for the Yamanote Line, the train sets eventually spread to other systems all over Japan.

Eishindo's 103 Series is their first production train set, representing the following Japan Railway lines:

• 001 West JR Osaka Loop Line (orange)
• 002 West JR Hanwa Line (sky blue)
• 003 West JR Kansai Line (yellow-green with yellow stripe)
• 004 West JR Fukuchiyama Line (canary yellow)
• 005 East JR Chuo Line (orange)
• 006 East JR Keihin Tohoku Line (sky blue)
• 007 East JR Yamanote Line (yellow-green)
• 008 East JR Sobu Line (canary yellow)
• 009 East JR Narita Line (emerald green)

Note the subtle distinctions between trains of the same color:

Except for color and lettering, the various sets are all identical, consisting of four cars, two powered and two non-powered. The powered cars are located in the middle of the train; this allows the non-powered cars to contain reversing headlights. Note that the literature which comes with the sets makes reference to a "6 car (expansion) set" to make trains of different configurations, which has never been released.

The wheels of the powered cars are magnetized so as to grip the steel track for traction as well as power pickup. This is really the secret to how T Gauge trains function: they are otherwise far too lightweight to pull themselves along the track, let alone pull other cars or even stay on the track, for that matter.

The train sets come with spare etched stainless steel pantographs (below, left), plus a bending tool (below, right) to shape them before installation. Also included are optional pilot detail parts (below, center).

Modelers have a choice of coupler style to use. The train set comes fitted with miniaturized Arnold-Rapido style couplers, plus a packet containing optional "hook and loop" style couplers. Switching coupler type requires transferring the tiny spring on the coupler shank from one type to the other.