Steve Branton sent this to me:
I am spending about 3 weeks per month in Japan these days. Cuts into my modeling time, but I do get to ride a lot of trains.
Bob, I enjoyed checking out your prototype photos today. I found this interesting track work on the JR (Japan Railways) East's line in Tokyo. I thought you would like to see it. It appears to be an expansion joint. It is snowing on the day I took this. JR's regular lines are narrow gage electric lines and quite packed at rush hour. This was a Saturday and I was running around taking pictures of some of my favoriate gardens in the snow.
Enjoy,
Steve