A Surprise Return: The 8500 Series EMU

8637F (8637 side) of Tokyu’s 8500 series EMU at Nagatsuta Station

This may sound sudden, but can you guess where the top photo was taken?

If you’re familiar with Japanese trains, you might say, “Somewhere on the Tokyu Den-en-Toshi Line.” A reasonable guess—but remember that the train in the photo, the 8500 series EMU, was supposed to have been retired from that line in 2022, as I mentioned before.

If you’re an international railfan, you might guess, “Somewhere in Jakarta, since the 8500 series EMUs were transferred to Indonesia.” Also a good guess—but please note that all 8500 series sets there were retired by early 2026.

Or perhaps you’d answer, “Somewhere on a local railway in Japan, since some 8500 series sets were transferred after their retirement from Tokyu.”

Thank you for joining my little quiz.

The answer is: Nagatsuta Station on the Kodomonokuni (Children’s Land) Line. Here’s the story.

All 8500 series EMUs were indeed retired from Tokyu lines by January 2023. However, one set—8637F—has been kept operational so Tokyu can preserve and pass down expertise related to DC motor technology. Its formation has been reduced from 10 cars to 4.

8637F had been “sleeping” for quite a long time, but it finally “awoke,” appearing on the Kodomonokuni Line as an extra train during this year’s spring sightseeing season. As I wrote earlier, the Kodomonokuni Line serves as an access route to the Children’s Land theme park. The line is owned by Yokohama Minatomirai Railway and operated by Tokyu.

When I heard the surprising news about the 8500 series making a comeback, I rushed to the Kodomonokuni Line and confirmed with my own eyes that 8637F was indeed running again.

8637F—long time no see! It’s great to see you back in action.

8637F (8537 side) at Nagatsuta Station on the Kodomonokuni Line

Yamitetsu Part 5: OIMACHI TRACKS

Night view of JR East's railyard from OIMACHI TRACKS

Do you like giant shopping malls?

To be honest, I’m usually not a big fan. Many large malls in the Tokyo metropolitan area are far from major stations and can only be reached by car. Instead, I prefer ekinaka malls—shopping areas located inside stations—because they’re incredibly convenient. I often stop by them when I change trains.

That said, I do have one exception: my favorite large mall, OIMACHI TRACKS.

This new shopping complex sits right next to the JR East Oimachi Station and a railyard (JR East Tokyo General Rolling Stock Center). It opened on March 28 this year, and what makes it truly unique is that visitors can enjoy direct views of the railyard while shopping. It’s absolutely perfect for train enthusiasts.

Today, I’d like to share the nighttime scenery of the railyard from the mall—yes, it’s time for “Yamitetsu,” photographing trains in the dark! Ready to come along?

Please take a look at the photo above. I took it from the observation deck at OIMACHI TRACKS. You can see many trains lined up against the backdrop of the city at night. It’s a beautiful sight.

Most of the trains parked on the sidings are E235 series EMUs operated by JR East. As I mentioned in earlier posts, the E235 series runs on the famous Yamanote Line, one of Tokyo’s busiest commuter routes. Each train has 11 cars, and they run every five minutes even during off-peak hours.

I’ve never been particularly fond of the E235’s design, but I must admit—they look surprisingly beautiful at night. Maybe it’s because their “microwave-oven-like” fronts don’t stand out as much in the dark. Sorry, E235 series… I mean no offense. Thank you for your hard work every day.

Now, please take a look at the photo below.

I took this one from the mall’s pedestrian deck. From here, the trains look even closer. There’s a transparent panel in front of the deck, but I managed to find an angle that still captures the train fronts clearly. I was especially careful to frame the E235 series from the best perspective.

I had a great time enjoying Yamitetsu at OIMACHI TRACKS tonight, and I feel like I’ve grown somewhat fond of the E235 series—more than I expected. Have a good night, everyone.

Night view of the E235 series EMUs

Related link:

• Official information from JR East

The 13th Generation Sounyan Train

Set 11004 of the Sotetsu 11000 series EMU, the 13th generation Sounyan Train

I am happy to share this annual topic with you again this year. On March 16, the 13th generation “Sounyan Train” debuted on the Sagami Railway (Sotetsu) lines.

First, let me briefly introduce Sotetsu and the Sounyan Train.

Sotetsu is a major private railway company based in Yokohama, operating a 44.4-kilometer network in Kanagawa Prefecture. Its lines are double-tracked, electrified at 1,500 V DC, and use a track gauge of 1,067 mm. Since 2019, Sotetsu trains have run through onto JR East lines, and since 2023, onto Tokyu lines as well.

The Sounyan Train is a special train set decorated with Sotetsu’s mascot character, Sounyan. It first appeared in 2014, and its design, both exterior and interior, has been updated every year.

According to the company’s website, Sounyan is a new species of cat who works in public relations as an official employee of Sotetsu. His mission is to help more people learn about the company. To do this, he often appears at events and interacts with visitors. He also writes his own blog and even works as part of a train crew. In the photo above, you can see Sounyan sitting in the driver’s cab, doing his job.

Joking aside, the 13th generation Sounyan Train is assigned to Set 11004 of the 11000 series EMU. The 11000 series entered service in 2009 to replace the aging 5000 and 7000 series. A total of five sets (50 cars) were built by Tokyu Sharyo and JR East’s Niitsu factory. To reduce manufacturing costs, the series shares common technical specifications with JR East’s E233 series.

Finally, let’s take a look at the interior of the 13th generation Sounyan Train (see the photo below). In this design, Sounyan is shown enjoying mamemaki (a bean-throwing ceremony) with his friends, a rabbit and a squirrel. Mamemaki is a traditional event in which people throw roasted soybeans to drive away evil spirits and invite good fortune, shouting, “Demons out, fortune in!”

Sounyan, keep up the good work!

Interior of the 13th generation Sounyan Train

Related Link:

・Official information from Sotetsu (Japanese only)

・Sounyan's official blog (Japanese only)

2026 Rose Season on the Arakawa Line

Toei 8500 series Unit 8502 near Otsuka-ekimae Stop

It is rose season in Tokyo now, and we can see beautiful blossoms in many places. This year, I visited the Toei (Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government) Arakawa Line and enjoyed the roses along the tracks. As a rail fan who loves flowers, it was a perfect place for me.

First, let me briefly introduce the Arakawa Line and its rose history.

Tokyo once had a tram network of 181 km, but most routes were closed because of heavy traffic. The Arakawa Line is a precious survivor, since most of it was built on an exclusive track. It runs between Waseda and Minowabashi, with a total length of 12.2 km. The entire route is double-track. The track gauge is 1,372 mm, and the electric system is 600 V DC.

The Arakawa Line is also known for its roses. Rose planting began in 1985 by Arakawa Ward. Later, Toshima Ward and local volunteers joined, and they have continued planting and taking care of many kinds of roses along the tracks.

Now, let’s stop and smell the roses! Please look at the photo above.

I took it near Otsuka-ekimae Stop. Roses are planted in the narrow space between the tracks and the road, using the fence as support. The deep red roses were in full bloom. When the tramcar slowly passed by, a gentle breeze carried their sweet fragrance. It was wonderful.

Next, please check out the photo below. I took it at Minowabashi Stop, which is a must-visit spot. This year, I photographed a different flower bed from the one I saw eleven years ago. There are so many flowers that the tramcar looks a bit modest. Maybe that is too much to say, since this is a railway blog.

By the way, the tramcar in both photos is Unit 8502 of the 8500 series. It is a mid-sized 13-meter tramcar equipped with Toei’s first VFD traction system and two 60 kW induction motors.

The 8500 series began service in 1990, but production stopped after only five cars because of financial issues in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Finally, I have some news. The first unit of the 8500 series, Unit 8501, was recently refurbished. I am running out of space here, so I will write about it in a future post. Please look forward to it!

Toei 8500 series Unit 8502 at Minowabashi Stop

Reunion with VSE

DeHa 50001 of the Odakyu Romancecar “VSE” at the Romancecar Museum

Do you remember my post about the Romancecar VSE last year? Today, I’d like to share a touching reunion I had with it afterward.

First, let me briefly review what the Romancecar VSE is.

In the Tokyo metropolitan area, several railway companies compete with luxurious express trains as their flagships. One of the most venerable and popular among them is Odakyu Electric Railway’s Romancecar, which runs from central Tokyo to the western suburbs. Odakyu has continued developing new Romancecar models one after another since the 1950s.

Among them, the Romancecar VSE (Vault Super Express) entered service in 2005. Its official designation is the 50000 series EMU. Each VSE set consisted of 10 articulated cars, and only two sets were ever built, both by Nippon Sharyo.

After 18 years in service, the VSE was retired in 2023. What happened to it afterward remained a mystery for a while, although I did spot it in the Kitami and Sagami-Ono railyards, as I posted last December.

Any updates after that?

Thank you for waiting. Please take a look at the photo above. One of the VSE’s front cars, DeHa 50001, has been on display at the Romancecar Museum near Ebina Station since March 19 of this year. Needless to say, I rushed to the museum and enjoyed a heartfelt reunion.

What I especially enjoyed was getting a close look at the VSE’s articulated bogie attached to the end of DeHa 50001 (see the photo below). This ND-735 bogie was also manufactured by Nippon Sharyo. I was able to observe the pneumatic springs positioned above the cylindrical pillars from very close range. To place the body support point close to the vehicle’s center of gravity, the pneumatic suspension sits about one meter higher than that of ordinary bogies.

Although it’s truly sad to see the VSE retired, I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn so much from the exhibit. Thank you, Romancecar VSE, for all your years of hard work. Please enjoy your well-earned rest.

ND-735 articulated bogie for DeHa 50001

Related Link

・Official information from the Romancecar Museum (Japanese only)