Extra Rare Train on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line

Set 9109 (8-car train) of the EMU Tokyo Metro 9000 series 

It's fun for me to find rare trains on railway tracks as a trainspotter. No matter how painful things are, rare trains make me happy. Trainspotters are carefree people, aren't they? I’m going to show you a surefire topic for old-school trainspotters like me today.

The subway Tokyo Metro Namboku line penetrates Tokyo Metropolis from south to north. Connecting Meguro and Akabane-iwabuchi, the total operating length is 21.3 kilometers. Many trains are directly operated onto the Tokyu-Meguro, Saitama Railway and other lines. In addition to that, the section between Meguro and Shirokane-takanawa is shared with the Toei (Tokyo Metropolitan Government) Mita line.

To operate the Namboku line on timetable, 23 train-sets in total should be provided by Tokyo Metro. They all look the 6-car trains, but there is one train-set of exception if you observe them carefully. That's Set 9109 of the EMU 9000 series, which is composed of 8 cars. You can confirm it, if you count the number of air-conditioners installed on the roofs of the train (see the photo below). Set 9109 was originally built in 1995 as a 6-car train. Two new cars were then added to this train-set, and it became an 8-car train in 2023. According to Tokyo Metro, 14 more train-sets will be changed from 6 to 8 cars to increase transport capacity; however, I haven't heard from Tokyo Metro recently. As a result, Set 9109 is now an extra rare train-set consisting of 8 cars. It’s really fun for me to perceive a fine difference between these trains.

Set 9109 (8-car train) travels on the Tokyu-Meguro line

Revisit to the Point of Interest in Kobe City

EMU Kobe Municipal Subway 6000 series arrives at Sannomiya station

I visited Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture for the first time in a while. It was a travel, which I tried to trace my memory.

Let me review Kobe City to start. Kobe is the main city of Hyogo Prefecture, about 600 kilometers west of Tokyo. The population is about 1.5 million. It was opened as a trading port city in 1868. After opening of Kobe Port, many foreigners migrated into this city, and generated Ijingai (a foreign settlement), which is the current popular sightseeing spot.

I revisited Kazamidori-no-yakata (Weathercock House) in Ijingai for the first time in 11 years. This mansion was built by German trading merchant, Gottfried Thomas in 1904. When I visited there in 2013, I saw many sightseers, but it was very quiet this time. Why? Because, the building was under renovation in order to boost the strength against earthquakes. I could observe a beautifully illuminated exterior instead, oh well.

To get to Weathercock House, the nearest railway station is Shin-Kobe on the Seishin-Yamate line of Kobe Municipal Subway. When I took this line in the past, the oldest model, namely the EMU 1000 series, was still being operated, but this time, I couldn’t find it anymore. I came across the latest model, the EMU 6000 series, instead. The 6000 series was commissioned in 2019 replacing the EMU 1000, 2000 series and the others. I didn't know any acquaintances on the Seishin-Yamanote line. I couldn't keep up with the flow of time.

Kazamidori-no-yakata (Weathercock House) near Shin-Kobe station

Preserved Locomotive in Nirasaki City

Electric locomotive JNR EF15 198 is preserved in Nirasaki Central Park

Happy New Year! The year 2025 has begun. I wish all railfans around the world health and happiness over this festive period and for 2025. At the opening of New Year, I’m going to show you a beautifully preserved locomotive in Nirasaki Central Park, Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture about 150 kilometers west of Tokyo.

The Class EF15 is a 1,500V direct current electric locomotive with an axis arrangement 1C+C1 (AAR wheel arrangement). It was developed by Ministry of Transport in 1947 for pulling freight trains. A total of 202 units were built, but currently only 4 units are preserved in the country. The EF15 is 17 meters long, and weighs 102 tons. The maximum speed was 75 kilometers per hour. Unit 198 (see the top photo) was built by Toyo Denki and Kisha Seizo in 1958. After operating for 28 years on the Japanese National Railways (JNR) lines, it was retired from the track in 1986 as the final survivor of the EF15. Its total driving distance was 2.12 million kilometers. Please compare with the Class EF57, which I showed you last November.

I’m not done yet. Please look at the photo below next. You can see 4 freight cars behind Unit 198. They are 3 open wagons named ToRa70000, and a caboose Yo5000.  ToRa70000 was JNR’s standard open wagon. A total of 5100 units were built, but currently only 13 units survive. ToRa701 and ToRa702 on the Mojiko Retro Sightseeing line are precious survivors of the JNR ToRa70000 after renovation.

Caboose JNR Yo5000 and open wagons JNR ToRa70000

Merry Christmas, the Inokashira Line

"Merry Cristmas, Inokashira" plate on the front of the EMU Keio 1000 series

Following the “Merry Christmas” tramcar on the Toei-Arakawa line, I’m going to show you the other “Merry Christmas” train in Tokyo today.

I found Keio Electric Railway displaying a special plate on their train during the Christmas season. Please look at the photos. It’s Set 1729 of the EMU 1000 series. Set 1729 is a rare train on the Inokashira line. This unique set has a white colored front mask with a rainbow-colored stripe on the side body of the train. It was built by Tokyu Sharyo in 2009. The original front color was bluish green, but, was changed to white in 2012 to make it be a flagship train on the Inokashira line. Designed posters of several scenic spots on the line, such as Inokashira Park and Kanda River, are displayed on the body of this train. After looking a special rounded plate on the front of the train the other day, I was excited about enjoying this year’s Christmas. I then tried to shoot it at my favorite railway crossing near Higashi-Matsubara station, where we can get a forward lighting condition in the afternoon.

Incidentally, the Inokashira line is Keio's short commuter route connecting Shibuya and Kichijoji. Its line length is 12.7 kilometers. The track is 1,067 mm-size double. The electric system is 1,500 V DC. The EMU 1000 series is the sole model on the line. The commercial operation of the 1000 series started in 1996, as the first 20-meters long body train on the line.

Displaying "Merry Christmas" plate, Set 1729 travels on the Inokashira line

Merry Christmas, the Arakawa Line

Tramcar, Unit 9002 of the Toei 9000 series, displays "Merry Christmas" plate

Merry Christmas! How are you spending the Christmas holidays this year? Christmas is a religious event in many countries around the world, but Japanese people treat Christmas as a kind of entertainment. For instance, people enjoy Christmas lights, also known as winter illuminations, here and there in Tokyo.

Now, let's head to the main topic. I found that a tramcar on the Toei-Arakawa line is displaying special decorations during the Christmas season same as previous years. Please look at the photos. That’s so cute! This tramcar is Unit 9002 of the Toei 9000 series. The 9000 series is the retro-inspired model, which was commissioned in 2007. A total of 2 units were built by Aluna Sharyo. Each unit has a different body color, namely brownish-red (Unit 9001) and indigo-blue (Unit 9002). The electric control system is an IGBT-VVVF (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor-variable frequency drive) with two 60KW induction motors. Although the technical specification of the 9000 series is modernized, the exterior design and interior atmosphere of this model remains nostalgic. That's what's fun about it.

Incidentally, the Toei-Arakawa line is a precious survivor of the tram route in Tokyo. It’s operated by Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Toei). This tramline was once operated as two routes, named Routes 27 and 32; however, they were merged into one route, namely the Arakawa line, in 1974. Connecting Waseda and Minowabashi, its operating length is 12.2 kilometers. The track is 1,372 millimeters dual-gauge. The electric system is 600V DC.

Side view of tramcar Unit 9002 with Christmas decorations

Official information about the Christmas decoration of Unit 9002 by Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (in Japanese):

https://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/pickup_information/news/toden/2024/tdn_i_2024112911794_h.html