Inspection car, the EMU Tokyu 7500 series, "TOQi", is exhibited in Nagatsuta rail yard
Autumn is the season of railways in Japan. It was originated from the inauguration of Japan's first railway that was completed on October 14th in 1872. In commemoration of this special day, the Japanese Government designated October 14th as Railway Day in 1994. Since then, many railway companies have started to hold special events in autumn such as rail yard tours and/or special memorial train operations.
This year, I joined the rail yard tour of Tokyu Railways held in their Nagatsuta rail yard on November 10th. I saw many families with small children, young couples and rail fans like me in the yard, which is normally closed to the public. My desired train was TOQi, whose formal name is the EMU 7500 series. TOQi is the inspection cars for the Tokyu lines. It can inspect all Tokyu lines except the Setagaya line. Targets of the inspection are tracks, overhead wires, signal safety facilities and train radio systems.
TOQi was built in 2012 by Tokyu Sharyo to replace the old inspection train named the EMU 7200 series. TOQi is a 2-car train consisting of two motor cars (2M), DeYa 7500 and DeYa 7550. Each car has an 18 meter-long body. Its technical specifications are similar with those of the commuter train, the EMU 7000 series. I was very impressive that TOQi has a special roof for overhead wire observation. Not only the mechanical measurement of the trolley wire abrasion, visual inspection is also conducted by Tokyu engineers.
To be continued...
This year, I joined the rail yard tour of Tokyu Railways held in their Nagatsuta rail yard on November 10th. I saw many families with small children, young couples and rail fans like me in the yard, which is normally closed to the public. My desired train was TOQi, whose formal name is the EMU 7500 series. TOQi is the inspection cars for the Tokyu lines. It can inspect all Tokyu lines except the Setagaya line. Targets of the inspection are tracks, overhead wires, signal safety facilities and train radio systems.
TOQi was built in 2012 by Tokyu Sharyo to replace the old inspection train named the EMU 7200 series. TOQi is a 2-car train consisting of two motor cars (2M), DeYa 7500 and DeYa 7550. Each car has an 18 meter-long body. Its technical specifications are similar with those of the commuter train, the EMU 7000 series. I was very impressive that TOQi has a special roof for overhead wire observation. Not only the mechanical measurement of the trolley wire abrasion, visual inspection is also conducted by Tokyu engineers.
To be continued...
Area for overhead wire observation on the EMU Tokyu 7500 series, "TOQi"
Official information about TOQi (in Japanese):
Official information about the trains on the Tokyu lines (in Japanese):