Electric Locomotive Class EF210-300

EL JR Freight Class EF210-300 travels on the Nambu Branch line

I recently introduced you to passenger trains every time, but feel like doing something different. Do you remember the electric locomotive (EL) Class EF210, which I showed you eight years ago in this blog? I'm going to introduce some more about this EL today.

The Class EF210 is one of Japan Freight's EL fleets for 1,067mm gauge. It was launched in 1996 to replace an old EL, Class EF65. A total of 146 units were built by Mitsubishi Electric and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The Class EF210 is a 1,500V direct current EL with an axis arrangement Bo-Bo-Bo (UIC notation). It has six induction motors with a VVVF inverter (variable frequency drive) control system. Its total power output is 3,390kW. Pulling a total of 1,300-ton cargo container wagons, it can travel with a maximum speed of 110 kilometers per hour.

I'm going to introduce the Class EF210-300, a special group of the EF210 family, today. The EF210-300 debuted in 2013 as a pusher EL that temporarily assists a train that requires additional power to climb a gradient section. For that purpose, the EF210-300 has a large buffer behind the cow catcher. For rail-fans, it's easy to recognize that the EF210-300 (see the top photo) has yellow-colored body stripes; meanwhile, the standard EF210 (see the photo below) has white-colored body stripes. More importantly, the EF210-300 is a specialist, but can also operate on the standard sections with the same performance as the standard EF210. The Class EF 210-300 is versatile.

EL JR Freight Class EF210-100 (standard type) travels on the Nambu Branch line

Q-SEAT Car on the Toyoko Line

Red-colored "Q-Seat Cars" are connected with the EMU Tokyu 5050-4000 series 

Tokyu Railways recently started "Q-SEAT Car" operation on the Toyoko line. I'm going to introduce this topic to you today.

What's Q-SEAT Car? It's a reserved seat car on the Tokyu lines. Japanese workers are very busy. They sometimes need something before getting home as a treat for themselves, but their journey home is hard because urban commuter trains are packed on most of the lines. That's a background to urban-type reserved seat trains appearing. Q-SEAT Car has multi-purpose seats, which the conductor can change from long seats to cross seats using a remote-control system. The cross-seat mode is applied when it's provided as a reserved seat car during rush hour. Tokyu first introduced Q-SEAT Car on the Oimachi line in 2018, then expanded it on the Toyoko line this year. Two Q-SEAT Cars are coupled within a 10-car train on the Toyoko line. The train with Q-Seat Cars is operated from Shibuya, a subcenter of Tokyo Metropolis, to Motomachi-Chukagai in Yokohama City. The operating interval is every 30 minutes in the evening. The fee for a seat reservation is 500 yen (3.4 USD).

Incidentally, the rolling stock used for Q-SEAT Car on the Toyoko line is the Class SaHa 4400 and DeHa 4500 of the EMU 5050-4000 series. The 5050-4000 series is a 10-car train group of the EMU 5050 series. The standard car has red and pink-colored stripes; meanwhile, Q-SEAT Car has a plain red-colored body. Q-SEAT Car is a relaxing train for hard workers in the metropolitan area.

Interior of the Q-SEAT car (long seat mode), the EMU Tokyu 5050-4000 series

Vegetable Juice Factory on the JR East Chuo Line

EMU JR East 211 series arrives at Fujimi station on the Chuo line

It's already late September, but the lingering summer heat is still intense in Tokyo. I evacuated from the urban heat island, and headed to a cool highland in Nagano Prefecture with my family. Our destination was a vegetable juice factory, which is located about 1,000 meters above sea level. We joined a guided factory tour, and viewed vast vegetable farms. It was very interesting to observe the almost fully-automated manufacturing process of vegetable juice. After enjoying the tour, we had a delicious lunch at a restaurant, and bought a bunch of vegetables and juices at a shop attached to the factory.

To get to this highland factory, the nearest station is Fujimi on the JR East Chuo line. Our vehicle was a local train, the EMU 211 series. This model was developed by Japanese National Railways in 1985. It has a bit of an outdated field excitation electric control system, but we must not forget that the 211 series has realized a large amount of operating cost reduction using its regenerative braking system. The 211 series took over the elder 115 series on the Chuo line in 2015, because the 115 series had deteriorated. A total of 50 sets, 192 units, have been moved from the Utsunomiya, Takasaki, and Tokaido lines. The 211 series has a stainless-steel body with light blue and emerald-colored stripes, which is called the Nagano-color among railfans. Long time no see, the 211 series!

I enjoyed both the highland factory and the local trains in Nagano Prefecture.

Entrance of the vegetable juice factory near Fujimi station on the JR East Chuo line

Multi-colored Train on the Senseki Line

Set M4 of the JR East 205-3100 series travels on the Senseki line

There are more topics to post on my early summer trip to Sendai City. I'm going to show you a multi-colored train on the JR East Senseki line today.

To start, let me review the Senseki line. It's one of the main commuting arteries in the Sendai area. Connecting Aoba-dori, the city center of Sendai, and Ishinomaki, the second largest city in Miyagi Prefecture; the total route length is 52 kilometers. It carries an average of 20,000 passengers per day.

Now, let's head to the main topic. The EMU 205-3100 series is the representative train on the Senseki line. It had been operated on the Yamanote and Saikyo lines in Tokyo under the name of the 205-0 series, but was transferred to the Senseki line in 2002. Before the relocation, they were renovated. For example, brakes and door systems were modified to snow and cold-resistant ones, and renamed the EMU 205-3100 series. A total of 17 sets, 68 units, are currently operated on the line.

Most of the 205-3100 series trains have blue-colored stripes, but 3 sets have multi-colored bodies. Please look at the photos. It's a 4-car train, set M4. The one leading car has a light-green-colored body; meanwhile, another leading car has a dark-pink-colored body. These colors stand for the forest in Sendai City (light green) and the azalea blossoms in Ishinomaki City (dark pink) respectively. The other two middle cars have orange and purple-colored bodies. As a railfan, there's nothing happier than to see a train unique to a local city.

Another leading car of set M4 has dark-pink colored body.

Early Summer Trip to Sendai City: Part 3

EMU JR East E721-0 (left) and E721-1000 series (right) stand at Sakunami station

Do you remember that I made a short trip to Sendai City in June of this year? Three months have already passed, but I would like to show you some more memories of my trip today.

When I walked around the whisky distillery near Sakunami station, I found that many plants in the site looked blackened. Please look at the photo below. Was it my optical illusion? After joining a guided distillery tour, I confirmed that it wasn't my optical illusion. According to the guide, those blackened plants were adhered by whiskey yeast. The yeast was leaked from the distillery building. I was surprised that whiskey distillery is blended with nature around there.

Well, I can't be written off here as this is a railway blog. Taking this opportunity, I'm going to show you two kinds of alternate current trains, namely the EMU E721-0 and the E721-1000 series, standing at Sakunami station on the JR East Senzan line. Please look at the top photo. Can you spot the difference between these two trains?

The answer is as follows. The E721-0 series (left) has green and red-colored body stripes; while, the E721-1000 series (right) has green and pink-colored stripes. Was it a piece of cake? Apart from that, one set of the E721-0 series is composed of 2 cars; while, the E721-1000 series consists of 4 cars. Driver-only operation is possible using the E721-0 series; while, the E721-1000 series has to carry a conductor. Finding such subtle differences between trains is the greatest pleasure for trainspotters like me.

Plants in the whiskey distillery site look blackened

Spot the Difference: Tobu 50070 and 50050 Series

EMU Tobu 50070 series travels on the Tokyu-Toyoko line.

I have already uploaded nearly 1,700 posts in this blog. I thought that all kinds of the existing trains in Tokyo had already been introduced to you here, but it was not true. I recently found that I haven't shown you some more models yet. The introduction to trains in Tokyo is almost endless. Today, I'm going to show you the EMU Tobu 50070 series for the first time. You may think that it's the same as the other Tobu trains such as the 50050 series, which I showed you before. Let's give it a shot. Can you spot the difference between the 50070 series (the top photo) and the 50050 series (the photo below)?

Was it a piece of cake for you? The answer is "the LED displays on the front". The 50070 series has full color LED displays, which can make white-colored light. On the other hand, the 50050 series has conventional LED displays, which can't make white-colored light.

For your information, the 50070 series was launched in 2007 for the direct operation between the Tobu, Tokyo Metro-Yurakucho, Tokyo Metro-Fukutoshin, Tokyu-Toyoko and Yokohohama-Minaomirai lines. On the other hand, the 50050 series was launched in 2006 for the direct operation between the Tobu, Tokyo Metro-Hanzomon and Tokyu-Denentoshi lines. The 50070 and 50050 series are also known as the brothers of the 50000 and 50090 series, which I showed you before in this blog.

It's fun for me to perceive a fine difference between these trains as a trainspotter.

EMU Tobu 50050 series travels on the Tobu line.

Trains in Yokohama City: 2023 Update

“Yokohama DeNA Baystars” train travels on the Tokyu-Toyoko line

What are the most popular sports where you live? In Japan, baseball and football are the two most popular sports across the country. Yokohama City is no exception. A professional baseball and a professional football team are based in this large city. To promote sport and sport watching, two professional sport teams currently tie-up with railway companies.

Let's see examples. The top photo is "Yokohama DeNA Baystars" train of Yokohama Minatomirai Railway. Yokohama DeNA Baystars is a professional baseball team based in the city. This team plays games at Yokohama Stadium near Nihon-Odori station on the Minatomirai line. To promote the game watching, Yokohama Minatomirai Railway operates the special poster train from March 27th using set Y515 of the EMU Y500 series. You can see large photos of popular players belonging to Yokohama DeNA Baystars on the side bodies of this train. This poster train is directly operated onto the Tokyu-Toyoko, Tokyo Metro-Fukutoshin, Tobu-Tojo and the Seibu-Ikebukuro lines.

On the other hand, the photo below is "F. Marinos Sport Park" train on the Keikyu line. F. Marinos is a professional football team based in the city. This team recently opened rental futsal (5-man football) grounds, rental meeting rooms and a restaurant in F. Marinos Sport Park near Kurihama station on the Keikyu line. To promote this sport park, Keikyu operated the special poster train from June 5th to August 6th using set 2133 of the EMU 2100 series. F. Marinos's team colors, namely red blue and white, very much fit the train.

"F. Marinos Sport Park" train travels on the Keikyu line

Official information, the design of "Yokohama DeNA Baystars" train (in Japanese):

https://www.mm21railway.co.jp/info/news/uploads/YOKOHAMA%20DeNA%20BAYSTARS%20TRAIN%202023.pdf

Official information, "F. Marinos Sport Park" train (in Japanese):

https://www.keikyu.co.jp/company/news/2023/20230530HP_23020TE.html

Preserved Subway Train in Toshima Ward

12-001 of the EMU Toei 12-000 series is preserved in Chihaya Flower Park

Do you remember that I enjoyed strolling around Kachidoki station on the subway Ooedo line last month? After posting it, I had a feeling I was forgetting to introduce some more on the Ooedo line. I finally remembered! That's a unique prototype train before inauguration of the Ooedo line.

The Ooedo line was opened in 1991 as the first subway line applying the linear motor technology in Tokyo. Before applying this advanced technology, the subway operator, namely the Transportation Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Toei), introduced a prototype train, and repeated test runs in their Magome railyard. That prototype train is set 12-001 of the EMU Toei 12-000 series. Set 12-001 was built by Tokyu Sharyo in 1986. It's composed of one motorcar (12-002) and one trailer (12-001). It has stainless-steel bodies with a magenta-colored stripe. Initially, set 12-001 was built as a standard motor train, but modified to the linear motor train in 1987. That's because the linear motor technology was developing quickly at that time. After one year of test runs, Toei decided to construct the Ooedo line as a linear motor subway line.

What happened to set 12-001 after that? It was not operated as a commercial train on the Ooedo line, and retired from the track in 1988. It was then transferred to Toshima Ward in 1991, and preserved in Chihaya Flower Park. Visitors can freely observe this precious prototype train during the daytime. I would like to thank everyone involved in preserving set 12-001.

Hydrangea flowers and the preserved prototype train in Chihaya Flower Park 

Official information about Chihaya Flower Park (auto translation):

https://www.city.toshima.lg.jp/340/shisetsu/koen/056.html

The 90th Anniversary of the Inokashira Line

Set 1729 of the EMU Keio 1000 series travels on the Inokashira line

On August 1st, 2023, Keio Corporation celebrated the 90th anniversary of their Inokashira line. In commemoration, Keio is displaying a memorial plate on the train set 1729 of the EMU 1000 series.

Let me review the Inokashira line. It's a 12.7-kilometer-long commuter route in the western part of Tokyo Metropolis. The track is 1,067 millimeter-size double. The electric system is 1,500 V DC with overhead catenaries. 5-car trains, named EMU 1000 series, is the sole model on the line. The Inokashira line was partially opened from Shibuya to Inokashira-koen in 1933, and fully opened to Kichijoji in 1934 by Teito Electric Railway, which was an Odakyu group company. The owner of the Inokashira line was transferred to Keio after WWII.

I was born in a residential area on the Inokashira line, and have been witnessing the history of this commuter route. There were some empty lots beside the track when I was a kid. I often played baseball there with my friends and the balls sometimes got inside the track. I can't see such empty lots anymore. Luggage trains were operated when I was a kid. The railway employees sometimes gave me a ride, but I missed such special opportunities anymore, because luggage trains were abolished. Green-colored passenger trains with a nose suspension driving system were operated when I was a kid. Its gargle running sound was definitely my favorite, but those trains were replaced by the modern 1000 series with a soft sound. Time really flies.

The 90th anniversary plate, the Inokashira line

2023 Summer Memories: Izusan Fireworks

EMU JR East E257-2000 series without gangway stands at Atami station yard.

My stay in Atami City had passed quickly and the day to go home had arrived. Before leaving, I visited Izusan in the eastern part of the city to enjoy local fireworks. Japanese people have a love of fireworks and I'm also one of them. Fireworks add a sort of poetic charm to the summer season. Izusan Fireworks is no exception. It's just a small-scale local event, but held twice this year, because COVID-19 calmed down. About 3,000 fireworks were set off on the coast. They were gorgeous and well programmed. I fully enjoyed Japan's summer features.

Well, I can't be written off here as this is a railway blog. Taking this opportunity, I'm going to show you the EMU JR East E257-2000 series standing at a detention line of Atami station yard. I introduced this model twice in this blog, but this is the first time to show you "a leading car without gangway". I'm very happy to perceive this kind of fine difference among the trains as a trainspotter.

Incidentally, the E257-2000 series is a renovated model. It was originally commissioned in 2001 under the name of the E257 series, and mainly used for a limited express train, "Kaiji" on the Chuo main line. 19 years later, the decrepit E257 series revived under the new name of the E257-2000 series. A total of 117 units were remodeled by JR East Nagano and Akita factories. The E257-2000 series is currently operated as a limited express train, "Odoriko" via Atami station.

Izusan Fireworks