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.
