A Small Topic on the Yokosuka Line

Automatic ticket gate number 4 is temporarily closed at Kamakura station

I recently visited Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture with my family. I was supposed to enjoy some pure sightseeing without any activities as a rail-fan, if I hadn't found that. What's "that"?

To start, let me quickly review Kamakura City. It's located about 50 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, and a historic city where the Shogunate government was located from 1185 to 1333. There are many old shrines and temples in the city, so, a lot of holidaymakers including inbound tourists flock to the historic areas. The starting point for sightseers is Kamakura station on the JR East-Yokosuka line.

Let's get down to the main topic. When we were just about to pass through the automatic ticket gates at Kamakura station, I found that one of the gates was temporarily closed. What had happened? There was a notice in front of the gate, saying both in Japanese and English... "Swallows are raising children. Watch over them warmly until they leave the nest". There were illustrations of swallows as well in the notice. I then looked up at the ceiling of the station building, and found a swallow nest and a family! The father bird often took off for food hunting. What a hard-working bird it is! I understood that the station attendants worried that the swallows might crap on passengers' heads. What kind station attendants they are! The swallows' father and mother... good luck parenting!

Before I realized it, an hour had passed at the railway station. Was it an activity as a rail-fan?

A swallow's nest just above the automatic ticket gate

Official information about the Kamakura station building (in Japanese):

https://www.jred.co.jp/projects/p031.html

Rose Train on the Toyo Rapid Line

Set 2011 of the EMU Toyo Rapid 2000 series, "Toyo Rose Train"

Following cherry blossoms and azaleas, many kinds of flowers paint the ground in the metropolitan area. Roses are also must-see flowers in this season. I recently visited Keisei Rose Garden on the Toyo Rapid line, and admired the colorful blossoms as well as the sweet fragrances.

Let me quickly review the Toyo Rapid line. It was opened in 1996 by Toyo Rapid Railway Company as a new commuter route in the western part of Chiba Prefecture. Connecting Nishi-Funabashi and Toyo-Katsutadai, the operating length is 16.2 kilometers. The entire route is a double track. The electric system is 1,500 V DC with overhead catenaries. Most of the trains are directly operated onto the subway, Tokyo Metro-Tozai line.

I found that a special plate was displayed on the front of a Toyo Rapid train, Set 2011 of the EMU 2000 series. It was the seasonal campaign to promote tourism to Keisei Rose Garden. The plate has my favorite design and colors... beautiful! For your information, the EMU 2000 series is Toyo Rapid Railway's sole model on the line. It was commissioned in 2004 to replace the old model, the 1000 series. 11 sets, 110 cars in total, were built by Hitachi. The 2000 series has almost the same technical specifications as those of the Tokyo Metro 05 series.

It may be that you want to ask me, "How was your visit to Keisei Rose Garden?" Sorry, I'm running short of space in this post. Please review my previous post in 2013.

Special plate of the Toyo Rose Train

Official information about the Toyo Rose Train (in Japanese):

https://www.toyokosoku.co.jp/wp/images/20240422release.pdf

Early Summer on the Keikyu Line

The EMU Keikyu 1500 series and Tokyo Bay 

It's late May already. Sunlight is strong and the maximum daytime temperature reaches 25 degrees Celsius in the metropolitan area. Air conditioners have been turned on in most of the commuter trains. I recently visited a train viewing spot, which is known to those in the know.

Please look at the top photo. You can see a red-colored train backed by blue sea. The train is the EMU Keikyu 1500 series. The blue sea is Tokyo Bay. You can also see a green-colored offshore island named Sarushima (Monkey Island). Next, please look at the photo below. That is a photo shooting in another direction. The train is the EMU Keikyu 2100 series. You can also see a residential area backed by a green hill. I would be happy if you could feel the early summer atmosphere from my photos.

This viewing spot is located in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, about 60 kilometers southwest of the city center of Tokyo. To get to this scenic spot, the nearest railway station is Horinouchi on the Keikyu line. It takes about 50 minutes from Shinagawa, a subcenter of Tokyo, by a limited express train. Then, it takes about 10 minutes from the station by walking. After passing through a quiet residential area, steep stairs appeared in front of me. The stairs led to the top of the green hill. I slightly flinched, but once I climbed up, I could feel a comfortable wind, and saw the breathtaking scenery even in an urban residential area you can find anywhere.

The EMU Keikyu 2100 series and a green hill near Horinouchi station 

The 25th Anniversary of the Tama Monorail Line

Set 1113 of the EMU Tama Monorail 1000 series, the 25th anniversary train

I visited the Tama Monorail line for the first time in two years. What's new with this urban commuter monorail line?

To start, let me quickly review the Tama Monorail line. It's a commuter route in the western part of Tokyo Metropolis. The route was opened in 1998, and penetrates the Tama region from south to north. Connecting Tama Center and Kamikitadai stations, its operating length is 16.0 kilometers. A straddle-beam system is adopted. The track is double and the electric system is 1,500 V DC. 4-car trains, named the EMU 1000 series, are operated every 6 to 10 minutes. 16 sets in total of the 1000 series trains were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi.

Let's get down to the main topic. I found that Tama Monorail Company celebrated the 25th anniversary of the monorail line last year. In commemoration, the company operates the anniversary train until January 10th, 2025. We can see the celebratory plate on the front of the anniversary train. Moreover, there are stickers of Tama Monorail's mascot character, named Tamao, on the side bodies. According to the company's website, Tamao is an editorial staff of the information magazine, named Tamamono, on the Tama Monorail line. He joined the company in 2021, but I couldn't find any other information about him.  Judging from its feature, Tamao is a male cat. I'd like to learn more about him to become his friend. Joking aside, congratulations on the 25th anniversary of the Tama Monorail line!

The 25th anniversary sticker

2024 Azalea Season on the Yamanote Line

EMU JR East E235 series arrives at Komagome station on the Yamanote line

Following the sakura (cherry) blossoms, many kinds of flowers paint the ground in Tokyo. Azalea is also one of the reputable flowers in this season. I visited the JR East-Yamanote line, and tried to find full-blown azaleas along the tracks.

Please look at the top photo. It's Komagome station, where I sometimes visit this season. The azalea planting zone is seen both along the eastbound Yamanote line track and the westbound Shonan-Shinjuku line track. I shot the azaleas along the eastbound Yamanote line track this year. You can see plenty of azalea blossoms just beside the train. They are mainly vivid pink-colored. The green striped train, the EMU E235 series, is passing through the azalea flowers, which flourishes with the vibrant blossoms. On the other hand, the photo below was shot near Mejiro station. Full-blown azaleas are planted on the slope of tracks in the trench. JR East has been working on planting azaleas on the embankments of the tracks in this area to prevent slope failure and protect the environment.

Incidentally, the Yamanote line is the representative commuter line in Japan. It's looped through the downtown area of Tokyo and its route length is 34 kilometers. The train covers the entire route in about 60 minutes both clockwise and counter-clockwise. It's known as the busy urban line, but passengers recently found a snake on a train and the train was delayed. Is it good news of natural regeneration in the urban area or just a nuisance?

Full-blown azaleas near Mejiro station on the JR East Yamanote line

The Slug Locomotive in Nagareyama City

Steam locomotive D51 14 is exhibited in Nagareyama Sports Park

Do you like slugs? In Japan, they appear with the advent of spring. I try to stay away from them as they are so slimy and disgusting. I like snails, though. Speaking of which, I remembered that a "slug locomotive" is exhibited in the metropolitan area.

Unit 14 of the Class D51 (hereafter D51 14) is a precious steam locomotive preserved in Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture. D51 14 was built by Kisha-seizo Osaka Factory in 1936 as the first batch of the Class D51. After 37 years' commission on the Japanese Government Railways (later the Japanese National Railways), it was retired from the track, and has been preserved in Nagareyama Sports Park since 1976. I would like to thank a local volunteers' group, who preserve D51 14 in a very good condition. Many rail-fans affectionately refer to D51 14 as "the slug locomotive". Why? Because, its smokestack, feed water heater, sandbox and steam reservoir are integrated, and look like a slug. This shape is different from that of the later batches of the Class D51. Please review my previous posts on the later batches of the Class D51, such as Unit 408, 498 and 516.

Incidentally, the steam locomotive (SL) Class D51 was Japan's largest force of SL fleet. 1,115 units in total were built until 1950. It's a 2-8-2 (Whyte notation) type SL that has a tender attached. It's 19.73 meters long. The driving wheel diameter is 1,400 millimeters. The maximum operating speed was 85 kilometers per hour.

D51 14 is a "slug-shaped" steam locomotive

Advent of Spring: Nippori-Toneri Liner

Set 38 of the EMU Toei 330 series, Nippori-Toneri Liner

Japan has four distinct seasons. Each season is beautiful in its own way. Cherry blossoms might be famous in spring, but they can't be the only beautiful flowers. In recent years, nemophila has become popular among people. It's an annual herb native to North America. The plant grows only up to 20 centimeters tall, and produces tiny blue flowers. The small flowers mean nemophila usually play a supporting role in gardens, but several parks are famous for nemophila flowers as their stars. Toneri Park in the northern part of Tokyo is one of such places. We can see a vast nemophila field in spring. It looks like a beautiful blue carpet on a gentle hill.

To get to Toneri Park, the nearest station is Toneri-koen on the Nippori-Toneri Liner operated by Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The route is known as the rubber-tired AGT (Automated Guide way Transit) system. Connecting Nippori in the downtown area and Minumadai-shinsuikoen, its operating length is 9.7 kilometers. Track is double and the electric system is 600V three-phase AC, 50 Hz. ATO (Automatic Train Operation) system is adopted, so there is no driver and conductor on the train. As a result, the front seat on the train is vacant, so passengers can freely sit on it. The EMU Toei 330 series was my vehicle to Toneri Park the other day. Needless to say, I sat on the front seat of the 330 series, and fully enjoyed the view ahead to Toneri-koen station. I felt awesome!

Nemophila field in Toneri Park near Toneri-koen station, Nippori-Toneri Liner

The Keio-Keibajo Line: An Urban Local Route

Set 7421 of the EMU Keio 7000 series travels on the Keio-Keibajo line

Do you like gambling? Is it about me? I don't like it that much. Why? Because, I'm always being lucky or unlucky when I go trainspotting. Before enjoying trainspotting, I never fail to review timetables and the related websites to get the latest train operation information; however, things aren't going according to plan. For example, my target trainset is often abruptly replaced by the other rollingstock. My train view is often blocked by the other trains. In other words, trainspotting is almost gambling. I don't want to bet on other games such as horse racing and lotteries.

Enough with the preamble. Let's get down to the main topic. One of the famous places for Japanese gamblers is Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu City, about 30 kilometers west of the Shinjuku sub-center. To get to this holy place for gamblers, the nearest station is Fuchu-keiba-seimonmae (The main gate of Fuchu Racecourse) on the Keio-Keibajo line (Keio-Racecourse line). Connecting Higashi-Fuchu and Fuchu-keiba-seimonmae, the route length is 0.9 kilometers. The track is double and electrified with 1,500V DC. The gauge size is 1,372 millimeters. On a day at the races, many trains, including a 10-cars limited express, are operated from Shinjuku terminal. A large number of gamblers take this line... but, what does this route look like on a day with no races? Please look at the photos. A 2-car local train without conductors is operated every 20 minutes. The passengers seem like only local people. The spacey terminal looks empty and quiet. There is a big gap!

Fuchu-keiba-seimonmae terminal on the Keio-Keibajo line

Advent of Spring on the Iizaka Line

Set 1107 of the Fukushima Kotsu 1000 series, "the 100th anniversary train"

I'm glad to visit Fukushima City again. I didn't expect to be able to come again this month to Fukushima city, 270 kilometers away from Tokyo. What's new with this northern city?

Please look at the photo below. The Azumayama mountain range could be seen clearly from the urban area this time. It was still covered by the snow, but vivid under the strong sunlight. Spring has come! For your information, the Azumayama mountain range consists of volcanic groups, and extends about 25 kilometers from east to west. In recent years, it erupted in 1893 and 1977. The main and highest peak is 2,035 meters above sea level.

I can't be written off here as this is a railway blog. Let's head to the main topic. On April 13th, Fukushima Kotsu Company celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Iizaka line. This route was constructed to transport holidaymakers to the Iizaka hot spring resort. Currently, the passengers are not only holidaymakers, but also local commuters and students going to the urban area of Fukushima City. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary, Fukushima Kotsu launched a special revival-colored train on the line. The revival-colored train is composed of two cars, Set 1107 of the EMU 1000 series (the ex-Tokyu 1000 series). It has been changed to a two-toned of dark rose and beige colors. This color design was used from the 1940s to 1991. It's very nostalgic, and fits into the scenery on the line. Congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the Iizaka line!

View of the Azuma Mountain Range from Fukushima City

Official information about the 100th anniversary of the Iizaka line (in Japanese):

https://ii-den.jp/files/newsrelease/files/0107_file01.pdf

Official photo album of the Iizaka line (in Japanese):

https://ii-den.jp/gallery/?page=1

Calpis Express: My Favorite Branded Train

Set 205 of the EMU Tobu 200 series, "Calpis Express" branded train

Do you see branded trains in your country? In Japan, yes, I often see trains being wrapped by corporate advertisements on the tracks. They are, for example, "Magical Dream Shinkansen" on the JR East Tohoku Shinkansen and "Studio Tour Tokyo Express" on the Seibu line. They are unique, beautiful and eye-catching; however, some of the branded trains are too flashy for me, so, I often hesitate to introduce branded trains in this blog.

I recently came across a new branded train on the Tobu line. Please look at the top photo. That's Set 205 of the EMU Tobu 200 series, nicknamed the "Calpis Express". It's operated between Asakusa and Akagi (or Oota, Isesaki) terminals. Calpis is the most famous probiotic drinks brand in Japan. I have also been drinking Calpis since I was a child. It makes me feel refreshed specifically in the hot summer. The bodies of the Calpis Express also make me feel refreshed. They are two-toned of blue and white... very cool. The illustrations of Calpis bottles are also cute and my favorite.

Incidentally, Set 205 of the EMU 200 series was commissioned in 1992. It had two-toned of red and white-colored bodies. In contrast to its beautiful appearance, the technical specification of the 200 series is rather old. For example, the electric control system is traditional rheostatic. Please look at the photo below. There is a resistor, which creates uncomfortable heat under the floor... but, please don't worry! The bodies of the Calpis Express train will make it refreshing.

Logo of the Calpis Express and the resistor under the floor