I'm going to post a topic for old-school trainspotters today. The E257-5000 series is JR East’s vehicle for extra train services. It is mainly operated on weekends and holiday seasons. This model was originally commissioned as the EMU E257-0 series, and operated as limited express trains, Azusa and Kaiji, on the Chuo main line.
After operating for nearly 20 years, 3 trainsets, 27 cars, were modified to the E257-5000 series in 2021 by JR East Nagano Factory. They are trainsets OM-91, OM-92 and OM-93. One set is composed of 5 motorcars and 4 trailers (5M4T). What are the differences between the older E257-0 and the newer E257-5000 series? They are basically the same, but the body color was changed. The newer E257-5000 series has fresh green-colored stripes. And there’s one more thing, the E257-5000 series has baggage spaces.
I could come across set OM-93 at Tokyo station last August. It was being operated as the extra train, “Atami Fireworks Festival”. As the name suggests, this train would carry tourists, who would see the fireworks, to Atami City on the Tokaido main line. I was very happy to observe the “two different faces” of this train. The southern face had no gangway (see the top photo). On the other hand, the northern face had a gangway (see the photo below). Finding such subtle differences is the greatest pleasure for trainspotters like me. Please check out my previous posts as well about the EMU E257-2000 and E257-5500 series, if you have time.
