You may remember when I introduced you to the Seibu-Yamaguchi line in 2014 and 2023. I'm going to supplement this topic today.
Let me review the Seibu-Yamaguchi line to start. It's a rubber-tyred automated guideway transit (AGT) system straddling the border between Tokyo Metropolis and Tokorozawa City in Saitama Prefecture. The line length is only 2.8 kilometers between Tamako (Lake Tama) and Seibu-kyujo-mae (Seibu Baseball Stadium) stations. The Yamaguchi line was opened in 1985 as the fifth AGT route in Japan. The entire route is an electrified single track with one signal station for a passing loop. The electric system is 750V DC using a "third rail".
Next, let's look back on the history of the Seibu-Yamaguchi line before the opening as the AGT line. This route was originally opened in 1950, as an attraction railway, “Otogi Densha (fairy train)”, in an amusement park. It was then changed to the formal railway named Yamaguchi line under the Railway Business ACT in 1952. The Class B11 was the main locomotive fleet at that time. A total of 5 units were built by Seibu-Tokorozawa factory and Nakajima Electric Cars. It’s an accumulator (rechargeable battery) locomotive with an axis arrangement 0-4-0 (Whyte notation). It had two 11kW DC motors. The accumulator was manufactured by Yuasa. Currently, unit B15 of the Class B11 is preserved in front of a shopping mall, “Emi Terrace” in Tokorozawa City. Emi Terrace was constructed at the site of ex-Seibu-Tokorozawa factory, the birthplace of unit B15. It's homecoming of B15, isn’t it?
