I visited Gyoda City in Saitama Prefecture again. What did I do this time? I visited a train restaurant.
Please look at the top photo. This is a train restaurant “Mustard Seed” in Gyoda City. A retired Tobu train, EMU 5700 series, has been converted into the western food restaurant. The 5700 series was commissioned in 1951, and had been operated as limited-express, express and special trains for 40 years. A total of 6 sets, 12 units, were built by Nippon Sharyo, Kisha Seizo and Naniwa Koki from 1951 to 1953. In appearance, there were two kinds of the 5700 series (hereafter the early type and the late type). The early type (2 sets) had 2 large windows on the front. On the other hand, the late type (4 sets) had 3 front windows with a gangway. This train restaurant is categorized as the late type, named KuHa 703 and MoHa 5703 (outside the image frame). I was happy to see precious TT-3 bogie made by Toshiba (see the photo below). It originally had the right-angle Cardan drive mechanism. Incidentally, please check out my previous post on the early type of the 5700 series as well, if you have time.
When I visited Mustard Seed restaurant, it was temporarily closed. It’s pity… but, I was allowed to shoot this precious train, and talk with the restaurant owner, who was taking care of the garden. I could learn much about this train restaurant by talking with him. Thank you, the owner of Mustard Seed Restaurant. I’ll visit again.
