I recently happened to see Odakyu’s Romancecar VSE twice by coincidence. Today, let me share these memorable encounters with you.
Before that, here is just a small introduction to the Romancecar VSE. Odakyu’s 50000 series EMU, also known as the VSE (Vault Super Express), was the flagship model of the Romancecar fleet. It debuted in 2005 as a 10-car train with articulated bogies and quickly became very popular among tourists.
After 17 years of service, the VSE was retired from regular operation in 2022. So, what has it been doing since then?
In November this year, I saw it at Kitami Fureai Hiroba. This public park is built on an artificial deck constructed above Odakyu’s Kitami Railyard. While strolling through the park, I spotted the VSE from one of the viewing points. Please take a closer look at the photo above. You can see a white trainset with a red stripe — the VSE! It was being preserved on a shunting track.
More recently, I saw the VSE again at Odakyu’s Sagami-Ono Railyard when I went shopping. The trainset was on a dismantling siding. Please take a look at the photo below. It had already been separated into sections, and one of its articulated bogies was exposed. I was sad to see the VSE in that condition, but at the same time, I learned a lot from observing the bogie. For example, you can see a pneumatic spring just above the gray pillar. The pneumatic spring of the VSE was installed one meter higher than that of standard trains to enhance ride comfort.
Finally, here is some good news. One of the VSE’s leading cars will be exhibited at the Romancecar Museum in the near future. I’m very much looking forward to seeing it.
