A Phantom Train in Ibaraki Prefecture

Series 7000 DMU preserved at Yumenoba in Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture

Have you ever had an experience like this in your country?

Have you ever wanted to ride a train that rarely ran? You kept telling yourself, "Someday I'll ride it," only to find that it had already been retired before you had the chance. Today I'd like to introduce one such train.

Series 7000 was a luxurious DMU operated by the Kashima Rinkai Railway from 1992 to 2010. Interestingly, it was owned not by the railway company itself, but by Ibaraki Prefecture. It was a two-car hydraulic-transmission DMU powered by 169 kW diesel engines, and only a single set was ever built by Nippon Sharyo.

The interior was surprisingly luxurious for a regional railway train. It featured reclining cross seats, not to mention a lounge area, a large TV and even karaoke equipment.

When Series 7000 entered service, it operated as the rapid train Marine Liner Hamanasu ("Hamanasu" means rugosa rose in Japanese). In 2008, it was reassigned to special excursion services before being retired from service in 2010. Since 2024, it has been preserved at Yumenoba (also known as THE HIROSAWA CITY), a vehicle-themed park in Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

As I mentioned earlier, I had wanted to ride Series 7000 for many years. Unfortunately, the Kashima Rinkai Railway was quite a long way from where I lived, and I was very busy at the time. Then I was transferred to Indonesia in 2007, and before I knew it, Series 7000 had been retired.

Sixteen years after its retirement, I finally met Series 7000. It was on display in excellent condition alongside other historic rolling stock. Looking at its stylish exterior, I couldn't help thinking that it resembled JR East's HB-E300 hybrid DMU, which I rode recently. Perhaps Series 7000 was ahead of its time—a pioneer of Japan's sightseeing trains.

It was wonderful to finally meet you, Series 7000. I only wish I had had the chance to ride you while you were still in service. Still, I'll come back to visit you from time to time. See you again soon.

Side view of Series 7000

Related link:

・Official information from Yumenoba (in Japanese)

Enoden's Series 1000 EMU: The Final Chapter

Enoden Series 1000 EMU Set 1001 with its “Last Run” headmark

Rail fans like me have mixed feelings whenever a new train enters service.

When a new type of rolling stock enters service, I get excited and rush to the tracks to welcome it. But realistically, the debut of a new train usually means that an older one will soon be retired, and that is often exactly what happens. My head understands that, but my heart cannot accept it. Whenever a railway company announces the retirement of an old train, I feel sad. It still has plenty of life left in it! If you are also a rail fan, I hope you understand this complicated feeling.

Sorry for the long introduction. Today’s topic is the latter.

On July 15, Enoshima Electric Railway (Enoden) announced that Series 1000 Set 1001 (shown in the photo above) had been withdrawn from service the previous day. The moment had finally come.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Enoden introduced its brand-new Series 700 EMU on April 19. The company explained that the Series 700 would replace the aging Series 1000 fleet. In fact, Set 1001 became the first Series 1000 set to be withdrawn on July 14, marking the beginning of the retirement of the Series 1000 fleet.

Let me briefly review the history of Enoden’s Series 1000 EMU. It entered service in 1979. A total of six two-car articulated sets were built between 1979 and 1987. The fleet consists of three batches, and their specifications differ slightly, including their drive systems, brake systems, and auxiliary power supplies. Set 1001, for example, was equipped with an old nose-suspended drive system and a simple air brake system without regenerative braking. Its auxiliary power supply was a traditional motor-generator rather than a static inverter.

I was shocked when the company suddenly announced that Set 1001 had been withdrawn from service. It still had plenty of life left in it! Still, I suppose it could not be helped. Fortunately, I was able to photograph Set 1001 during its final days in service, complete with a “Last Run” headmark, last month. Set 1002 (shown in the photo below) and the remaining sets are still active. Hang in there, Series 1000!

The final chapter of Enoden’s Series 1000 EMU has just begun.

Enoden Series 1000 EMU Set 1002

Related link:

・Official information, Enoden Series 1000 EMU (in Japanese)

A Trip on JR East's Joyful Train "Kairi"

Joyful train Kairi arriving at Tsuruoka Station

Sorry for jumping from one topic to another, but today I'd like to return to my recent family trip to Yamagata Prefecture and share one of its highlights in a little more detail.

After enjoying the fascinating world of jellyfish and another railway experience at Tsuruoka Station, we boarded Kairi, a joyful train I had always wanted to ride.

・What is Kairi?

Take a look at the photo above. Kairi—literally meaning Sea and Village—is JR East's sightseeing train that operates between Sakata and Niigata (168 km, about two and a half hours) via the Uetsu Main Line and the Hakushin Line. Passengers can enjoy local cuisine while taking in the beautiful scenery along the Sea of Japan.

The train consists of four stainless-steel cars: Car 1 with reclining seats, Car 2 with private compartments, Car 3 with a shop and an event space, and Car 4 with a dining room. Riding Kairi requires the reserved-seat surcharge.

・The Technical Side of Kairi

Kairi is operated by JR East's HB-E300 series Hybrid Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU). It combines diesel engines, three-phase squirrel-cage induction generators, converters/inverters, induction motors, and lithium-ion batteries. The induction motors also function as generators during braking, allowing the electricity they produce to be stored in the batteries.

A total of 18 HB-E300 series cars were built between 2010 and 2019. One four-car trainset is dedicated to Kairi, while the remaining 14 cars are used on other joyful trains, such as Resort Shirakami (Aoike).

・Impressions of the Ride

We reserved seats in Car 4, the dining room, where we enjoyed a delicious early dinner while watching the beautiful coastal scenery pass by.

In particular, the ocean view near the Yamagata–Niigata prefectural border was simply breathtaking (see the photo below). We had hoped to watch the sun set over the Sea of Japan, but the sky remained overcast. Never mind—railfans are always optimistic! It simply gave me one more reason to come back and ride Kairi again.

Our trip on Kairi turned out to be much more than just a train ride. It gave us the chance to experience one of JR East's unique joyful trains while enjoying some of the finest scenery along the lines.

The view from Car 4 (the dining room)

Related link:

・Official information from JR East

The 20th Anniversary of the Keikyu Blue Sky Trains

Set 606 of the EMU 600 series, Blue Sky Train

This is a bit late to mention, but Keikyu quietly celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Blue Sky Trains last year. I’d like to share a little about them today.

What Is the Blue Sky Train?

When people think of Keikyu, the first image that comes to mind is usually its bright red trains. That’s true—though there are a few colorful exceptions. One is the Keikyu Yellow Happy Train, painted yellow and operated with a single EMU 1000 series set. Another is the Blue Sky Train, which comes in a striking blue livery and includes one set each from the EMU 600 and EMU 2100 series.

The blue paint represents both the sky above Haneda Airport and the sea along the Miura Peninsula. In that sense, the Blue Sky Train serves as a symbol of Keikyu’s airport access service and its connection to the coastal resort areas.

The photo above shows Set 606 of the EMU 600 series, one of the Blue Sky Train sets. Beginning on October 27 last year, a special anniversary sticker was added to the front. It’s surprisingly modest compared to Keikyu’s usual bold designs, don’t you think? For the record, the other Blue Sky Train—Set 2133 of the EMU 2100 series—also carried the same sticker. Modesty aside, congratulations to the Blue Sky Train on its 20th anniversary!

While I’m at it, let me share another photo taken in late autumn last year. The picture below shows a standard-color EMU 600 series train crossing the Yatsumori Overpass, which spans the JR tracks near Shinagawa Station. The yellow ginkgo trees create a beautiful natural frame, making the red train stand out vividly. It’s one of my favorite viewing spots along the Keikyu Line—such a lovely scene.

Unfortunately, this scenery won’t last much longer. A major project to rebuild the overpass is underway to relieve congestion at the nearby level crossing. Improved transportation is important, of course, but I can’t help feeling a little sad knowing that this atmospheric spot will soon disappear. I suppose you can’t please everyone.

Standard-color EMU 600 series passing over Yatsumori Overpass

Related link:

・Official information on the overpass replacement project (Japanese only)

A Jellyfish Aquarium on the Uetsu Main Line

JR East GV-E400 series diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU)

Let me start with a question: What brings you peace?

For me, it's trains with cross-seats, such as Odakyu's Romancecars.

Besides trains, what else?

That's what today's post is about.

I recently visited Kamo Aquarium in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, about 470 km north of Tokyo. This municipal aquarium is famous for its impressive jellyfish exhibits. In fact, it currently displays around 100 species of jellyfish, earning official recognition from Guinness World Records as the world's largest jellyfish exhibit.

I'm proud that Japan is home to the world's largest jellyfish aquarium, but it has been a long road to success.

Kamo Aquarium opened in 1964. However, visitor numbers gradually declined, and by 1997 the aquarium was facing an existential crisis.

This was where the magic happened.

One day, the aquarium staff discovered a jellyfish in a small fish tank and immediately thought, "This is it."

Nearly 30 years have passed since that moment, and Kamo Aquarium has made a remarkable comeback. During my visit, I saw countless holidaymakers flocking to the aquarium to admire its wide variety of jellyfish. I was happily one of them.

I was fascinated by the many different species on display, especially the Blue Cannonball jellyfish from California (see the photo below). Its beautifully rounded blue form brought me a wonderful sense of peace.

Of course, I can't end this post without mentioning the railway side of things—after all, this is a railway blog.

The nearest station to Kamo Aquarium is Tsuruoka on JR East's Uetsu Main Line. There, I came across an unfamiliar local train: the GV-E400 series (see the top photo). It is JR East's first diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU), which entered service in 2019. Each trainset consists of two single-cab cars.

My first impression was that it looked similar to the HB-E200 series. Both trains feature angular front ends, although the HB-E200 series is actually a hybrid train equipped with rechargeable batteries.

My trip to Kamo Aquarium gave me the chance to enjoy both a fascinating world of jellyfish and another new railway experience on the Uetsu Main Line.

Blue Cannonball jellyfish at Kamo Aquarium

Related link:

・Official information from JR East (in Japanese)

・Official information from Kamo Aquarium

The Tobu 90000 Series EMU: A New Commuter Train

Set 91001 of the Tobu 90000 series EMU at Shinrin-koen Depot

Following my previous posts on Keio’s 2000 series, Seibu’s L00, Sotetsu’s 13000 series, and Enoden’s new 700 series EMUs, I’m happy to introduce another brand-new train that has joined the Tokyo metropolitan area fleet.

Please take a look at the photo above. Here it is—the Tobu Railway 90000 series EMU for the Tojo Line. The new train is scheduled to enter service this September, but I had the chance to see it before its official debut by joining an event hosted by the Japan Railfan Club. Today, I’d like to share that memorable experience with you.

What’s New About the 90000 Series?

First, the front end features a reverse-slant design that sweeps upward from the bottom. Doesn't it remind you of something? Yes—a ship! But why? The areas along the Tojo Line owe much of their early development to inland waterways before the railway was built, and the new design pays tribute to that history. I like the story behind it.

To me, this reverse-slant front is slightly reminiscent of the Chiba Urban Monorail 0-series. If so, I wondered whether the front coupler might be difficult to accommodate. On the Chiba monorail, the coupler is mounted above the body. On the Tobu 90000 series, however, it has to be installed below the body. With such a ship-like front, I was afraid the coupler might stick out like a tongue. Wouldn't that look a bit awkward?

I examined the front several times with that concern in mind, but it turned out to be unfounded. The coupler is neatly integrated into the skirt and the surrounding equipment, so it doesn't protrude very much. Tobu got it right!

Second, take a look at the interior in the photo below. You can see wavy lines on the seat partitions. If you look closely, you'll notice the same pattern on the floor. These waves also represent the rivers and streams along the Tojo Line. I like that thoughtful touch.

Finally, take another look at the top photo. The windows in the passenger doors have been lowered compared with those on existing trains. As a result, the interior feels much brighter, and children can enjoy the view outside more easily. I think that's a wonderful improvement.

I'm running out of space here, so I'll save the technical specifications of the 90000 series for a future post. Please look forward to it!

Interior of the 90000 series EMU

Related link:

• Official information from Tobu Railway (in Japanese)

Serving a Double Purpose on the Keisei Chiba Line

Set 3668 of the Shibatetsu 3600 series EMU at Makuhari-hongo Station

You may remember that I wrote about the retirement of the Shibayama Railway (Shibatetsu) 3500 series EMU in March this year. At that time, I mentioned that I would save the replacement for the 3500 series for a future post.

Three months have passed since then, and now I finally have a chance to introduce it.

Please take a look at the photo above—this is Set 3668 of the Shibatetsu 3600 series EMU, which has been newly leased from Keisei Electric Railway. To welcome Set 3668, I recently visited Makuhari-hongo Station on the Keisei Chiba Line and took the above photo, as 3668F occasionally operates through onto Keisei lines.

The technical specifications of Set 3668 are, of course, identical to those of the Keisei 3600 series. However, before entering service with Shibatetsu, the body stripe colors were changed from red and blue (the Keisei colors) to green and red (the Shibatetsu colors).

You may be thinking, “Is this really a newly assigned train? It looks just as old as the former Set 3540.” I understand what you mean. However, as a railway enthusiast, I am quite satisfied with this replacement because: (1) the veteran Set 3668 has escaped retirement, and (2) Set 3668 is a high-performance train.

Set 3668 was originally built in the late 1980s. It currently consists of four motor cars with no trailer cars and is equipped with a VFD traction control system. Japanese railfans affectionately call this trainset “Turbo-kun.” “Turbo” comes from the English word “turbocharger,” while “-kun” is a casual Japanese suffix used for boys or for male friends and colleagues with whom one is on familiar terms. In short, Turbo-kun means “a powerful train.”

Turbo-kun, go for it!

After welcoming Set 3668, I switched gears to another hobby of mine—fossil collecting. As I have mentioned before, fossil collecting has been a lifelong hobby of mine, just like railway enthusiasm. My hunting ground that day was Makuhari Artificial Beach, located near Makuhari-hongo Station. Fossil-bearing rocks dredged from the floor of Tokyo Bay can sometimes be found there.

Please take a look at the photo below—this was my find of the day: Thalassinoides isp. It is not a body fossil but an ichnofossil representing crustacean burrows. It is about 10 cm long and consists of intricately intertwined branches, giving it a somewhat creepy appearance.

That day, I was able to pursue two hobbies during a single trip on the Keisei Chiba Line.

An ichnofossil, Thalassinoides isp., found at Makuhari Artificial Beach

The 30th Anniversary of the Romancecar EXE

Odakyu Series 30000 EMU "Romancecar EXE"

On March 23, Odakyu celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Romancecar EXE. Today, I would like to share this milestone with you.

First, let me briefly look back at the Romancecar EXE.

The Romancecar EXE (officially the Series 30000 EMU) is a limited express train operated by Odakyu Electric Railway. It entered service in 1996.

To be honest, I was disappointed when the EXE made its debut because it abandoned many of the traditional features that had made the Romancecar so special. For example, the driver's cab was no longer located on the upper level, meaning passengers could no longer enjoy a panoramic front view through the large observation window. Earlier Romancecar models featured articulated bogies, which helped reduce weight and improve ride stability, whereas the EXE adopted conventional bogies instead. I still remember muttering to myself, "The Romancecar isn't special anymore."

In fact, the EXE was not particularly popular among tourists or railway enthusiasts. After its introduction, the number of passengers using the Romancecar to visit Hakone declined significantly. This downturn continued until the new Romancecar VSE (Series 50000 EMU) entered service in 2005. While many previous Romancecar models had won the Blue Ribbon Prize, the EXE did not receive the award. As many of you may know, the Blue Ribbon Prize is presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club to the most outstanding new railway vehicle introduced in the previous year.

But was the EXE really all that bad?

As the saying goes, one person's junk is another person's treasure. One advantage was that reserving seats became much easier thanks to its increased passenger capacity. Another practical feature was its flexible train formation: a ten-car set could be divided into six-car and four-car sections to better match operational needs.

And then I discovered one more thing to appreciate—its reclining seats. They are just the right firmness for me, making them exceptionally comfortable on longer journeys.

To mark the 30th anniversary, a commemorative sticker has been placed on the front of the EXE (see the photo below). The sticker features two different cab designs: one with the standard cab front and the other with the gangway-equipped cab, highlighting the EXE's operational flexibility.

Happy 30th anniversary, Romancecar EXE!

I'm on your side now.

The commemorative sticker celebrating the 30th anniversary

Aizu: A Rapid Train to the Samurai City

JR East E721 series EMU, Rapid "Aizu" service

Sorry for jumping from one topic to another, but today I’d like to follow up on my recent family trip to the Aizu region in a little more detail.

After arriving at Koriyama Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, we stayed there overnight before heading to Aizu-Wakamatsu the following day. Aizu-Wakamatsu, also known as the Samurai City, is the largest city in the Aizu region, located about 65 km (40 miles) west of Koriyama.

Please take a look at the photo above. This was our train—the Rapid "Aizu" service bound for Aizu-Wakamatsu. You can see the beautifully designed "Aizu" headmark displayed on the front.

The train consists of two coupled two-car sets of JR East's E721 series EMUs. Although the E721 series is basically designed for ordinary commuter and regional services, the Rapid "Aizu" includes one reserved-seat car equipped with comfortable reclining seats. To use this car, we paid an additional reserved-seat charge of 530 yen (about 3.29 USD) per seat during the summer peak travel season.

I know many railway enthusiasts enjoy the technical aspects of trains, so here are a few details. The E721 series is a standard AC electric multiple unit designed for a 20 kV, 50 Hz electrified network and operates on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge track. It entered service in 2007. Between 2007 and 2017, JR East built 170 cars, consisting of 67 trainsets in both two-car and four-car formations. A two-car set is configured as 1M1T (one motor car and one trailer car), while a four-car set is configured as 2M2T. The trains are equipped with IGBT-based VFD traction control systems driving 125 kW induction motors.

After arriving in Aizu-Wakamatsu, we visited Wakamatsu Castle, the symbol of this Samurai City (see the photo below). Construction of the castle began in 1384. It is best known as the site of the Battle of Aizu, one of the major battles of the Boshin War, the civil war fought between the Tokugawa shogunate and the Imperial forces from 1868 to 1869. Many samurai defended the castle until they were finally forced to surrender. The present castle is a reconstructed building and serves as a symbol of Aizu-Wakamatsu today. Its distinctive, maroon-tiled roofs are especially beautiful.

For your information, the red figurine in the photo below is an Akabeko ("red cow"), a traditional folk toy in the shape of a red cow. Its head gently bobs up and down when touched. Akabeko has long been regarded as a good-luck charm believed to protect people from illness. Interestingly, the black spots on its body are said to represent smallpox. I can't help wondering what the people who created this charming toy were thinking and feeling centuries ago.

Akabeko (foreground) and Wakamatsu Castle (background)

A Kintetsu-Liveried Train on the Tobu Line

Tobu's Series 10030 EMU Set 11267 in Kintetsu livery (the two cars on the right)

Do people in your country have any symbols of friendship?

In Japan, they do. For example, I sometimes see high school girls who are close friends attaching matching character charms featuring their favorite characters to their school bags. It always looks like they are having fun!

Now, here's another question. Do railway companies have symbols of friendship, too?

Again, the answer is yes in Japan. Railway companies with close ties sometimes adopt each other's train liveries as a symbol of their partnership. For example, Keikyu Corporation introduced the KEIKYU YELLOW HAPPY TRAIN in 2014. Its yellow livery resembles Seibu Railway's iconic yellow trains. In return, Seibu repainted one of its EMU sets into Keikyu's signature red livery to celebrate the friendship between the two companies.

This kind of partnership can even be found overseas. In 2014, Hakone Tozan Railway introduced the Allegra train, whose red livery was inspired by that of the Swiss Rhaetian Railway (RhB). In return, the RhB repainted one of its electric locomotives in Hakone Tozan's livery as a symbol of the partnership between the two railways.

Now, let's take a look at the latest example. The photo above shows Tobu Railway's Series 10030 EMU Set 11267, painted in Kintetsu's livery (Series 1252 EMU). It entered service on April 20 this year.

Both Tobu and Kintetsu operate the largest private railway networks in their respective regions. Tobu serves Nikko, one of Japan's best-known tourist destinations, while Kintetsu serves the Ise-Shima area. The two companies certainly have much in common.

I found that Tobu's Kintetsu-liveried train looked even more like a real Kintetsu train than I had expected. That's probably because the front design of Set 11267 is similar to that of Kintetsu's commuter train. I really enjoyed seeing it.

Incidentally, Set 11267 was built in 1995. It consists of two 20-meter stainless-steel cars configured as one motor car and one trailer car (1M1T). The set is also known as Tobu's first train equipped with single-arm pantographs. On the day I photographed it, it was coupled to the four-car Set 11433, which retained Tobu's standard livery.

Finally, you may be thinking, "I'd like to see Kintetsu's Tobu-liveried train as well."

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to visit the Kintetsu network since that train entered service. However, please take a look at the photo below. You can at least catch a glimpse of it in the lower-right corner of the overhead advertisement inside a Tobu train. It's painted in Tobu's livery (Series 8000 EMU).

Overhead advertisement promoting the Tobu–Kintetsu partnership

Related link:

・Official announcement from Tobu Railway (Japanese)

Disruption on the Tohoku Shinkansen

Departure board on the JR East Tohoku Shinkansen platform at Tokyo Station

I recently traveled to the Aizu region in Fukushima Prefecture, about 250 km north of Tokyo, with my family. It was basically a family obligation, so I didn't expect to do any train spotting during the trip. I at least looked forward to visiting the historic sites and relaxing in the hot springs. However, things turned out rather differently...

When we arrived at Tokyo Station to board the Tohoku Shinkansen, we immediately noticed something unusual. Many passengers were standing around the concourse, looking puzzled. Was something wrong?

After checking the news online and looking at the departure board, I finally understood the reason. Please take a look at the photo above—the trains were delayed due to an offshore earthquake in northern Japan. By then, it was already 14:16, yet our train, which had been scheduled to leave at 14:00, had not even arrived at Platform 20. Fortunately, there was no damage to the Tohoku Shinkansen, but according to the announcement, services would be delayed by about an hour. Did I panic?

Not at all—railfans are always optimistic! I quickly adjusted my mindset and decided to make the most of the situation. While my family relaxed in the waiting room, I went out to try a type of train photography that I had never attempted before.

Now, let's take a look at the photo below. On the left is JR Central's Series N700A EMU, wearing its familiar white-and-blue livery on the Tokaido Shinkansen. On the right is JR East's Series E6 EMU in its distinctive red-and-gray livery on the Tohoku (Akita) Shinkansen. I photographed it from Platform 23 on the Tohoku Shinkansen at Tokyo Station.

In fact, Platform 23 is one of the very few places where you can photograph both the Tokaido and the Tohoku Shinkansen trains in a single shot. I was lucky enough to witness this fascinating railway scene and thoroughly enjoyed this unexpected photography opportunity. I'm not trying to boast—I simply hope you can understand how exciting this was for a train enthusiast.

In the end, we were able to board our Tohoku Shinkansen train about an hour late and arrived safely at Koriyama Station on the day.

JR Central’s series N700A (left) and JR East’s series E6 (right) EMUs