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)

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)

New Model on the Urban Park Line, Part 2

Trainset 81551 of Tobu’s 80000 series EMU at Nanakodai Railyard

You may remember that I wrote about Tobu’s 80000 series new EMU last June. At that time, I mentioned that I would “save the technical specifications of the 80000 series for a future post.”

Ten months have passed since then. Time really flies. Now, I finally have a chance to introduce those details, so let’s get started.

The 80000 series EMU is Tobu Railway’s commuter train for the Urban Park Line (Noda Line). It operates on a 1,500 V DC system with a 1,067 mm track gauge. The train entered service in March 2025 to replace the older 8000 and 10030 series. Each set consists of five 20-meter cars—two motor cars and three trailer cars. The car bodies are made of aluminum alloy, and a total of 25 sets are planned to be introduced.

Here are some of the technical features.

First, the train is equipped with 250 kW synchronous reluctance motors instead of the conventional induction motors. The traction system uses a full-SiC VFD (full silicon-carbide variable-frequency drive). These technologies help reduce maintenance and save energy.

Second, the train has an on-board battery system. The power generated from regenerative braking is not returned to the overhead lines but stored and used for on-board power supply. This helps prevent the loss of regenerated energy.

Third, two trainsets are equipped with monitoring equipment for facilities such as tracks and overhead lines.

Now, I would like to share a topic for old-school trainspotters as well. Please take a look at the top photo. I took this photo of the 80000 series when I joined an event held by the Japan Railfan Club at Nanakodai Railyard. This particular trainset is slightly different from the one I showed in my post last year.

Please look at the photo below. The middle car (Car 3, SaHa 83551) looks different from the cars on both sides. For example, the height of the roof and the shape of the lower body seem a bit unusual.

In fact, this car is a refurbished vehicle from the 60000 series EMU, not a newly built one. Why did Tobu choose to do this?

I’m running out of space here, so I will save the explanation for a future post. Please look forward to it!

Car 3 (SaHa 83551) of trainset 81551

Related link:

• Official information from Tobu Railway (in Japanese)

Tobu’s Grape-Colored Train

Tobu’s Grape-colored Train, 81111F, traveling on the Ogose Line

Let me pick up where I left off in my last post. After photographing and riding JR East’s new train on the Hachiko Line, I turned my attention to one of the Hachiko Line’s neighboring railways. This time, my focus was on Tobu Railway’s Grape-colored Train.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, so please take a look at the photo above. Yes—this is the Grape-colored Train operating on the Tobu Ogose Line, a branch line of the Tobu Tojo Line. Its official designation is Set 81111 (hereafter referred to as 81111F), part of the 8000 series EMUs.

As many railway fans know, the 8000 series has become something of an endangered species on Tobu lines. The series first entered service in 1963 as Tobu’s commuter train for busy urban routes. Over the next 21 years, a total of 712 cars were built. However, even trains cannot escape the passage of time, and the number of 8000 series cars has now declined to just 167.

That said, it’s not all bad news. The Grape-colored Train, 81111F, was introduced as a commemorative project marking the 100th anniversary of the full opening of the Tojo Line. A century ago, trains on the Tojo Line were painted in this distinctive color. To recreate the appearance of trains from 100 years ago, 81111F was repainted from its former cream livery to grape color in July of last year.

By the way, would you describe this train’s color as “grape” in your country? To me, it doesn’t feel quite right. Rather than grape, it looks more like a chocolate. In fact, the name comes from the former Japanese National Railways’ official color classification. According to its color chart, the color of 81111F is designated as “Budō (Grape) Color No. 1.” I apologize for getting a bit technical here.

Close-up of 81111F

Related link:

Official information on the Grape-colored Train by Tobu (in Japanese)

Tobu 8000 Series: An Endangered Species

Set 8199 of the EMU Tobu 8000 series arriving at Shinrinkoen Station

I have to admit, being a rail fan is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, we get super excited about new trains. On the other, it’s really sad to see old ones retire. So, what do we really feel? Honestly… both. Today, I want to talk about the sad part.

On October 16, Tobu Railway announced that Set 8577 of the EMU Tobu 8000 series will retire soon. It’s going to be moved to Zao Ropeway, one of Tobu’s subsidiaries, and apparently it will be used as a waiting room for the ropeway line. I was really shocked when I heard this, especially since Set 8577 was just on display as an active train at the Railway Museum from April to May this year.

The 8000 series first came out in 1963 as Tobu’s commuter train for busy city routes. Over the next 21 years, a total of 712 cars were built by ALNA and others. But even trains can’t escape age. Their numbers have been slowly going down, and scrapping started back in the late 2000s. Now, only 167 cars are still running.

After reading the news, I went to Shinrinkoen Station on the Tobu-Tojo Line to catch a glimpse of the 8000 series. These days, all of them run in 4-car formations. The long 8000 series trains are gone, and they don’t even run into central Tokyo anymore.

The EMU Tobu 8000 series… I didn’t realize there were so few left. You really are an endangered species now.

Set 81107 (a special-colored train) of the EMU Tobu 8000 series

100th Anniversary of the Full-line Opening

Set 51095 of the EMU Tobu 50090 series

On July 10, Tobu Railway celebrated the 100th anniversary of the full-line opening of the Tojo Line. To commemorate this milestone, the company held several special events. Today, I’d like to share this topic with you.

Before that—if you feel something is strange about this anniversary, you must know a lot about Japanese railways. That’s right: I have already posted about the 100th anniversary of the Tojo Line. But that was eleven years ago. Please take a careful look at my previous post: it was not the 100th anniversary of the full-line opening, but of the partial opening of the Tojo Line.

Enough with the preamble. One highlight was a commemorative sticker mounted on the front of Set 51095 of the EMU 50090 series (see the top photo). The sticker features the number “100” (see the photo below). To avoid blown-out whites in the sticker image, I shot it with a narrower exposure.

For your information, the Tobu Tojo Line is one of the main transportation arteries in the metropolitan area. It began operation in 1914, connecting Ikebukuro in downtown Tokyo with Kawagoe City. The line was fully opened in 1925 between Ikebukuro and Yorii. Its total length is 75 kilometers, and it carries an average of one million passengers per day.

The 50090 series was launched in 2008 under the service name TJ Liner. Six sets (60 cars in total) were built by Hitachi. The trains are equipped with multi-purpose seats and feature a purple stripe along the sides—a symbol of Tobu’s premium commuter service.

Commemorative sticker displayed on the front of Set 51095

Preserved Tobu Steam Locomotive in Miyashiro Town

Tobu B4 Class Unit 40 preserved in front of Miyashiro Town Office

I recently visited Miyashiro Town in Saitama Prefecture, about 50 kilometers north of Tokyo. Miyashiro isn’t very well-known, even among Japanese people. However, if you mention it as “the town of Tobu Zoological Park,” most people will recognize it—or rail enthusiasts may know it better as the home of the Nippon Institute of Technology, which has an industrial museum preserving valuable rolling stock.

This time, though, my destination in Miyashiro was neither the zoo nor the museum. Instead, I headed to the town office. Why? Because a historic steam locomotive is preserved right in front of the town hall. Take a look at the top photo: this is Unit 40 of the Tobu B4 Class. This locomotive was originally built in 1898 by Sharp, Stewart and Company in England for Japan’s first private railway company, Nippon Railway. It was later taken over by the Government Railways in 1906 and then transferred to Tobu Railway in 1922, where it became Unit 40 of the B4 Class.

The B4 Class is a 4-4-0 type (Whyte notation) steam locomotive with a tender. After years of hauling freight trains, it was retired in 1966 and moved to its current location at the Miyashiro Town Office in 1994. I’m not an expert on steam locomotives, but I was especially impressed by its elegant leading wheels and connecting rods (see the photo below).

If you’re interested, please also check out my previous posts on preserved Tobu steam locomotives: Class B1, Class B3, and Unit 1.

Side view of Unit 40

Water Hyacinth Field in Kazo City

Unit 24436 of the EMU Tobu 20400 series

I can’t seem to stay away from Saitama Prefecture. After visiting Gyoda, my next destination was Kazo City, located about 60 kilometers north of Tokyo. So, what’s there to see?

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Take a look at the photo below: this is a vast water hyacinth field. Kazo City sits along the Tone River, the second-longest river in Japan, and is home to many aquatic plants. The water hyacinth is a striking example. Though it’s an invasive species that can block waterways in Japan, it’s often cultivated for its beautiful flowers. This particular field is carefully maintained by local residents, and I was deeply impressed by the countless light purple blossoms. It was a truly rewarding sight.

After enjoying the colorful scenery, I stopped by a bank of the Tone River to photograph Tobu trains. Take a look at the top photo. It’s a close-up shot of the lead car (Unit 24436) of the EMU Tobu 20400 series. Notice anything unusual? If so, you’re a true trainspotter. There are two faint outlines of former passenger doors on the car’s side. As I’ve written before, part of the 20400 series once operated in central Tokyo as the EMU 20000 series, with ten doors per car (five doors on per side). After refurbishment, the number of doors was reduced to six per car (three per side). As a train enthusiast, I like in choosing unique details like this as my subjects.

A large water hyacinth field in Kazo City, Saitama Prefecture

Official information, Water Hyacinth Flowering Garden, Kazo City:

https://www-city-kazo-lg-jp.translate.goog/soshiki/ootone_nousei/sisetu/24363.html?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja

Train Restaurant in Gyoda City

KuHa 703 of the EMU Tobu 5700 series, Mustard Seed Restaurant

I visited Gyoda City in Saitama Prefecture again. What did I do this time? I stopped by a train restaurant!

Take a look at the top photo... this is “Mustard Seed,” a unique restaurant in Gyoda City built inside a retired Tobu Railway EMU 5700 series train. The 5700 series entered service in 1951 and ran as limited express, express, and special trains for about 40 years. A total of six sets (12 cars) were built by Nippon Sharyo, Kisha Seizo, and Naniwa Koki between 1951 and 1953.

There were two versions of the 5700 series... Early type (2 sets): Two large front windows and Late type (4 sets): Three front windows with a gangway.

The train-turned-restaurant is one of the late-type cars, specifically KuHa 703 and MoHa 5703 (the latter is out of the frame in this photo). I was especially glad to see the rare TT-3 bogie made by Toshiba (see the photo below). Originally, it featured a right-angle Cardan drive mechanism—quite a piece of railway history! If you’re curious about the early type, please check out my previous post as well.

Unfortunately, Mustard Seed was temporarily closed when I visited, which was a pity. Still, I was kindly allowed to photograph this beautiful train and had a wonderful chat with the Chairperson of the KuHa 703 Preservation Society, who was tending the garden. Thanks to him, I learned a lot about the train and the restaurant’s history. Thank you so much, Chairperson! I’ll be back again.

TT-3 bogie

Official Website, Mustard Seed Restaurant (in Japanese):

https://www.sanai-u.com/mustardseed/

EMU 80000 Series: New Model on the Urban Park Line

EMU Tobu 80000 series on the Urban Park line

You may remember when I posted about the name change of the Tobu-Noda Line before. Japan’s population has entered a declining phase, and railway companies are competing to attract passengers while improving the value of their lines. For that reason, Tobu Railway gave the nickname “Urban Park Line” to the Noda Line in 2014. What do you think of the new name, “Urban Park Line”? Does it sound sophisticated? To be honest, I sometimes wonder why Japanese people are so eager to use English words for the names of shops, restaurants, companies, and even railway stations and lines.

Enough with the preamble—let’s get down to the main topic. I recently realized that Tobu is taking the task of improving the value of their lines very seriously, not only by renaming them but also by upgrading the trains themselves. As proof of that, Tobu launched a new, sophisticated commuter train—the EMU 80000 series—on the Urban Park Line this year. It’s been 12 years since the previous model, the EMU 60000 series, was introduced.

What’s special about the 80000 series? It features a dedicated area for families with children. There is a unique seating space with a baby stroller parking area, called “Tanoseat” (see the photo below). The word “Tanoseat” is a blend of Tanoshii (meaning “fun” in Japanese) and “seat” in English. When a family gathers at the Tanoseat, it really makes the trip more enjoyable.

I’m running out of space here, so I’ll save the technical specifications of the 80000 series for a future post.

"Tanoseat" of the EMU Tobu 80000 series

Official information about the EMU 80000 series by Tobu Railway (in Japanese):

https://www.tobu.co.jp/cms-pdf/releases/202404161247115gFjCdYsG3H5MfjtzUEqxQ.pdf

A Serendipitous Reunion with Tobu 8577F

Set 8577 of the Tobu 8000 series EMU on display at the Railway Museum

I’m not a native English speaker, so I often come across unfamiliar words. The latest example was “serendipity.” It’s not a common word, but I wanted to remember it through a real experience. As I mentioned in my last post, I recently visited the vast Shirley poppy field in Saitama Prefecture. When I saw this vermilion-colored field, it reminded me of Tobu Railway’s vermilion-colored train—set 8577 of the 8000 series EMU (hereafter 8577F), which I introduced in 2016. Two hours later, I stopped by the Railway Museum in the same prefecture and unexpectedly came across 8577F. What a coincidence! This is truly serendipity, isn’t it?

Why was the Tobu train on display at the Railway Museum, which is owned by JR East? Here’s the story: in 2023, the Railway Museum formed a partnership with the Tobu Museum in Tokyo. The two museums now collaborate to promote railway culture. As part of this effort, the Railway Museum temporarily exhibited Tobu Railway’s 8577F in its outdoor yard. According to the museum, 8577F was displayed for only one month.

Another question is: how was 8577F transported to the Railway Museum? The answer is as follows. The tracks of Tobu Railway and JR East are connected at Kurihashi Station yard. Moreover, JR East’s line is linked to the tracks at the Railway Museum, so 8577F was hauled from Tobu Railway to the museum by locomotives. Long time no see, 8577F! How have you been?

The JR East line connected with the Railway Museum tracks

The 110th Anniversary of the Tojo Line

Set 9107 of the EMU Tobu 9000 series travels on the Tokyu-Toyoko line

On May 1st, 2024, Tobu Railway celebrated the 110th anniversary of their Tojo line. In commemoration, the company holds several events.

Let me review the Tojo line to start. The Tobu-Tojo line is one of the main transportation arteries in the northwestern part of the metropolitan area. Connecting Ikebukuro in Tokyo Metropolis and Kawagoe City in Saitama Prefecture, it was opened on May 1st in 1914. The route was, then, fully opened in 1925 between Ikebukuro and Yorii. The total line length is, currently, 75 kilometers. It carries about one million passengers per day.

One of the 110th anniversary events is displaying a special plate on the front of set 9107 of the EMU 9000 series. It will be exhibited until October 10th. The words "110th ANNIVERSARY TOBU TOJO LINE" were written in English on the plate. I don’t know why in English… never mind. For your information, the 9000 series was commissioned in 1981 as Tobu’s first stainless-steel train. 100 units in total were built by Tokyu-sharyo, Alna-koki and Fuji Heavy Industries. The 9000 series is directly operated onto the Tokyo Metro and Tokyu lines, so, I could shoot it on the Tokyu-Toyoko line, which is closer to my house. Thank you so much, the 9000 series.

Incidentally, I still remember the 100th anniversary events on the Tojo line in 2014. I saw the grand ceremony in the Ikebukuro station yard and the operation of memorial train. Ten years have passed since then. The time really flies.

The 110th anniversary plate of the Tobu-Tojo line

Calpis Express: My Favorite Branded Train

Set 205 of the EMU Tobu 200 series, "Calpis Express" branded train

Do you see branded trains in your country? In Japan, yes, I often see trains being wrapped by corporate advertisements on the tracks. They are, for example, "Magical Dream Shinkansen" on the JR East Tohoku Shinkansen and "Studio Tour Tokyo Express" on the Seibu line. They are unique, beautiful and eye-catching; however, some of the branded trains are too flashy for me, so, I often hesitate to introduce branded trains in this blog.

I recently came across a new branded train on the Tobu line. Please look at the top photo. That's Set 205 of the EMU Tobu 200 series, nicknamed the "Calpis Express". It's operated between Asakusa and Akagi (or Oota, Isesaki) terminals. Calpis is the most famous probiotic drinks brand in Japan. I have also been drinking Calpis since I was a child. It makes me feel refreshed specifically in the hot summer. The bodies of the Calpis Express also make me feel refreshed. They are two-toned of blue and white... very cool. The illustrations of Calpis bottles are also cute and my favorite.

Incidentally, Set 205 of the EMU 200 series was commissioned in 1992. It had two-toned of red and white-colored bodies. In contrast to its beautiful appearance, the technical specification of the 200 series is rather old. For example, the electric control system is traditional rheostatic. Please look at the photo below. There is a resistor, which creates uncomfortable heat under the floor... but, please don't worry! The bodies of the Calpis Express train will make it refreshing.

Logo of the Calpis Express and the resistor under the floor

Not so much a Strawberry as an Orange

Set 109 of the EMU Tobu 100 series, "Ichigo Spacia"

I'm not a native English speaker, so, writing English compositions is difficult even posting an English blog for many years. The structures of English and Japanese are different. The title of today's post is a specifically difficult phrase for me to use... "Not so much a strawberry as an orange".

In June, 2023, people in Tochigi Prefecture celebrated the 150th anniversary of their prefecture. To commemorate this, Tobu Railway, which has an extensive railway network in Tochigi Prefecture, started to operate a memorial train, named "Ichigo Spacia" (set 109 of the EMU 100 series, “Spacia”) on the Nikko, Kinugawa and Isesaki lines. Strawberry, also known as Ichigo in Japanese, is a local specialty in Tochigi Prefecture. I have a thing for strawberries. My favorite variety is "Tochiaika" produced in Tochigi Prefecture. It's large and sweet. I recently found a beautiful strawberry poster on the side body of an Ichigo Spacia train. That was a promotion of Tochiaika produced in Tochigi Prefecture. Please look at the photo below. It looks delicious!

According to Tobu Railway, the body coloring of the Ichigo Spacia train was designed in accordance with a strawberry; however, I feel that the body stripes are not strawberry-colored. Several rail-fans commented, "Strawberry-colored train images will be able to be obtained, if we shoot it on cloudy days", so, I followed their suggestions. Please look at the top photo. What color do you see it in the image? I see it... "Not so much as a strawberry but an orange". Sorry, let's not say something so rigid.

Strawberry poster on the side body of the Tobu "Ichigo Spacia" train

Official information about the Tobu "Ichigo Spacia" train (in Japanese):

https://www.tobu.co.jp/cms-pdf/releases/20231207172230RF_TR0B9Qvjbg1pKOXe0Ig.pdf

The Old Train is Back

Set 8111 of the EMU Tobu 8000 series travels on the Noda line

On October 11th, many rail fans were amazed by a news from Tobu Railway. "An old train, set 8111 (hereafter 8111F) of the EMU 8000 series, will be coming back to the track soon."

Let me review the history of 8111F. It's a 6-car train and the original 4 cars were built by Nippon Sharyo in 1963. After operating for 48 years, it was once retired from the track in 2011, and preserved in working conditions. At the same time, the owner of 8111F was moved from Tobu Railway to Tobu Museum. From 2011 to 2020, this preserved train was sometimes operated as a special train. For example, I saw it at Shimo-Itabashi station, when it was operated as a special train celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Tojo line; however, since 2020, we had never seen 8111F on the lines.

Actually, 8111F was alive! It was moved from the Tojo to the Noda line (Urban Park line), and started to be operated as a commuter train from October 31st in 2023. If 8111F were human, he (or she) would be a 60-year-old worker. He once retired at 48, but came back to his work at 60. Furthermore, he is working full time. That's amazing! Currently, many rail fans flock to the Noda line to shoot and ride this precious train. I was also one of them. When I was waiting for 8111F beside the track, many local people (non-rail fans) asked me, "Is any special train coming?" They showed deep interest in this precious train.

Set 8111 stands at Funabashi station 

Tobu 1: Preserved SL in Itabashi Ward

Steam locomotive Tobu 1 is preserved in Johoku Traffic Park in Itabashi Ward

Itabashi is one of 23 wards of Tokyo Metropolis, and located in the northern part of the metropolis. There are two traffic parks in the ward. Traffic parks are good places for kids to learn traffic rules, while playing and riding bikes and pedal cars, but the role is not only that. We can see preserved vehicles. I recently visited Johoku Traffic Park in Itabashi Ward to observe a precious locomotive.

Tobu 1 is a steam locomotive (SL) built in 1912 by Orenstein & Koppel Company in Germany. It's a 0-4-0 type (Whyte notation) SL, 5.023 meters long, 1.827 meters wide, 3.429 meters high, and weighs 8,630 kilograms. The driving wheel diameter is 585 millimeters. This small SL was originally commissioned in Arita Railway under the name of Arita 1. For your information, Arita Railway was a local route in Wakayama Prefecture in the western part of Japan, but unfortunately abolished in 2003. Arita 1 was transferred to Tobu Railway, and renamed Tobu 1 in 1951. Tobu 1 belonged to Kawagoe Locomotive Depot, but it was operated only for untimetabled trains on the Tojo line. Tobu 1 was retired from the track in 1952 because of its low towing ability. To make matters worse, Tobu 1 only had a handbrake system. I wonder why Tobu had introduced this SL.

Apart from its mundane history, I was fascinated by Tobu 1 as it's lovely, and preserved in very good condition. I would like to thank everyone involved in preserving Tobu 1 in Itabashi Ward.

Back view of Tobu 1

Spacia X: Tobu New Flagship Train

EMU Tobu N100 series, "Spacia X", passes through Himemiya station

On July 15th, Tobu Railway launched a new limited express train "Spacia X", the EMU N100 series. I'm going to introduce this new flagship train to you today.

Spacia X is a successor of the first generation "Spacia", namely the EMU 100 series. Spacia was launched in 1990 for a limited express train between Asakusa terminal in Tokyo and the Nikko-Kinugawa sightseeing area. Because of its unique design and high specifications, Spacia became very popular among tourists. 33 years later, Tobu eventually introduced the long-awaited second-generation Spacia, namely Spacia X.

Spacia X is a 6-car train consisting of 4 motorcars and 2 trailers (4M2T). The bodies are made of aluminum alloy and white-colored. The X-shaped window frames on the first and the last car are very unique and beautiful. It's a motif of Kanumakumiko, which is a traditional woodcraft in Kanuma City on the Tobu line. The interior is gorgeous. One train has a suite room, a cafe lounge, compartments, box seats, premium seats and standard seats. Accessible restrooms and large baggage storages are equipped. Regarding the technical specifications, the state of the art VVVF (variable frequency drive) electric control system with full hybrid-SiC elements is adopted. A total of two sets were built by Hitachi Kasado factory. Two more sets will be introduced by the end of the fiscal year 2023.

I shot this new flagship train at Himemiya station, and was fascinated. Its streamlined and slightly blueish white-monotoned bodies were very impressive. Tobu Railway is going to a new stage.

EMU Tobu N100 series, "Spacia X", passes through Shin-Koshigaya station

Official website, Tobu limited express "Spacia X":

https://www.tobu.co.jp/spaciax/en/

Spot the Difference: Tobu 50070 and 50050 Series

EMU Tobu 50070 series travels on the Tokyu-Toyoko line.

I have already uploaded nearly 1,700 posts in this blog. I thought that all kinds of the existing trains in Tokyo had already been introduced to you here, but it was not true. I recently found that I haven't shown you some more models yet. The introduction to trains in Tokyo is almost endless. Today, I'm going to show you the EMU Tobu 50070 series for the first time. You may think that it's the same as the other Tobu trains such as the 50050 series, which I showed you before. Let's give it a shot. Can you spot the difference between the 50070 series (the top photo) and the 50050 series (the photo below)?

Was it a piece of cake for you? The answer is "the LED displays on the front". The 50070 series has full color LED displays, which can make white-colored light. On the other hand, the 50050 series has conventional LED displays, which can't make white-colored light.

For your information, the 50070 series was launched in 2007 for the direct operation between the Tobu, Tokyo Metro-Yurakucho, Tokyo Metro-Fukutoshin, Tokyu-Toyoko and Yokohohama-Minaomirai lines. On the other hand, the 50050 series was launched in 2006 for the direct operation between the Tobu, Tokyo Metro-Hanzomon and Tokyu-Denentoshi lines. The 50070 and 50050 series are also known as the brothers of the 50000 and 50090 series, which I showed you before in this blog.

It's fun for me to perceive a fine difference between these trains as a trainspotter.

EMU Tobu 50050 series travels on the Tobu line.

Precious Train and Bird on the Tobu Line

EMU Tobu 500 series, "Revaty", travels on the Tobu line backed by Tokyo Skytree

It's late-February already. How quickly time flies! Spring is just around the corner. I recently visited an urban area for strolling. My destination was Sumida Ward. It's famous for Tokyo Skytree and its related sightseeing spots. Tokyo Skytree is a TV and radio broadcasting tower located on the Tobu line. At 634 meters high, the Skytree is known as the world's tallest freestanding broadcasting tower. I have already been to the observation deck, so, I enjoyed walking about the surrounding area this time.

When I was walking along Kita-Jikken River near the Skytree, Tobu's precious train, EMU 500 series, "Revaty", was approaching on schedule. "Revaty" is a limited express train connecting Tokyo Metropolis and the Nikko sightseeing area in Tochigi Prefecture. "Revaty" is a coined word, synthesized from "variety" and "liberty". This train is basically composed of 3 cars, and easy to couple and decouple each trainset. As a result, Tobu can make "variable" train operations "liberally".

After taking a photo of Revaty backed by Tokyo Skytree, I stopped by at a park nearby. A bird with blue and orange-colored plumage then approached me. That was a kingfisher. I was surprised that the precious wild bird inhabits in an urban area like this. I didn't have a telephoto lens at that time, but managed to take the kingfisher picture by a standard lens. Bird shooting was completely different from that of trains, which are operated in accordance with timetables. I definitely prefer shooting trains to shooting birds.

A kingfisher perches on a tree in a park near Tobu Skytree station

Official information about the Tobu limited express train "Revaty":

https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/express_info/express/revaty.html

Serving a Double Purpose on the Tobu and JR East Lines

Set 81107 of the EMU Tobu 8000 series approaches the 2nd Kubo railway crossing

Here we're in the middle of winter in Tokyo. It's clear every day in the regions here on the Pacific Ocean. Winter is one of the best seasons to take railway pictures in the Pacific Ocean side including the Tokyo metropolitan area. The blue sky gives railway photographers many beautiful subjects.

One day, I headed to the northern suburb. My destination was "the 2nd Kubo railway crossing", where we can take photos of the Tobu Ogose line trains. The Ogose line is a local branch route of the Tobu-Tojo line. A 4-car train, EMU 8000 series, is operated every 15 minutes. After arriving at the railway crossing, the southbound train soon approached. That's a special-colored train, trainset 81107 of the 8000 series. The orange and dark beige colored bodies are a revival of the Tobu trains in the 1960s. It was very beautiful under the winter sunlight.

Is that the end of today's post? No, I'm still in the middle of it. Five minutes later, the other train approached the railway crossing... a diesel railcar, JR East KiHa 110 series, not a Tobu train. What was going on there? The gimmick is as follows. The 2nd Kubo railway crossing is used by two companies, namely Tobu Railway and JR East. Tobu uses one track as the Ogose line, while JR East uses another track as the Hachiko line. The latter is not electrified, so we can see the diesel railcar.

I served a double purpose at the 2nd Kubo railway crossing.

Diesel railcar JR East 110 series approaches the 2nd Kubo railway crossing