The 183 Series, Old JNR Express

Displaying "School Excursion" on the front, the EMU 183 series stands at Shinjuku Station

 

The spring tourist season still continues in Japan. JR trains busily transport groups such as students on school excursions every day. On platform number eleven in Shinjuku Station, I see a special train for school excursions every morning around 7 o'clock.

This week, the EMU JR East 183 series is coming to Shinjuku, instead of the 485 series "New Nanohana", which was operated last week (see my blog on May 24th, 2013). The 183 series is an old express train commissioned in 1974 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). It is a DC (direct current) system train manufactured by Nippon Sharyo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyu Sharyo and Kinki Sharyo. The specification is rather old; but several sets are still operated in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The train in the top photo was specially-manufactured for tracks in snowy regions such as the Joetsu Line. For that purpose, special snow-proofing and cold-proofing for the body and special bogies are used. The high cockpit with a bonnet is a distinctive feature of this train. It is a typical design of the so-called "JNR style" express train from the 1960's to the 1970's... a very nostalgic design for me.

Displaying "School Excursion" on the front of the train, the EMU 183 series leaves Shinjuku Station at 7.02 every morning with plenty of junior high school students. The old train serves boys and girls who will bear the future world.

It will be the final mission for the old JNR express.

 

Side view of the EMU JR East 183 series

"Sigh of the Dragon" on the Koumi Line

DMU JR East KiHa 110 series passes through Kawamata River near Kai-Ooizumi Station

As I mentioned in my blog on June 22nd, 2012, the JR East Koumi Line is a local railway route in Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures. The 78.9km long route penetrates a highland area at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains.

The Koumi Line provides us with various pleasures. The coolness of summer is special. The foliage season is also attractive. Specifically, I like to visit Shirokoma-ike where we can view a mysterious pond and beautiful autumn leaves (see my blog on February 11th, 2013).

What is it like on the Koumi Line in late spring? It is the season of fresh greenery. I like to visit Doryu Fall, which is located near Kai-Ooizumi Station (see the following picture). "Doryu" means "a sigh of the dragon". Ancient people probably imagined steam breathing from a dragon's mouth while looking at this fine and thin waterfall. It is quite unique that the water squirts out from the surface of the rock.

In the meantime, Doryu Fall is located near a railway bridge of the Koumi Line so we can enjoy both the gorgeous waterfall and trains passing through the river in one spot. I could see a 2-car train, the DMU JR East 110 series, heading north (see the top photo). It is the JR East's standard DMU for local lines (see my blog on June 22nd, 2012).

The beautiful "sigh of the dragon" and the gorgeous railway scenery...this is killing two birds with one stone, isn't it?

Doryu Waterfall near Kai-Ooizumi Station on the JR East Koumi Line

"Acty", Fast Runner on the Shonan Coast

EMU JR East E233-3000 series, the rapid train, "Acty", stands at Atami Station

 

The Shonan Coast is a 30km long beach facing the Pacific Ocean. It is located southwest of Tokyo, and can be reached in about one hour by train from downtown Tokyo. The Shonan Coast has been one of the top-rated residential areas in the Tokyo metropolitan area since the 1950's. It is because the area has a beautiful beach and a historical city such as Kamakura.

The railway on the Shonan Coast, namely the Tokaido Main Line, is also something special. The commuter trains on this route have been equipped with green cars (the first class cars) for a long time, as many rich people have been taking this line. Currently, the main fleet of the Tokaido Main Line is an EMU E233-3000 series. It is a 10 or 15 car train including two double-deck green cars. Specifically, the rapid train "Acty" is a representative one using the E233-3000 series. Stopping at only major stations, "Acty" runs between Tokyo and Odawara, the westernmost city of the Shonan Coast, in about 80 minutes.

Taking "Acty", you can reach the beautiful beach on the Shonan Coast in about one hour from downtown Tokyo. I sometimes enjoy walking on the beach near Oiso Station. When I was a child, this place could hardly be described as beautiful because of pollution; but, now, it has become clean as local people and governments' efforts have finally paid off.

The blue ocean on the Shonan Coast is always waiting for visitors.

Beach of the Shonan Coast near Oiso Station on the JR East Tokaido Main Line

Sayonara, the Tokyu 8090 Series

EMU Tokyu 8090 series arrives at Mizonokuchi Station in the rain (May, 2012)

Tokyu has been working hard to reorganize their railway network for the last few decades. For instance, the Mekama Line was broken up into two routes, namely the Meguro Line and the Tamagawa Line in 2000. The Meguro Line was, then, connected with the Subway Namboku and Mita lines at Meguro Station.

Tokyu also reorganized the Toyoko Line on March 16th of this year (see my blog on March 20th, 2013). Its Shibuya Station was moved from the surface to underground. As a result, the Toyoko Line trains have started to be operated directly into the Subway Fukutoshin Line through the new Shibuya station. These actions are based on Tokyu's strategy to create a strong urban railway network to secure passengers even in the current competitive business environment.

Operation of the rolling stock on the Tokyu lines has also been affected by the reorganizing of the network. Recently, the EMU 8090 series has been retired from the Ooimachi Line. In consequence, all the 8090 series trains have disappeared from the Tokyu lines. I liked the 8090 series as its body was round-faced, more properly, swelling toward the bottom (see the top photo).

Sayonara (good-bye), the Tokyu 8090 series; but, don't worry. The 8090 series are tough and will survive. Changing its name to the 7500 series, the 8090 series have been moved to the Chichibu Railway in Saitama Prefecture (see the following picture). Green colored stripes of the new Chichibu 7500 series are also attractive for me.

Rail fans are people who are always getting into a fuss about the moves of trains.

EMU Chichibu 7500 series (ex-Tokyu 8090 series) arrives at Oyahana Station (June, 2012)

Romance Car "LSE" and Natural Beauty in Hakone

EMU Odakyu 7000 series, Romance Car "LSE" (original color) passes through Kyodo Station

Hakone is a famous mountain resort in the western suburbs of Tokyo. It is always busy with tourists, but, it is especially crowded now because it is the season of fresh greenery. I also went there with my family last weekend.

We got on the Odakyu Romance Car from Machida Station. Our vehicle was the EMU 7000 series, "LSE" (see the top photo). It was launched in 1980 to replace the old models. A total of 4 sets, 44 units, have been manufactured by Nippon Sharyo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries so far. Currently, two sets are still being operated on the Odawara Line.

Recent topics of the LSE are its body color change. Last year, Odakyu returned the body color of LSE to its original one, namely orange vermilion, gray and white. As a result, the white and wine-red colored LSE cars (see my blog on June 25th, 2011) have disappeared from the tracks.

After arriving at Hakone, we enjoyed a half-day mountain hike. While we walked along a small stream near Kowakidani Station on the Hakone-Tozan Railway, we found an excellent geologic outcrop. It was columnar joint of the Sengen-yama andesite lava (see the following picture). This lava flowed inside the Hakone Caldera around 50,000 years ago. The beautiful hexagonal pattern (columnar joints) was created in the process of the cooling of the hot lava. It has a stonewalling-like appearance; but it is a natural geological phenomenon.

We enjoyed the gorgeous Romance Car and the natural beauty in Hakone.



Columnar joints are found in the Sengen-yama andesite near Kowakidani Staion

 

More information about Romance Car, LSE, the EMU Odakyu 7000 series (in Japanese):

http://www.odakyu.jp/romancecar/line_up/7000/

More information about Odakyu Romance Car:

http://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/