Preserved streetcar, unit number 5501 of the Toei 5500 series, "PCC Car"
After joining Tram Day event in Arakawa Depot on the Arakawa Line, I popped into a small museum adjacent to the depot to see some preserved trams.
The main exhibit here is a classic American style streetcar, unit number 5501 of the Toei (Tokyo Metropolitan Government) 5500 series. This elegant tram belongs to the group of PCC Cars. As you may know, the PCC Car was developed in the 1930s by Electric Railway Presidents' Conference Committee (ERPCC) in the United States. The members of the ERPCC were tram operators, who shared a sense of crisis about the rise of family cars in the US. The committee jointly developed a new high-performance streetcar, namely the PCC Car, in 1936.
The technology of PCC car was exported to Japan in the 1950s. At that time, Japan was still in the postwar reconstruction period. Tokyoites had a serious shortage of transportation means. Importing the technology of the PCC car was welcome news for the people. The Japanese PCC Car, unit number 5501, was manufactured in 1954 by Naniwa Koki under license of Transit Research Corporation of the United States. The 5501 had been operated on Route 1 for 13 years. It was the main tram route in Tokyo passing through Ginza, the most famous downtown area.
I was fascinated by this elegant streamlined streetcar. The pantograph on the roof of the body is also beautiful and my favorite. I hope that this elegant streetcar comes back to the track someday in the future.
Side view of unit number 5501 of the Toei 5500 series
Funicular Momiji of the Tsukuba-san Cable Railway Line
As I mentioned before, Mt. Tsukuba is the scenic sightseeing spot in the Tokyo metropolitan area. This mountain has twin peaks, namely Nyotai-san (Female Summit) and Nantai-san (Male Summit). The female summit (877m above sea level) is 6 meters taller than the male one. Both peaks have means of transportation for access. They are the aerial tramway to the female summit and the funicular to the male summit.
The funicular, Tsukuba-san Cable Railway, was opened in 1925. Connecting Miyawaki and Tsukuba-sancho stations, the route length is 1,634m. The height difference between the highest and the lowest points of the route is 495m. The track gauge is 1,067mm.
The present two vehicles, namely Wakaba and Momiji, were manufactured by Daiei Sharyo in 1995. The body colors are green (Wakaba) and red (Momiji). Each vehicle can accommodate up to 106 passengers. They are operated every 20 minutes. The travel time between the two stations is 8 minutes.
This funicular line has several features. Firstly, the track is curved to the west. So, the two terminals differ in orientation at an angle of 90 degrees. Secondly, there is a tunnel mid-way on the route. It was a difficult task to burrow hard rock in the 1920s. Thirdly, an overhead catenary is not used for electric power supply in the vehicles, since such strong direct current causes adverse effects on the observation work at the national magnetic observatory near Mt. Tsukuba.
Mt. Tsukuba Cable Railway... it is a unique funicular in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Funicular Aoba of the Tsukuba-san Cable Railway Line
Dropping the pantographs, EMU JR East EV-E301 series runs on the non-electrified track
As I reported before, JR East launched Japan's first accumulator train, the EV-E301 series on March 15th this year. Following the test run operation on the electrified track of the Tohoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line), I am going to show you the scenes of the battery mode operation on the non-electrified track of the Karasuyama Line since starting commercial operations.
Please look at the top photo. You can see the EV-E301 series running on the un-electrified track between Kohnoyama and Oogane stations of the Karasuyama Line. Dropping its pantographs, the train is operated by the electric power supplied from two sets of 600V-95kWh lithium ion accumulators. I was surprised that the train had such a low noise level.
The following photo shows the scene of the train being charged at Karasuyama Terminal. After arriving at Karasuyama, the EV-E301 series is charged up at the charging facility for its return trip. You can see the train raising the pantographs and the short overhead conductor rail constructed above the train. "Nutritional support" is essential for the EV-E301 series before a 20.4km long return journey without electric supply from the overhead catenary.
Plenty of rail fans ride on this brand new train every day. While I was waiting for the return train at Karasuyama Terminal, I saw many local Boy Scouts, who were making a visit to the terminal to see the EV-E301 series. They listened intently to the railway employee's explanations about the accumulator train.
The battery mode operation of the EV-E301 series... so far, so good.
The EV-E301 series is charged up for its return trip at the charging facility of Karasuyama Terminal.
EMU Sotetsu 11000 series, poster train "Sonyan", arrives at Seya Station
Do you know the Japanese word, "Yurukyara"? It means lovely, cute or pretty mascots for local governments, companies or private groups. For instance, Funasshi is the most famous and popular Yurukyara in Japan. He is the mascot for Funabashi City in Chiba Prefecture to promote Funabashi and its specialty... juicy pears.
Currently, establishing Yurukyara is also becoming popular among railway companies to promote their services to passengers. Sagami Railway (Sotetsu) is no exception. Recently, Sotetsu established their Yurukyara, named "Sonyan". According to Sotetsu's website, Sonyan is a cat, who was born on March 10th on the Sotetsu Line. He is a Sotetsu employee assigned to public relations.
In commemoration of establishing the Yurukyara, Sotetsu has launched a special poster EMU, "Sonyan Train", with the Yurukyara design. It is set number 11003F of the EMU 11000 series. A 10-car train is beautifully decorated with yellow colored stripes and Sonyan characters. Most of the kids on the Sotetsu Line already know Sonyan and wave to the Sonyan Train when they see it from the platform. Sotetsu publishes the Sonyan Train timetable on their website for the passengers.
For your information, the EMU 11000 series is the newest model on the Sotetsu Line. A total of 5 sets, 50 units, have been manufactured since 2008 by Tokyu Sharyo and JR East Niitsu factory. To reduce the manufacturing costs, it has a common design with JR East's EMU E233 series on the Chuo Rapid Line.
Sotetsu's mascot, "Sonyan" is seen on the body of the EMU 11000 series
EMU Keio 1000 series passes through full-blown hydrangeas in front of Higashi-Matsubara Station
The Japan Meteorological Agency has announced that this year's rainy season began on June 5th in the Tokyo metropolitan area. It means that hydrangea blooming season has also begun here in Tokyo. Although it is a gloomy period before midsummer, Tokyoites can enjoy full-blown hydrangeas here and there. When one god deserts you, another will pick you up. This Japanese maxim is definitely correct.
Following years 2011, 2012 and 2013, I enjoyed hydrangea flowers again on the Keio-Inokashira Line. Please look at the photos. They are illuminated hydrangea flowers in front of the platform of Higashi-Matsubara Station. The night lighting of hydrangeas is annual event at this station. As I mentioned before, Keio has been working on planting hydrangeas on the embankments of the railways to prevent slope failure and protect the environment since 1991. Nowadays, we can enjoy seeing colorful hydrangea blossoms at the side of the railway tracks specifically around Higashi-Matsubara, Shimokitazawa and Shin-Daita and Meidaimae stations in June.
This year, I visited Higashi-Matsubara Station a bit later than previous years to see the well-colored flowers. It was indeed good timing, wasn't it? The vivid train, EMU Keio-1000 series, stands against the colorful hydrangea flowers in the background. I saw many rail fans and flower lovers on the platform of this small station. Higashi-Matsubara is no longer "the undiscovered hydrangea viewing spot". It has become a famous place for hydrangea flowers.
Whatever the weather is, the season of hydrangeas is my annual favorite.
Set number 1751F of the EMU Keio 1000 series and full-blown hydrangeas
