Streetcar with Christmas Decorations

Electric car, number 9001 of the Toei 9000 series stands at Arakawa-kuyakusho-mae Stop

 

The 2014 Christmas season has passed. How did you spend the Christmas holidays this year? I am not a Christian, but I could also feel Christmas here and there in Tokyo. For instance, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Toei) operated a special streetcar during the Christmas season. It was car number 9001 of the electric car 9000 series on the Arakawa Line.

As you know, the Arakawa Line is a precious survivor of the tram route in Tokyo. It had been operated as two routes, namely Route 27 and 32. They were integrated into one route, the Arakawa Line, in 1974. Connecting Waseda and Minowabashi, its operating length is 12.2 km. The track is 1,372 mm-size gauge and double. The electric system is 600 V DC overhead.

The electric car 9000 series is the latest model on the line. It was commissioned in 2007. A total of 2 units have been manufactured so far by Aluna Sharyo. Each unit has a different color, red (car number 9001) and blue (car number 9002). Although the specification of the 9000 series has been modernized, the exterior design and interior atmosphere of this model remains retro-inspired.

You can see a Christmas wreath on the front of car number 9001. Santa Claus and the other Christmas characters are also seen on the side windows. They are beautiful and lovely. National flags of Japan (Rising Sun flags) were also displayed on December 23rd, which was the Emperor's Birthday.

Only two days are now left in 2014.

 

Side view of the electric car 9001 with Christmas decorations

Tankoro Festival on the Enoden Line

Front view of car number 108, the electric car Enoden 100 series, "Tankoro"

 

Following the rail yard tour on the Shin-Keisei Railway, I am going to show you the other public event, which was recently held by Enoshima Electric Railway.

Enoshima Electric Railway (Enoden) is a convenient mode of transportation to get around the historical Kamakura City, which is located about 40 km southwest of Tokyo. Connecting Kamakura and Fujisawa on the Tokaido and Odakyu lines, its operating length is 10 km. The track is 1,067 mm-size single, and its electric system is 600 V DC overhead.

The public event, "Tankoro Festival", was held in Enoden's Gokurakuji Rail Yard. The main exhibition was... of course, Tankoro. What is Tankoro? It is an old electric car, which is being kept in an operational state in the rail yard. Tankoro, whose formal name is "electric car, number 108 of the Enoden 100 series", was manufactured in 1931 by Niigata Tekko. He (or she) is the 8th boy (girl) of the 100 series brothers (sisters).

The specification of Tankoro is very old. Direct electric control and straight air brake systems are still used, but it is very handsome and nostalgic. The frontal mask is slightly convex, and it has three large windows. A large single round light is attached at the top of the front. The green and cream colored riveted body with window sills and window headers tell us the long history of this train.

I am truly grateful to Enoshima Electric Railway Company to have held this special event.
 

Car number 108 of the electric car Enoden 100 series (Tankoro) is exhibited in Gokurakuji Rail Yard

 

More infomation about car number 108 of the electric car Enoden 100 series (in Japanese):

http://www.enoden.co.jp/train/tra_h_108.htm

Histric Street on the Nagareyama Line

EMU Ryutetsu 5000 series arrives at Heiwadai Station

 

Along with the old artificial river, I am going to introduce the other picturesque spot in Nagareyama City.

Nagareyama has been developed as a center of an inland water transportation system since the 18th Century. Thanks to the water transportation, Nagareyama has prospered for a long time. It has gorgeous shopping streets such as Dozo-dukuri, which are made of timbers, but the walls were coated with stucco for resistance to fire. The photo below was built as a draper's shop in 1890. It is a kaleidoscope shop now.

Currently, Nagareyama, which has a population of about 170,000, became a commuter city rather than the center of the inland water transportation. Many people go to their offices and schools in Tokyo by train. One of the must-be-remembered railways for rail-fans is the Ryutetsu Nagareyama Line. It is a small local railway, connecting Mabashi on the JR East Joban Line and Nagareyama (5.7 km). The entire route is an electrified single track. The electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead and the gauge size is 1,067 mm.

The rolling stock on the Nagareyama Line is the EMU ex-Seibu 101 series. It was moved to Ryutetsu in 2009 and named the 5000 series. A total of five sets are operated on the track. They are light blue, red, yellow, orange and green. The 2-car trains are operated every 15 minutes on average.

A visit to Nagareyama is interesting all the way through.
 

The old shop near Heiwadai Station on the Ryutetsu Line

Rail Yard Tours on the Shin-Keisei Line

Shin-Keisei trains are exhibited in Kunugiyama Rail Yard near Kunugiyama Station

 

I had forgotten to post my blog entry about one more railway event in October this year. It was the rail yard tour on the Shin-Keisei Line.

Shin-Keisei (New Keisei) is a private railway company in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. It is an affiliate firm of Keisei Electric Railway Company, and classified as a mid-sized railway in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Connecting Matsudo on the JR East Joban Line and Tsudanuma on the Keisei Main Line, there are 24 stations over a total operating length of 26.5km. The track is a 1,435mm-size and electrified. The electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead. Most of the route is a double track, and 6-car trains are operated every 10 minutes on average during the daytime.

The event was held in Kunugiyama (Sawtooth Oak Mountain) Rail Yard near Kunugiyama Station. Joining a photo session, I could get a beautiful shot of a whole formation of Shin-Keisei trains. The new colored trains were dazzling. They are white and pink colored EMUs, 8800 and 8900 series. Both of them are Shin-Keisei's main fleet on the track.

In the meantime, many other activities were also seen in the yard. The same as the Saitama Railway event, maintenance vehicle tours were very popular attractions for the kids. I also saw a crowd of people buying Shin-Keisei's railway goods such as a 2015 calendar.

I am truly grateful to Shin-Keisei Electric Railway to have held this special event.
 

Crew cabin of the EMU Shin-Keisei 8800 series is open to the public in Kunigiyama Rail Yard

Newcomer on the Shonan Monorail Line

Set number 4 of the EMU 5000 series travels on the Shonan Monorail Line

 

I visited the Shonan Monorail Line two years to the day since 2012. Anything new? Yes, a new train, set number 4 of the EMU 5000 series was launched in February of this year.

First of all, let me explain the Shonan Monorail Line. This route was opened in 1970 as the second suspended type monorail line in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Connecting Ofuna on the JR East Tokaido Line and Shonan-Enoshima stations, the operating length is 6.6 km. The track is single and the electric system is 1,500 V DC. The route passes through industrial and residential quarters in the Kamakura Mountain area. Trains are operated every 7.5 minutes during the daytime.

The EMU 5000 series is the main fleet on the line. It was launched in 2004 to replace the old model, the 400 series. One set of the train is composed of three motor cars. The IGBT-VVVF inverter (variable frequency drive) electric control system is on board and the maximum operating speed is 75km per hour.

A total of four sets, 12 cars have been manufactured so far by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The latest set, namely, set number 4 (car number 5606, 5207 and 5608), has yellow-colored stripes on the aluminum alloy body; meanwhile, the other three sets have red, blue or light green-colored stripes on the bodies. The large windows to view the beautiful scenery of Kamakura Mountain are my favorite.

Riding on the 5000 series monorail train... enjoy a short journey to Kamakura.

 

Set number 4 of the EMU 5000 series stands at Nishi-Kamakura Station

 

More information about the EMU Shonan Monorail 5000 series (in Japanese):
http://www.shonan-monorail.co.jp/publics/index/40/