2018 Summer Memories, Part 3: Godzzilla Rock

EMU JR East 701 series (Akita color) stands at Akita station

Godzilla is a famous Japanese cinema character created in 1954 by Toho Company. It is a reptile monster, which changed due to radiation. I have watched the series of Godzilla movies since I was a kid. My favorite scene is when Godzilla charges its power before releasing an atomic blast. We can see the blue colored buildup starting at the end of its tail and moving through its back plates. It is very cool!

To our joy, we can see Godzilla Rock in Oga Peninsula of Akita Prefecture. It is a natural rock standing on the southern coast of the peninsula. At sunset, visitors can see a black colored monster backed by the red colored setting sun. It is the exact image of Godzilla in the movie, especially because the rugged volcanic rock surface looks just like Godzilla's skin. It is very cool!

Before visiting Godzilla Rock, I came across a local train, the EMU 701 series, at Akita station. I often see this model in the Akita area, but that was the first time to see a 3-car train made up of the 701 series. EMU JR East 701 series is a standard commuter train in the Tohoku area. It was launched in 1993 to replace the old commuter EMUs and the passenger coaches. Different from EMUs in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the 701 series is an AC (alternate current) train. The body color of the 701 series varies by area and it has pink and purple colored stripes in the Akita area.

Godzilla Rock

Official information about the JR East 701 series (In Japanese):

https://www.jreast.co.jp/train/local/701.html

2018 Tama-mono Festival: Part 2

Tama Monorail's track maintenance vehicle, unit K-2 (left), and the lifting vehicle (right)

Following my last post, I am going to continue to show you the 2018 Tama-mono Festival held at the Tama Monorail Depot near Takamatsu station.

My best memory from the festival was an operation demonstration of the track maintenance vehicles. As you know, monorail operators need special track maintenance vehicles because the tracks are located at higher elevations than those of standard railways. I saw a special lifting vehicle (unit number unknown) being pulled by self-propelled vehicle named K-2 in the depot. Unit K-2 was built in 2015 by Hokuriku Heavy Industries and the other companies. It has four batteries and a VVVF (variable frequency drive) electric control system. Those batteries can obtain regenerative power in regeneration brake control.

The lifting vehicle has special trestles moved by motors. Using these trestles, engineers can inspect at higher elevations or even below the monorail track. During the demonstration, the railway engineers on board the vehicles were smiling and waving to the visitors, which also made for a good performance.

Inside the train inspection building, I saw an operation demonstration of a pantograph equipped on the train. Using pantographs, monorail trains obtain electric power from the feeders on the sides of the track. Different from the standard trains, pantographs on monorail trains are very small and inconspicuous. I found the pantograph operation performance very interesting and easy to understand.

I am truly grateful to Tokyo Tama Intercity Monorail Company (Tama monorail) for holding this special event.

A pantograph of the EMU Tama Monorail 1000 series

2018 Tama-mono Festival

EMU Tama Monorail 1000 series is exhibited in the Tama Monorail Depot

After visiting TX Sogo Rail Yard, I visited another rail yard tour two weeks later. It was the Tama-mono Festival held by Tokyo Tama Intercity Monorail Company (hereafter Tama Monorail). On November 17th, Tama Monorail held a rail yard tour at their depot. It is located about 800 meters west of the main track between Takamatsu and Tachihi stations. There are two siding tracks from the main track to the depot, one from Takamatsu station and the other from Tachihi station.

I mostly enjoyed the inspection shed, where two sets of the EMU 1000 series were stored. I had time to observe the bogies and underfloor equipment there. It was very interesting. Kids were allowed to enter the train cockpit. They also enjoyed simulated driving experiences using a master controller and a brake system.

Incidentally, the Tama Monorail Line was opened in 1998. The route penetrates the Tama region, a western suburb of Tokyo, from south to north. Connecting Tama Center and Kamikitadai stations, its operating length is 16.0 kilometers. Tama Monorail adopts a straddle-beam system like the Haneda Line of Tokyo Monorail. The track is double, and the electric system is 1,500 V DC. Four-car trains, named the EMU 1000 series, are operated every 6 to 10 minutes. Like other monorail lines, passengers can enjoy superb views from the train windows, including modern buildings in the Tachikawa urban area and the green hilly countryside near Tama Zoo Station.

To be continued...

A siding track (left) and main tracks (right) of the Tama Monorail line

Photogenic Spot on the Kominato Railway

DMU Kominato KiHa200 series travels near Kazusa-Okubo station

Boso is a large peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. It is situated between the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay. The coastal area of Boso Peninsula is famous for being a resort area to enjoy marine activities.

By contrast, the inland area of Boso Peninsula is totally different. We can see beautiful hills and valleys covered by thick forests and rice paddies. To visit this countryside, a local private railway named Kominato Railway is convenient. Kominato connects Goi on the west coast and Kazusa-Nakano in the center of the peninsula. There are 18 stations over a total operating length of 39.1km. The route is single track and non-electrified.

A nostalgic two-car DMU train, KiHa 200 series is the main fleet on the track. A total of 14 units were built from 1961 to 1977 by Nippon Sharyo. Currently, they are rather old, but still maintained in good condition. For taking photographs of these classic DMUs, I recommend you get off at Kazusa-Ookubo station. Once you step onto the platform of the station, you will find a nostalgic landscape with forests and rice paddies. Specifically, the large curved track, which is located west of the station, is very beautiful. It is famous among rail fans as a photogenic spot. 

When I visited there in September, the rice paddies in front of the track were still retaining a fresh green. I could fully enjoy looking at the landscape and shooting photos. Kominato Railway attracts reminiscent rail fans like me.

DMU KiHa200 series travels on the Kominato Railway

Chofu Fireworks on the Keio Line

EMU Keio 5000 series, "Keio Liner", stands at Fuchu station on the Keio main line

Large firework displays are very popular summer events in Japan. My family also really likes fireworks. For instance, we enjoyed Oga - Sea of Japan Fireworks in August in Akita Prefecture. It was one of our best memories of the 2018 summer season.

The situation has changed a little in recent years. Some of the large firework displays are held in autumn. Why? One of the reasons is the climate change in summer. Recently, we have many evening showers with thunderbolts and strong winds in the middle of summer. It is a risk for firework displays. High temperature is another cause of worry for visitors. If summer is not the best season for firework displays, then it'd be better to hold in autumn.

Chofu Fireworks is no exception. It was held in October this year. It was a clear evening. It was not hot and not cold. About 10,000 fireworks were set off on the Tama River. They were very gorgeous and well programmed. They added a sort of poetic charm to the comfortable autumn season.

To see the Chofu Fireworks, the nearest station is Chofu on the Keio line. The city of Chofu with a population close to 230,000 is a typical commuter city in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The new underground station was opened in 2012. It is indeed a modern station, but annoying for rail photo lovers, as the platform doors hamper photos. Instead of Chofu, I am going to show you Fuchu station in an evening.

Chofu Fireworks