Super Rail Cargo: Extra Rare Freight Train

EMU JR Freight M250 series stands at Tokyo Freight Terminal

It's very hot in Tokyo. The maximum daytime temperature is often over 35 degrees Celsius. This heat is killing me, but the hot summer is still better than the rainy season, because, I can at least go out to observe trains without an umbrella. My destination was JR Freight's Tokyo Freight Terminal, about 10 kilometers south of the city center. Although this terminal is for employees only, we can survey the inside of the railyard from an overpass road. And then, I found an extra rare train.

Please look at the top photo... JR Freight's EMU (Electric Multiple-unit), the M250 series. It's not an electric locomotive, but an EMU. The blue-colored two motorcars can accommodate containers in the center of the vehicles. In addition, many flat-shaped trailers, which are coupled behind the blue-colored motorcars, can also accommodate containers. When we see the overall train, one set is formally composed of two top motorcars, 12 trailers and two last motorcars (4M12T). In the photo below, the trainset is unfortunately taken apart.

The EMU M250 series is commissioned under the name of Super Rail Cargo. It's operated between Tokyo Freight Terminal and Ajikawaguchi station in Osaka Prefecture. Why is it an EMU? The major reason is its speed. In fact, the maximum speed of Super Rail Cargo is 130 kilometers per hour, which is 20 kilometers per hour faster than that of freight trains pulled by locomotives. Super Rail Cargo is exclusively contracted by a transportation company, Sagawa Express.

Please check out my previous post about JR Freight's another terminal in Tokyo as well.

Distant view of Tokyo Freight Terminal

Official informartion about Super Rail Cargo by JR Freight (in Japanese):

https://www.jrfreight.co.jp/service/improvement/development.html

Preserved Electric Car in Yamanashi Prefecture

Unit MoHa7 of the electric car Yamanashi Kotsu 7 series

I recently visited a hot spring in Yamanashi Prefecture. It was an ultimate relax time for me, but there was more. On the way home, I could observe a preserved electric car of the ex-Yamanashi Kotsu line.

To start, let me quickly explain the Yamanashi Kotsu line. Yamanashi Kotsu is currently a local bus and taxi company in Yamanashi Prefecture, but this company once owned a tramline named Yamanashi Kotsu line. This route was opened in 1930 as a commuting route between the city center of Kofu and its suburban residential areas. Connecting Kofu-ekimae and Kai-aoyagi, its route length was 20.8 kilometers. The gauge size was 1,067 millimeters and the electric system was 600 V DC. The Yamanashi Kotsu line was unfortunately closed in 1962 due to spreading automobiles and deterioration of the facilities.

Although most of the vehicles on the Yamanashi Kotsu line had been scrapped, one unit is still preserved in Tonegawa Park in Fujikawa Town, which is close to the abandoned track. Please look at the top photo. That's Unit MoHa 7 of the electric car 7 series. Unit MoHa 7 was built in 1948 by Kisha-seizo. It's a 13.8-meters-long car with a semi-steel body, and weighs 22,000 kilograms. It has four 37.5 kW DC motors. Finally, I would like to note as an aside that Unit MoHa 7 was being protected by three strong bouncers. They were small and quiet, but flint-eyed. Who were they? Please take a look at the picture below and identify them yourself.

Unit MoHa 7 is protected by three bouncers

Tokyu Iketama Happy Train

Iketama Happy Train travels on the Tokyu-Ikegami line

On June 23rd, Tokyu Railways launched a special poster train, named Iketama Happy Train, on their Ikegami and Tamagawa lines. I’m going to introduce you to this unique train today.

Let me quickly review the Tokyu-Ikegami and Tamagawa lines to start. They are short commuter routes in the southwestern part of Tokyo. Connecting Kamata and Gotanda, the route length of the Ikegami line is 10.9 kilometers. On the other hand, the Tamagawa line connects Kamata and Tamagawa. Its route length is 5.6 kilometers. The track is 1,067 millimeters-wide double and the electric system is 1,500 V direct current. All the trains belong to Yukigaya-otsuka Depo, and are commonly used for both the Ikegami and the Tamagawa lines.

According to Tokyu Railways, purpose of Iketama Happy Train is to make people, who look this train, happy. For that purpose, its design is colorful and polka-dotted. Pink is the symbol color of the Ikegami line; meanwhile, dark-red is that of the Tamagawa line. This design was proposed by Tokyu employees. The vehicle modified to Iketama Happy Train is Set 1522 of the EMU 1000-1500 series.  It was recently renovated from Set 1022 of the EMU 1000 series. The major difference between the original 1000 series and the renovated 1000-1500 series is its interior. The latter is calm and wood-grained, so passengers can get more relaxed with it.

Incidentally, please also check out my previous posts introducing the other poster trains on the Ikegami and Tamagawa lines… namely the green-colored train and the two-toned revival-colored train.

Tokyu Yukigaya-otsuka Depo

Official information about Iketama Happy Train by Tokyu Railways (in Japanese):

https://www.tokyu.co.jp/image/information/pdf/20240610-iketama-d.pdf

The Yukarigaoka Line: Update

EMU Yamaman 1000 series travels on the Yukarigaoka line

As I recently posted, I took the Yamaman-Yukarigaoka line for the first time in eleven years. What has changed and what has remained the same on this small AGT (Automated Guideway Transit) line?

The trains haven't changed. The EMU 1000 series is still operated on the line as a sole model. These lovely trains were built by Nippon Sharyo in 1982. The 1000 series is comfortable to ride except in summer. What does that mean? What I’m saying is air conditioners are not equipped on the trains. That must be tough for passengers in this season, but instead, each passenger gets a wet towel and a paper fan for free on the train. What's more, I got a bottle of water and salt tablets as well from the promotion. The salt tablets, which were offered by a snack maker, Kabaya, had a sweet-sour taste… definitely my favorite! Such a wonderful service.

One more news on the Yukarigaoka line is how to ride the trains for passengers with commuter passes. The existing commuter pass is no longer necessary. You need only your face. The railway company, Yamaman, started a facial recognition boarding system on June 15th this year. I couldn’t try this boarding system, as I’m not a frequent passenger of the Yukarigaoka line, but the facial recognition system seems to be very convenient. Incidentally, a single ticket has also been changed from a magnetic ticket to the QR code ticket.

The Yamaman-Yukarigaoka line… the trains are little worn-out, but the services to passengers are really on the leading-edge.

Two automatic ticket gates on the right are the facial recognition boarding system

Officilal information about the facial recognition and the QR code boarding system by Yamaman (in Japanese):

https://town.yukarigaoka.jp/yukariline_post/yukariline_post-11685/

Senzoku Pond: An Urban Oasis on the Ikegami Line

Set 1523 of the EMU Tokyu 1000-1500 series arrives at Senzokuike station 

The Japan Meteorological Agency made an announcement that this year's rainy season ended on July 18th in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which is one day earlier than usual. It’s the beginning of midsummer in Tokyo.

I visited an urban oasis in Tokyo. That's Senzoku Pond in Ota Ward, about 10 kilometers southwest of the city center. This pond was originally a spring. If we look back at the history, it was developed as a precinct of Senzoku-hachiman Shrine in 860. The spring was then changed to a pond for irrigation. Currently, Senzoku Pond is designated as a Scenic Beauty by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. When I visited there, it was very hot around the pond, but the wind across the pond was very comfortable. Midsummer was right there.

To get to this urban oasis, the nearest railway station is Senzokuike on the Tokyu-Ikegami line. The Ikegami line is a short commuter route connecting Kamata and Gotanda. Its route length is 10.9 kilometers. Taking this opportunity, I'm going to show you one of the trains being operated on the Ikegami line... namely the EMU 1000-1500 series. This model originally debuted in the early 1990s on the Tokyu-Toyoko line. After operating for about 20 years, 30 units were moved to the Tamagawa and Ikegami lines after modification, under the new name of 1000-1500 series. Its coloring is basically the same as that of the 7000 series. Two single-armed pantographs equipped on the roof of car number 2 are a good accent.

Senzoku Pond in front of Senzokuike station on the Tokyu-Ikegami line