EMU 205-500 Series, the Innovator of the Local Line

EMU JR East 205-500 series arrives at Iriya Station on the Sagami Line

 

Following my last blog, I am going to introduce the other commuter train in Kanagawa Prefecture, EMU JR East 205-500 series on the Sagami Line.

The Sagami Line penetrates Kanagawa Prefecture from south to north. Starting from Chigasaki, a Pacific city to Hashimoto, an interior transportation key junction, the total operating length is 33.3km. The entire route is electrified but single track.

When I was a kid, I sometimes took this route, as my grandparents lived in Chigasaki City. They often took me to Samukawa Shrine to make a New Year's visit taking the Sagami Line. To be honest, I had a negative impression of the Sagami Line, because the trains, which were rail motor cars, Type KiHa 17, 20, 30 and so on, ran rather slowly, and the interior of the trains was dark.

The situation drastically changed when the Sagami Line was electrified in 1991. All rail motor cars left the Sagami Line, and new EMUs, 205-500 series were launched (see the photos). The new EMUs ran fast, and had a brighter interior. It was the time of change from a local to an urban commuter route for the Sagami Line.

Today, a 4-car train of the EMU 205-500 series is operated every 20 minutes during the daytime. Although, local residents hope for a double track, it has not yet been realized due to a lack of budget. I wish that further modernization of the Sagami Line will be realized soon.

The EMU 205-500 series, it is the great innovator of the local line.

 

EMU JR East 205-500 series leaves Chigasaki Station on the Sagami Line

 

More information about JR East 205 series (in Japanese): http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/local/205.html

EMU Sotetsu 7000 Series, Afterglow of the 1970’s

EMU Sotetsu 7000 series approaches Futamatagawa Station

I received an email from one of my blog readers, in which he wished to know more about commuter trains in the Tokyo metropolitan area. I couldn't help but agree with his remarks, as I haven't mentioned the commuter trains lately.

So, I am going to show you the EMU Sotetsu 7000 series as a lead-off train. As you know, Sotetsu is one of major private railway companies in the Tokyo metropolitan area (see my blog on July 8th, 2012). Starting from Yokohama, the main city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Sotetsu connects Ebina and Shonandai. There are 25 stations over a total operating length of 35.9km. The 7000 series is the longest-serving active EMU on the Sotetsu Line. It was launched in 1975. A total of 80 units have been manufactured.

I absolutely love this train, because the 7000 series has an afterglow of the 1970's. It was an epoch of great change for railway companies in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Following the rapid urbanization and growth of population, they were struggling to solve a serious shortage of transport. In this hostile environment, a stout and trouble-free train was necessary. The design of the 7000 series subsequently became rough with angular bodies, simple rounded front lights, and bare jumper cables in the front (see the following picture). From the present viewpoint, its equipment is also rather old, such as DC motors, bare disc brakes, and a resistance control system.

But, everything fills me with nostalgia now. I guess I'm getting old.

  

EMU Sotetsu 7000 series temporarily preserved at Atsugi Shunting Yard

Hare's-tail Cotton Grass Community on the Tobu Line

EMU Tobu 6050 series stands at Tobu-Nikko Station

As I mentioned before, Tobu has an extensive railway network in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The total line length is 463.3km, the longest private railway in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Tobu Railway has two faces... one as a commuter railway in the densely populated area, and one as a local route in the countryside. The trains of Tobu Railway are also composed of two groups... one as an 8 to 10-car urban commuter train, and one as a 2-car short local train.

An EMU 6050 series is a standard local train operated in the countryside (see the top photo). It was launched in 1985, and is still a major fleet on the local routes. I love this train, as it makes me enjoy railway travel. The comfortable cross seats and large windows to capture the beautiful outside scenery can be relaxing. A white colored train body with red and orange colored stripes is my favorite.

One day last summer, I got on the EMU 6050 series and visited Senjogahara near Tobu-Nikko Station. Senjogahara, which is a part of Nikko National park, is famous for its beautiful highland marsh. We are only allowed to walk on the boardwalks, as the area is strictly preserved. While I walked there, I saw a gorgeous Hare's-tail Cotton grass community. It was pure white cotton weed, and spread all over the field (see the following photo).

Nothing beats railway travel and a nature walk.
 

Hare's-tail cotton grass community in Senjogahara near Tobu-Nikko Station

 

More information about EMUs on the Tobu Line (in Japanese):
http://www.tobu.co.jp/corporation/rail/vehicles/

Isumi Railway, Trans-Peninsula Route in the Boso Area

Rail-car,Type Isumi 200' approaches Kuniyoshi Station in the morning mist

As I mentioned before, there is a trans-peninsula railway in the Boso area in Chiba Prefecture, some 80km east of Tokyo. The western part of the route is Kominato Railway (see my blog on May 31st, 2012); and the other is Isumi Railway.

Connecting Kazusa-Nakano on Kominato Railway and Ohara on the JR East Sotobo Line, Isumi Railway forms the eastern part of the trans-peninsula railway. There are 14 stations over a total operating length of 26.8km. The route is single track and non-electrified.

This line was opened in 1930 under the name of Kihara Line of the state railway. Like other local lines, it had run a persistent deficit since it was opened. Due to years of losses, the management of the line was transferred to newly established Isumi Railway after the breakup and privatization of Japan National Railways in 1988.

Although decreasing passenger numbers caused the company to face difficult administrative times, the CEO, who was selected from the applicants, is continuing to radiate solutions. For example, the company sold the naming rights of the stations and constructed a new strategic station in front of a shopping mall.

Currently, Isumi Railway has 7 units of rail-cars. They are Type 200' (see the photos), 300 and KiHa 52. Type 200' was launched in 1988 as the first rail-car on the newly established Isumi Railway. A total of 7 units were manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries, and still 4 units are operated.

Isumi continues to fight for survival.
 

Rail-car,Type Isumi 200' stands at Kuniyoshi Station

 

More information about Isumi Railway (in Japanese):

http://www.isumirail.co.jp/

More information about Rail-car, Type Isumi 200' (in Japanese):

http://www.isumirail.co.jp/company/syaryou.html

Sister Museum Partnership with NRM York, UK

C57 135 with a commemorative plate of "Museum Partnership" between the NRM and the Teppaku

Happy New Year! The year 2013 has begun. At the opening of New Year, I am going to bring you some glad news.

On December 19th, the Railway Museum in Saitama Prefecture (Teppaku) established a partnership with the National Railway Museum in York, UK (NRM York). The two museums will work together on the preservation of showpieces and the technology of interactive exhibits such as driving simulators and so on.

The NRM York is the largest railway museum in the world. It has 85 years history and one million exhibits. Specifically, the world's fastest steam locomotive, LNER Class A4 4468, "Mallard" is very famous among Japanese rail fans. It ran to a world record of 203km per hour in 1938.

On the other hand, Teppaku was originally opened as the Transportation Museum by the Japanese government in downtown Tokyo in 1936. This museum was closed in 2006 due to the aging of its facilities; but, most of its showpieces moved to the newly-opened Railway Museum (Teppaku) in 2007.

In commemoration of the above partnership, a special photo exhibition on the NRM York is being held in Teppaku. In addition, I found a special commemorative sign board, "Sister Museum Partnership, The National Railway Museum, York, UK and The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan" on the front of C57 135 steam locomotive (see the top photo).

Taking advantage of this opportunity, I show another exhibit in Teppaku, the electric locomotive ED17 1 (ex-ED50 1), which was imported from the UK in 1923 (see the following photo). It is also described as a "Crocodile" because of its appearance.

Congratulations on the sister partnership!

Electric locomotive ED17 1 (ex ED50 1), imported from UK in 1923

 

More information about steam locomotive, LNER Class A4, No 4468, "Mallard" in the NMR, York:

http://www.nrm.org.uk/OurCollection/LocomotivesAndRollingStock/CollectionItem.aspx?objid=1975-7007&cat=steam&comp=London_%26_North_Eastern_Railway&ipp=12

 

More information about electric locomotive, ED 17 1 in the Railway Museum, Saitama Prefecture:

http://www.railway-museum.jp/en/exhibition.html#exhibition02-05