NEX's Little Side Trip to Izu Peninsula

EMU JR East E259 series, "Maine Express Odoriko" stands at Atami Station

As I mentioned in my blog on April 15th, 2011, the NEX (Narita Express) is an airport access train on the JR East Line. The rolling stock is the EMU E259 series, which was launched in 2009. A total of 22 sets, 132 units, have been manufactured so far. The E259 has been specially designed as the airport access train between downtown Tokyo and the New Tokyo International (Narita) Airport; however, it has also started to be commissioned as a sightseeing express to Izu Peninsula since March of this year. The NEX has started to make a little side trip.

Look at the top photo. It is the E259, "Marine Express Odoriko", standing at Atami Station. This train is operated between Tokyo and Shimoda on the Izukyu Railway. You can see a special emblem for Marine Express Odoriko on the front of the train. Currently, it is operated only in peak vacation seasons. Two sets of the E259 series have been commissioned for that purpose.

I think that the background of this "special operation" was caused by a slump in popularity of the NEX. As I mentioned before (see my blog on September 13th, 2011), JR East's competitor, Keisei, is also operating an airport access train known as the "Skyliner". Lower fares and a faster operation are encouraging more passengers to take the Skyliner rather than the NEX. As a result, JR East has been forced to decrease its operation of the NEX on some sections since March of this year. In other words, there is a surplus of NEX rolling stocks.
 

"Narita Express (N'EX)" logo (left) and the emblem of "Marine Express Odoriko, E259" (right)

Access to the Mountain of God, Part 2

Shishidani Line (aerial tramway) of Miyajima Ropeway

 

After getting off the gondola lift at Kayadani Station on the Momijidani Line, we transferred to the Shishiiwa Line.

The Shishiiwa Line is the upper section of Miyajima Ropeway. Connecting Kayadani and Shishiiwa stations, the total line length is 0.5km. This route is operated as an aerial tramway. A gondola holds up to 30 passengers and is operated every 15 minutes. It takes about 4 minutes from Kayadani to Shishiiwa Station. The height difference between the highest and lowest points of the route is only 62m; however, the gondola passes through a deep valley and reaches the other side of the mountain.

While we were on the aerial tramway, we passed an oncoming gondola at the midpoint of the line. When I held up my camera, two girls at the front of the other gondola waved and responded with a peace sign to me (see the top photo). Holidaymakers were relaxed like those you would encounter anywhere in the world.

We got off the gondola at Shishiiwa Station. The view from here was magnificent enough; but, we decided to climb up the mountain to the 535m peak to further enjoy more of Mount Misen's picturesque scenery. It took half an hour. Here we were afforded a 360-degree panoramic view of the island and the Seto Inland Sea, which defied description (see the following picture).

Mount Misen was absolutely the mountain of God.
 

Superb view of the Seto Inland Sea from Mount Misen

Miyajima Ropeway, Access to the Mountain of God

Momijidani Line (gondola lift) of Miyajima Ropeway

 

Following my blog on May 5th, 2013, I am going to show you the rest of our trip to Hiroshima.

After a visit to Itsukushima Shrine (see the following photo), we headed to the heartland of Itsukushima Island. Floating on the Seto Inland Sea and measuring 30 kilometers in circumference, Itsukushima Island features many tourist attractions including Mount Misen, which is covered with a primeval forest in the central part of the island. To get to this beautiful mountain, Miyajima Ropeway is convenient.

Miyajima Ropeway is an aerial lift, which opened in 1959. Connecting Momijidani and Shishiiwa via Kayadani Station, the total operating length is 1.6km. The route is composed of two sections, namely the Momijidani Line and the Shishiiwa Line.

The Momijidani Line is the lower section of Miyajima Ropeway connecting Momijidani and Kayadani stations. The total line length is 1.1km and is operated as a gondola lift. Eight-seater gondolas are operated every minute. It takes about ten minutes from Momijidani to Kayadani Station.

Even though they are operated quite frequently, we had to wait about 45 minutes because it was the peak spring holiday season. We saw many foreign tourists also waiting patiently for their gondolas to arrive. It was a good idea that the station attendants were handing out queue tickets to passengers which meant that they were able to spend their time as they pleased.

I am going to show you the upper section, the Shishiiwa Line, tomorrow. To be continued...

 

Itsukushima Shrine

 

More infomation about Miyajima Ropeway:

http://miyajima-ropeway.info/en/miraculous-scenery/index.html

Azalea Garden and Preserved Shinkansen in Ome City

Unit 22-75 of the EMU Shinkansen 0 series is preseved at Ome Railway Park

Ome is a small city located in the western part of Tokyo Metropolis. You can enjoy looking at splendid greenery, clear streams and a beautiful mountain range there. Ome is famous for its plum blossoms, after which the city is named. In the early spring, the plum trees show off their beautiful flowers here and there around the city. But, recently, one more beautiful blossom has been added as the "second city flower". It is the azalea.

At the end of April, Ome is covered with beautiful azalea blossoms. A garden at Shiofune-kannon temple is especially gorgeous (see the following photo). You can see thousands of azalea blossoms on the slope behind the temple. They are dark pink, pale purple and white colored. You should not miss this special week.

In the meantime, Ome is also famous among rail fans for its railway park. Ome Railway Park was opened in 1962 by ex-Japanese National Railways in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of railway operations in Japan. Currently, 11 retired rolling stocks, such as old locomotives and EMUs are exhibited.

One of the most popular exhibitions is EMU, unit number 22-75, of the Shinkansen 0 series (see the top photo). It was manufactured in 1969 by Kisha Seizo to enhance the transportation capacity of the Tokaido Shinkansen. It was just before Osaka EXPO and the era of Japan's high-speed economic growth.

A gorgeous azalea garden and a preserved Shinkansen train... there are many interesting sights in the city of Ome.

Azalea Garden behind Shiofune-kannon Temple in Ome City

 

More information about Ome Railway Park: http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/ome/english/index.html

300 Posts and 300 Series

301F (Tamaden Color) of the electric car Tokyu 300 series stands at Yamashita Stop

Thank you for visiting Tokyo Railway Labyrinth. Following the second anniversary, the number of my blog posts exceeded 300 last week. I hope that people all over the world will continue to enjoy my blog. In commemoration of the "300th" post in the blog, I am going to show you an electric car with the number "300" in the name.

The electric car Tokyu 300 series on the Setagaya Line was launched in 1999. It is articulated and composed of two cars with three bogies. A total of 10 sets, 20 units, have been manufactured by Tokyu Sharyo. Each set is a different color such as red (photo at the bottom), blue, light green, pink, yellow and so on.

Set number 301 is the so-called "Tamaden Color", whose body color is the same as that of Tamaden (see the top photo). Tamaden (Tokyu Tamagawa Line) was an old tramway in Tokyo. It was constructed on the highway Route 246 in 1907. Unfortunately, the Tamaden was abolished in 1969 due to heavy traffic jams, and only the branch route exclusive track was left as the Setagaya Line.

I like the 300 series because it is a cute and precious tram in Tokyo. There are only two tram routes remaining in the Tokyo metropolitan area. One of them is the Toei (Tokyo Metropolitan Government) Arakawa Line and the other is the Tokyu-Setagaya Line. I wish the 300 series could always be operated in the railway scenes in Tokyo.

 

308F of the electric car Tokyu 300 series arrives at Yamashita Stop