A Piece of Osaka within Hiroshima City

Electric car Hiroden (ex-Osaka City Tram) 750 series stands at Dobashi Stop

Osaka is the largest city in the western part of Japan. It has been a rival city of Tokyo since the 17th century when the Tokugawa Shogunate (Government) was established in Edo (present Tokyo).

For instance, Osaka opened its first tram route in 1903, which was the same year as the start of the tram operation in Tokyo. During WWII, Osaka matured into a large tram network city, which had a total of 118km operating length; meanwhile Tokyo had a 213km tram network in 1955. Unfortunately, Osaka City Tram was abolished in 1969 due to severe traffic congestion. As a result, almost all streetcars in Osaka were scrapped. Currently, we can see only a few preserved cars there.

But, don't worry. They have been surviving in Hiroshima. A total of 2 models, 15 units had been moved from Osaka. Hiroden (Hiroshima Electric Railway) is still operating ex-Osaka streetcars.

Look at the top photo. It is an ex-Osaka streetcar, 750 series. This model was launched in 1940. A total of 6 units were moved to Hiroshima between 1965 and 1968. I like this single large frontal top light and three classic windows.

The following picture shows the other ex-Osaka streetcar, 900 series. This model was commissioned in 1957. A total of 9 units were manufactured by Osaka Sharyo. They were moved to Hiroshima in 1969. The black colored large frontal bumper is my favorite.

Hiroden 750 and 900 series... they are a piece of Osaka within Hiroshima City.

Electric car Hiroden (ex-Osaka City Tram) 900 series arrives at Dobashi Stop

Return of Hydrangea Season on the Inokashira Line

1714F of the EMU Keio 1000 series arrives at Shin-Daita Station on the Inokashira Line

It is rainy season again. On May 29th, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced that this year's rainy season had begun in Tokyo. But it was ironic that the weather has been perfect since the rainy season was announced by the JMA.

Whatever the weather is, the season of hydrangeas has also returned. Following years 2011 and 2012, I am going to show you the full blown hydrangeas on the Keio-Inokashira Line again. This year, it seems they have bloomed a few days earlier than usual. We can view the beautiful flowers here and there now.

Look at the top photo. It is a train and hydrangea flowers taken near Shin-Daita Station on the Inokashira Line. As I mentioned before, Keio has been working on planting hydrangeas on the embankments of the railways to prevent slope failure and protect the environment since 1991. Nowadays, we can enjoy seeing colorful hydrangea blossoms at the side of the railway tracks specifically around Meidaimae, Higashi-Matsubara, Shimokitazawa and Shin-Daita stations in June.

The train in the photo is an EMU 1000 series. It was commissioned in 1996 as the first long (20m) body train on the line. It is composed of 5 cars and each train set has a different color on the frontal mask and the side lines. Those are light-blue (photo at the top), salmon-pink (photo at the bottom), lilac, light-green, orange-beige, ivory white and blue-green ... the seven colors of the rainbow.

The vivid train, EMU 1000 series stands against colorful hydrangea flowers in the background.

1724F of the EMU Keio 1000 series leaves Shin-Daita Station on the Inokashira Line

Rose Festival on the Toyo Rapid Line

EMU Tokyo Metro 05 series arrives at Yachiyo-Midorigaoka Station on the Toyo Rapid Line

It is rose flower season in Tokyo. We can see the beautiful blossoms here and there. They are fully blown in public parks, private gardens, and unexpectedly, on exterior walls of office buildings as well.

One of the reputable rose gardens in the Tokyo metropolitan area is Keisei Rose Garden in Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture. Along with Yatsu Rose Garden (see my blog on November 26th, 2011), Keisei Rose Garden is referred to as one-half of the twin jewels of rose gardens in Chiba Prefecture.

I visited this beautiful garden last weekend with my family. It was in peak blooming season. Visitors could see 1000s of different kinds of roses among the 7,000 on display there. We enjoyed the colorful blossoms, and smelled the sweet flavors of the full blown flowers. A rose festival was being held in the garden and a local high school jazz band gave us a brilliant performance (see the following photo). The garden was filled with not only colors and smells of the roses, but also sounds of the student performers.

To get to this flower lovers' paradise, the Toyo Rapid Line is convenient (see the top picture). Connecting Nishi-Funabashi and Toyo-Katsutadai, the total operating length is 16.2km. Most of the trains are directly operated into the subway, Tokyo Metro Tozai Line. Using the rapid train, it takes around 40 minutes from Ootemachi, a city center of Tokyo, to Yachiyo-Midorigaoka, the nearest station to the rose garden. The railway station and the garden are connected by paths and pedestrian malls.

Jazz performance by Tomisato High School Band in Keisei Rose Garden on the Toyo Rapid Line

Long-sized Articulated Tram on the Hiroden

Electric car Hiroden 5100 series arrives at Hacchobori Stop

Getting on locally-specific trains outside Tokyo is one of my greatest pleasures as a rail fan. I am going to show you Hiroden's long-sized articulated streetcars, which I have never seen in Tokyo. Hiroden (Hiroshima Electric Railway) enjoys Japan's largest tram network. It consists of seven routes, whose total operating length is 35.1km.

Look at the top photo. It is an electric car 5100 series, "Green mover max". The 5100 series is Hiroden's latest long-sized (30m) articulated streetcar, which was commissioned in 2005. It is composed of 5 bodies with 3 bogies. A total of 10 sets, 50 units, have been manufactured by Kinki Sharyo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toyo Denki Seizo. It is classified as the so-called LF-LRT (Low Floor Light Rail Transit). The height of the cabin floor is only 36cm from the track. The futuristic design is my favorite as well as the state of the art specification such as VVVF control with regenerative brake system.

On the other hand, the following picture shows Hiroden's oldest active long-sized (25.3m) articulated streetcar. It is the 3000 series, which was commissioned in 1954. This streetcar consists of 3 bodies with 4 bogies. A total of 7 sets, 21 units, have been manufactured by Hitachi and Kisha Seizo. The specification is rather old; but, the classic style body with two large rounded top front lights is my favorite. The large iron which stands below the pantograph is also peculiar to this streetcar.

Hiroden is a museum of active streetcars, isn't it?

Electric car Hiroden 3000 series runs near Enkobashi-cho Stop

EMU Keio 9000 Series, Multi-purpose Commuter Train

EMU Keio 9000 series passes through Nakagawara Station

As I have mentioned frequently, the railway business in Tokyo is competitive. Many companies are fighting for survival. But, on the contrary, they also cooperate with each other in emergency situations.

An example of mutual cooperation is the so-called "transfer transportation". When train operation is suspended on one route because of an accident, the passengers are allowed to take adjacent lines without any extra charge. In my case, for instance, I take the Odakyu Line, and go to my office downtown; but, I can take the Keio Line using the commuter pass for the Odakyu Line if the train operation on the Odakyu is suspended.

When I use the "transfer transportation" system, I often get on the EMU 9000 series on the Keio Line (see the photos). The 9000 series is the latest model on the Keio Line. It was commissioned in 2001 to replace old models such as the 6000 series. A total of 28 sets, 264 units, have been manufactured by Nippon Sharyo and Tokyu Sharyo so far.

One of the features of the 9000 series is its multi-purpose function. For example, this group is used for all kinds of trains, such as limited express, express, rapid, and local. Furthermore, it is used for direct operation between the Keio and the Subway Toei-Shinjuku lines. So, the 9000 series travels all the way to Chiba Prefecture (Motoyawata Terminal on the Toei-Shinjuku Line) crossing the Tokyo Metropolis.

The EMU Keio 9000 series... you must be tired after your long trip.

EMU Keio 9000 series stands at Meidaimae Station

 

More infomation about trains of Keio Electric Railway (in Japanese):

http://www.keio.co.jp/group/traffic/railroading/introduction_of_train/index.html