EMU 183/189 Series, Old JNR-colored Limited Express

Set H81 of the EMU JR East 183/189 series (JNR color) stands at Shinjuku Station

JNR, which stands for Japanese National Railways, was Japan's largest railway network. It was split into seven railway companies and privatized as the JR Group in 1987 due to financial difficulties. During the JNR era, plenty of limited express trains like the one in the top photo were introduced all over Japan. You can see the characteristics of the JNR type limited express in the front design, body coloring and so on.

After privatizing, all JNR type limited express trains were ceded to each JR company. Since then, these trains were gradually scrapped or modified and lost the original designs. But, they are still alive and operating on some lines.

Look at the top photo. It is an example of JNR type limited express train, set number H81 of the 183/189 series standing at JR East Shinjuku Station. This model was launched in 1972. The body of this train is frequently called "JNR limited express color". Although JNR has been abolished, many rail fans are still boosterish about this coloring, as it fits into any kind of scenery in Japan from urban business centers to mountain forests.

41 years have already passed since it debuted, but the 183/189 series still plays an important role. Set H81 is mainly used for group tours including school excursions for junior high and senior high school students. The old train serves boys and girls who will bear the future world. It will be the final mission for this old JNR-colored limited express train before its retirement.
 

Side view of the EMU JR East 183/189 series (JNR color)

Tokyo Night Walk: Gate Bridge and New Train

EMU JR East E233-7000 series arrives at Shinonome Station on the Tokyo Waterfront Railway

 

Further to Rainbow Bridge, I am going to show you the other gorgeous night view in Tokyo. Look at the following photo. It is the night view of Tokyo Gate Bridge. This bridge was opened last year, and is a 2.9km long road bridge across Tokyo Bay. Unlike Rainbow Bridge, it is not a part of the express road (Trans-Tokyo Bay Highway), but a toll free local street.

Due to two kinds of restrictions, the designing of the bridge was very difficult. One of them is the Aviation Law. The bridge location is close to Tokyo International Airport; therefore, it is prohibited to construct a tall suspension bridge. Another restriction is to secure vertical clearance for large vessels to enter the Port of Tokyo. Consequently, a truss-type design was adopted. The shape of the bridge became similar in appearance to a dinosaur. So, Tokyoites call this bridge "Dinosaur Bridge". Currently, it is brightly lit in the evening.

To visit this new landmark bridge, get off at Shin-Kiba Station on the Tokyo Waterfront Railway. Recently, a new train, the EMU JR East E233-7000 series debuted on the line. This model will replace the old EMU JR East 205 series soon. The shining stainless steel body with green-colored stripe is perfectly fresh. Most trains are directly operated into the JR East Saikyo Line for Omiya and Kawagoe.

The beautifully lit up bridge and the shining new train on the Tokyo Waterfront Railway... night walk in Tokyo is full of attractions.
 

Night view of Tokyo Gate Bridge near Shin-Kiba Station on the Tokyo Waterfront Railway

EMU 22000 Series, Egg Train on the Kintetsu Line

EMU Kintetsu 22000 series travels near Shin-Oomiya Station on the Nara Line

As I noted in this blog before, EMU 22600 series is the main model of Kintetsu's limited express fleet. It was launched in 2009 to replace the old model such as the 12200 series. The rounded frontal mask is very cute and my favorite. It's just like an egg.

The 22600 series has an elder brother, whose name is the EMU 22000 series. It is the original Kintetsu "egg train", which debuted in 1992. Look at the following photo. Along with its rounded body, four rounded frontal lights are also very attractive for me. The 22000 series won the good design award from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1993.

Regarding the specification, the 22000 series is known as the first limited express train to which Kintetsu applied advanced bolsterless bogies and the VVVF inverter control (valuable frequency drive) system with induction motors. The interior has been made progressively barrier-free. The 22000 series has wheelchair-accessible seats and toilets. The cabin doors have also been widened for the passage of wheelchairs.

I took the 22000 series on the Nara Line with my family in July. The interior had a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. The light gray-colored seat has a good level of hardness. It was very comfortable for us. We had a great view of the countryside of Nara Prefecture from the large window.

The EMU 22000 series... it is a lovely egg train on the Kintetsu Line.

EMU Kintetsu 22000 series arrives at Yamato-Saidaiji Station

Yokohama Night Walk: the MM21 area and Yokosuka Line

EMU JR East E217 series stands at Yokohama Station on the Yokosuka Line

 

Minato Mirai 21, also known as MM21, is a large urban development area, and the central business district of Yokohama City, some 20km south of Tokyo. It is designed as a new urban center to connect Yokohama's traditional city centers such as Kannai and the Yokohama Station area. MM21 used to be a rail yard, a shipyard and wharfs of Yokohama Port.

The construction started in 1983. With the development of MM21, it has formed part of the business and central core of Yokohama City. Today, about 79,000 people are working in MM21. The illuminations of the MM21 area is one of the famous night leisure spots in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

In the meantime, I am going to show you an EMU, which comes to Yokohama Station. Look at the top photo. It is the blue and cream colored train, JR East EMU E217 series on the Yokosuka Line. The blue and cream body color has been a tradition of trains on the Yokosuka Line since 1951, when the EMU 70 series train was launched.

The E217 series was debuted in 1994 to replace an old EMU 113 series. It is a typical commuter train with eight doors per unit. Long seats are equipped; but cross seats are also allocated for long distance passengers in several cars. Most trains are directly operated into the Sobu Line via Tokyo Station.

Taking the Yokosuka Line, the night walk in MM21 of Yokohama City is my favorite in this early autumn season.
 

Night view of the Minato Mirai 21 (MM21) area from Yamashita Park

Golden Lace and Classic Train on the Chichibu Railway

Classic EMU Chichibu Railway 1000 series runs near Nogami Station

Aki-no-Nanakusa is the seven representative autumn flowers in Japan. They are Ominaeshi (golden lace, Patrinia scabiosaefolia), Hagi (bush clover), Kuzu (kudzu), Nadeshiko (large pink, Dianthus superbus), Fujibakama (boneset, Eupatorium fortunei), Kikyo (Chinese bellflower) and Susuki (silver grass). They are small and tiny, but their simplicity has been very much admired by Japanese people.

Among these, I found a beautiful flower community of golden lace last week in the Chichibu region. They are yellow-colored small lacy blossoms planted in a small temple. Blowing in a gentle autumn breeze, they were swinging slowly. It is still hot in the daytime, but autumn is only just around the corner.

To enjoy these beautiful flowers, take the Chichibu Railway and get off at Nogami Station. A classic EMU 1000 series is your vehicle to get to the golden lace community. It was originally debuted in 1957 as a commuter train, the JNR (Japanese National Railways) 101 series. A total of 1,535 units were manufactured by JNR over 12 years. A total of 36 units were, then, moved to the Chichibu Railway in the 1980s to spend their second life, having escaped from being scrapped. Currently, only three sets, nine units of ex-JNR 101 series trains have survived.

The Chichibu Railway has already announced that all sets of the EMU 1000 series (ex-JNR 101 series) will be retired by the end of March, 2014.

The clock is ticking.
 

Golden lace flowers in Shinshoji Temple near Nogami Station on the Chichibu Railway