Great Success of Takasaki Railway Communication Day

Classic ELs, EF55 1 (left), EF65 501 (center) and EF60 19 (right) are exhibited in Takasaki Station

 

Takasaki, which is located some 100km north of Tokyo, is known as the city of locomotives. For instance, the JR East Takasaki Regional Office has two precious steam locomotives (SLs). Joshin Electric Railway, which is a Takasaki-based local private railway company, also has a precious classic electric locomotive (EL), namely type DeKi 1.

The Takasaki Regional Office of JR East held a unique railway event in the station yard yesterday. It was "Takasaki Tetsudo Fureai Day (Takasaki Railway Communication Day)" to exhibit their precious locomotives, and was open to the public. There were two SLs, three ELs and one diesel locomotive. The other rolling stock, such as classic passenger coaches and maintenance vehicles, were also displayed.

My favorite exhibit was a brown-colored, direct curent system EL, type EF55 (see the top photo). It was a streamlined locomotive that debuted in 1936. A total of three units were manufactured by Hitachi, Nippon Sharyo-Toyo Denki and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Currently, unit number 1, namely EF55 1 is only preserved in working conditions in Takasaki Rail Yard.

I saw plenty of rail fans, families and couples, flocking to the site. The visitors could also enjoy shopping, such as delicious lunch boxes and cakes, using local foodstuff. The event was indeed a great success. Specifically, all railway employees were very friendly and kind. I am truly grateful to JR East Takasaki Regional Office to have held this special event. I look forward to going there within the next year.
 

Steam locomotive C61 20 and rail fans

Urban Street Car Bound for Japan’s Oldest Hot Spring

Electric car, type MoHa 50 (2nd batch) leaves Ookaido Stop on the Shinai Line, Iyo Railway

 

Matsuyama is the largest city in Shikoku Island. The population now stands at 0.52 million. It is a busy city as the administrative and the industrial center of Ehime Prefecture, but Matsuyama also has an important sightseeing spot in the downtown area.

Look at the following photo. It is the main building of Dogo hot spring. Dogo is Japan's oldest hot spring which opened about 3,000 years ago, judging from unearthed articles. As a written record, there is an ancient text, in which Prince Shotoku took a bath in Dogo Hot Spring in 596. The current main building was reconstructed in 1894, and was designated as a cultural asset of national importance in 1994. As you may know, this building is a model of "Aburaya" in Spirited Away, which is the famous Japanese animated fantasy film.

To get to this urban hot spring, take a street car of Iyo Railway from JR Shikoku Matsuyama Station. It takes about 20 minutes. The top photograph shows the second manufactured group of the electric car, Type MoHa 50 on the tram line. Unit number MoHa 69, which I show in the photo, was manufactured by Naniwa Koki in 1962. Different from the first manufactured group, the top roof is shallower, and the body is lighter than those of the first manufactured group of cars.

Getting on an urban street car and visiting the old hot spring... it is a unique attraction in Matsuyama City.
 

Main building of Dogo hot spring near Dogo Onsen Station on the Iyo Railway

Street Car and Whirling Wave in Ehime Prefecture

 Electric car, type MoHa 50 (1st batch) leaves Ookaido Stop on the Shinai Line, Iyo Railway

 

Following the classic Botchan train, I am going to show you a standard street car on the Matsuyama City Line. Look at the top photo. It is an electric car type MoHa 50 of Iyo Railway. Type 50 was manufactured from 1951 to 1965 by Naniwa Koki and Teikoku Sharyo. Although this group of street cars is being replaced by the new tram, type MoHa 2100, it is still one of the main fleet on the Shinai (Matsuyama City) Line.

The electric car unit number 57, which I show you in the top photo, belongs to the first manufactured group of the type 50. The rounded high roof with a large single front light is nostalgic and is my favorite. The roof top air conditioners are bit of an eyesore, but we have no alternative to maintain a comfortable cabin condition in the hot summer.

In the meantime, I am going to show you a photogenic spot in Ehime Prefecture. Look at the following photo. It is a whirling wave in Kurushima Channel, offshore Imabari City. This place is famous for its very fast tidal current due to a special topographic situation. The maximum speed is 10 knots/hour (11.5MPH). We can observe the fast current with whirling waves on a special sightseeing boat.

As you may know, "keep right" is a global rule for marine traffic; however, Kurushima Channel is the one place in the world, where "keep left" is applied depending on tidal conditions.

 

Whirling wave is observed in Kurushima Channel, Seto Inland Sea 

Classic Train and State-of-art Bridge in Ehime Prefecture

Botchan Train runs on the Matsuyama City Line, Iyo Railway

 

I visited Ehime Prefecture on family duty last weekend. Ehime is located on Shikoku Island, which is some 700km west of Tokyo. It was a short visit without any train travel, but I could shoot some train photographs, because my family gave me a chance to save my face as a rail fan.

Look at the top photo. It is Botchan Train in Matsuyama City. This train is a revival of the old light railway, which was operated from the 1880s to the 1920s. The operator is a local private company, Iyo Railway. This train has been operated on the city tram line since 2001.

Unfortunately, the steam locomotive (SL) is NOT real. It is a diesel locomotive (DL). Before the introduction of Botchan Train, there was a big argument, since a real SL would cause harm to the urban environment. Needless to say, a SL blows black smoke. Eventually, the railway company decided to manufacture a DL that resembled a SL. For your information, this replica SL blows water vapor from the smokestack instead of black smoke.

Following the classic train, I am going to show you another photogenic object in Ehime Prefecture. Look at the following photo. It is Kurushima Channel Bridge connecting Shikoku and Ooshima islands. This bridge was opened in 1999 as a part of a highway route between Honshu (the Japanese main island) and Shikoku. The total length is 4.1km. It is famous for its night view, being lit up every weekend.
 

Sunset view of Kurushima Channel Bridge in Imabari City

Carp Train and Impregnable Castle on the Sanyo Line

L-13 set of the EMU JR West 115 series, "Carp Train" leaves Ajina Station on the Sanyo Main Line

 

Hiroshima is playing its way to a victory over its rivals. Am I talking about a story of railways? No, I am not. I am talking about baseball. The 2013 Japanese professional baseball has come to the final stage. Hiroshima Carp was a dark hose, but they are gaining force. Beating Hanshin Tigers, Carp booked a spot in the play-off games with Yomiuri Giants in the Central League. I don't have any relatives in Hiroshima, but I extend my most sincere congratulations to Hiroshima people. I hope that Carp is going to play a good match with the Giants.

In commemoration of the victory of Hiroshima Carp, I am going to show you "Carp Train" on the Sanyo Main Line. It is operated by the Hiroshima Regional Office of JR West to support and promote Hiroshima Carp. It is an EMU 115 series-based, and the body is wrapped in red, which is the Carp's team color. It is also decorated with team logos and characters. Carp Train holds a special place in the group of the 115 series.

In the meantime, I am going to show you a snapshot of Hiroshima Prefecture. It is Fukuyama Castle in front of Fukuyama Station on the Sanyo Main Line. This hedgehog was constructed in 1622 by a feudal load, Katsunari Mizuno. Although the original building was destroyed by an air raid during WWII, the castle is a symbol of the strong power among local people even now.
 

Tower of Fukuyama Castle near Fukuyama Station on the Sanyo Main Line