EMU Keikyu 1000 series (stainless-steel made) stands at Shinmachi Rail Yard
Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan. This megacity is located about 20 km southwest of Tokyo, and has been developed as Tokyo's outport since the 19th century. Currently, it has an estimated population of 3.7 million. The downtown area is a concrete jungle. You can see skyscrapers such as the MM21 area, but you can still find nature even in the densely populated suburban areas.
I visited Yokohama last month, as something came up. After finishing my meeting, I stopped at a railway crossing nearby Shinmachi Rail Yard on the Keikyu Line to take train pictures. On the way back to Yokohama Station, I enjoyed walking along a small river. It was a typical densely built-up residential area. When I passed through a gentle curve of the stream, I found a big bird on a persimmon tree. It was not a crow. What was it?
It was a 50 cm-long night heron perching on a branch. The white spots on the wings showed that he (or she) was still young. I was surprised that such a big bird lives in the urban residential area. Neecless to say, I was absorbed in clicking my camera shutters to shoot this rare big bird. I hope that the environment for night herons is protected in the future.
In the meantime, I could shoot the stainless-steel made EMU, the 1000 series, stored in the Shinmachi Rail Yard. My favorite rare train was not there, but I found a rare bird on that day.
A night heron perches on a persimmon tree near Kanagawa Station on the Keikyu Line
EMU Seibu 10000 series, New Red Arrow (NRA), stands at Yokoze Station
Seibu Railway operates limited express trains using special EMUs, the 10000 series. It is Seibu's flagship model, and goes by the name of New Red Arrow (NRA). The NRA is a 7-car train, which was launched in 1993 to replace the old Red Arrow, EMU 5000 series. A total of 12 sets, 84 units, have been built by Hitachi, Ltd. The NRA is operated on the Ikebukuro and the Shinjuku lines every half an hour to one hour. I often use it to visit the Chichibu area, where we can enjoy beautiful countryside.
22 years have already passed since the NRA was launched. The NRA is a bit out-dated. For instance, the sound of DC motors is rather noisy as a limited express train. I look forward to hearing the company anouncement of a post-NRA debut.
On May 16th this year, Seibu Railway gave a press release announcing that a new sightseeing train will be launched in spring of next year. It won't be a new limited express train to replace NRA, but a "restaurant train" renovated from the exsisting 4000 series. According to the company, the new sightseeing train will be a 4-car train consisting of two dining cars, one kitchen car and one passenger car with a multipurpose space. Seibu is concentrating on the development of this sightseeing train at this moment. The new NRA will be launched in the next stage after the sightseeing train.
So, be patient!
EMU Seibu 10000 (left) and 4000 (right) series stand at Seibu-Chichibu Station
Takao-sanguchi new station building on the Keio-Takao Line,
Mt. Takao is a popular sightseeing spot in the Tokyo metropolitan area. In the Michelin Voyager Pratique issued in 2007, it was granted the highest rank of three stars. Since then, not only Japanese, but also foreign hikers have been flocking to this suburban mountain.
Takao-sanguchi on the Keio-Takao Line is the gateway station to Mt. Takao. It takes less than one hour from Shinjuku, a sub-center of Tokyo Metropolis. Recently, Keio Electric Railway has completed the renovation work of the station building as a part of passenger services. The new station building was designed by famous architect, Kuma Kengo. He excels at designing using natural materials. For instance, Hoshakuji Station on the JR East Utsunomiya Line is his reputable work. You can see a large roof made of timbers at Takao-sanguchi Station. It covers a large part of the station yard, and is beautifully illuminated after sunset.
A hot spring has also been opened recently in the station. Keio Electric Railway drilled a well in the station yard, and found the hot water bed in the subsurface. The hot spring is located next to the entrance of the station, so, you can visit there just before going back home. After enjoying hiking, you need to take a bath to relieve fatigue, don't you? The name of the hot spring is "Gokuraku-yu (Paradise Hot Spring)". As its name suggests, the hot spring will provide you with a relaxation like paradise.
Platform of Takao-sanguchi Station on the Keio-Takao Line
EMU JR East E491 series, "East i-E" stands at Hachioji Station on the Yokohama Line
I am going to show you a very rare train today... JR East's inspection EMU, E491 series called "East i-E".
Along with the EMU E926 series, "East i", for the Shinkansen tracks (1,435 mm gauge size), the EMU E491 series, "East i-E", is an AC/DC inspection EMU for narrow gauge tracks (1,067 mm gauge size). The E491 series was launched in 2002 to replace old inspection trains, the 443 and the MaYa 34 series. Only one set, 3 units was built by Kinki Sharyo and Hitachi.
The mission of the E491 series is to inspect signals, overhead wires and tracks both for alternate and direct current sections. Car number KuMoYa E491-1 has a signal inspection system and a pantograph for measurement. Car number MoYa E490-1 has an overhead wire inspection system and a pantograph for power collection. KuMoYa E490-1 has a track inspection system and another pantograph for measurement.
JR East does not release the timetable of the E491 series, so, it is difficult to see and take pictures of this inspection train. Fortunately, I recently came across "East i-E" at Hachioji Station on the Yokohama Line. Needless to say, many rail-fans found this rare train, and clicked their camera shutters on the platform.
For your information, JR East also has an inspection train called "East i-D" for un-electrified tracks. It is also a very rare train. I am going to upload the photograph, if I come across it by good fortune.
Hankyu is a major private railway company in the Kansai area including Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe cities. It has a total of a 140 km-long extensive line network centering on Umeda Terminal near JR Osaka Station. A total of 1.4 million passengers use it every day. The gauge size is 1,435 mm. All the route is electrified. The electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead.
If you want to see what Hankyu is, please visit their Umeda Terminal. Once you stand in the entrance of the platforms, you will see 43 automated ticket gates arranged side by side. After passing through the gate, you will then see ten bay platforms and nine tracks. Wax makes the platform floors shine. Except for JR group stations such as Tokyo and Osaka, Umeda is the largest private railway terminal in Japan. You can see the "Hankyu maroon" colored trains arrive and depart the terminal continuously.
Umeda Terminal was opened in 1910 by ex-Minoo-Arima Electric Light Railway. The present terminal was completed in 1973 as an elevated station. It is located on the 3rd floor of the Hankyu Terminal Building, where offices, shopping malls and restaurants are also located. The best place to look over the large terminal might be a coffee shop in the terminal. It is famous among rail fans, but all seats were taken when I visited there in summer this year. I think I am going to save it for later.
Umeda Terminal... it is a symbol of the Hankyu Kingdom.
Platform 9 of Umeda Terminal
