Spot the Difference: EMU Tobu 50000 Series

51001F (a prototype set) of the EMU Tobu 50000 series

I'm not a native English speaker, but suppose that "spot the difference" in English is the same as "machigai-sagashi (a mistake-searching game)" in Japanese. Let's give it a try!

The top photo is trainset 51001 of the EMU Tobu 50000 series (hereafter 51001F). It's a prototype of the 50000 series, so, only one set of this type of train is operated on the track. On the other hand, the photo below is trainset 51002 (hereafter 51002F), which is one of the mass-produced sets of the 50000 series. Can you spot the difference between 51001F and 51002F?

The correct answer is listed below. Firstly, 51001F (a prototype) doesn't have a gangway; while, 51002F (one of the mass-produced sets) has a gangway on the left-hand side of the front. Secondly, positions of the front lights are different. They're arranged at the right and left lower ends of 51001F. On the other hand, the positions of the front lights on 51002F are higher than those of 51001F. I'm happy to perceive this kind of fine differences among trains as a trainspotter.

Incidentally, the EMU Tobu 50000 series is a direct current commuter train commissioned in 2005. It's known as Tobu's first aluminum body train. One set is composed of five motorcars and five trailers (5M5T). The electric control system is an IGBT-VVVF (insulated gate bipolar transistor-variable frequency drive) with a regenerative braking system. A total of 9 sets, 90 cars, were built by Hitachi. Their brothers, namely the 50050, 50070 and 50090 series, are also operated on the Tobu lines.

51002F (one of the mass-produced sets) of the EMU Tobu 50000 series

Another Rail Carrying Train on the JR East Lines

ST Set (Set ST-21) of the DMU JR East KiYa E195 series

One year ago, I showed you JR East's rail carrying train, "LT set" of the DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) KiYa E195 series, on this blog. It was a monster train for carrying 150 meter-long welded rails. Today, I'm going to show you another type of rail carrying train.

"ST set" of the DMU KiYa E195 series (hereafter "ST set") is a train for carrying 25 meter-long standard rails. It was commissioned in 2017 to transport rails for various places on the JR East lines. 25 sets in total were built by Nippon Sharyo. The ST set is composed of 2 engine cars, and each car has a 265kW diesel engine. You may feel that the ST set is similar to JR Central's rail carrying train, namely the DMU KiYa97 series. Well observed! Actually, they're sister trains. Technical specifications of the two kinds of trains are mostly same. The only difference is that JR East's ST set has special cold-proof and snow-proof equipment on the trains.

Where should we go to see the ST set? JR East doesn't release the timetable of the track maintenance vehicles including the rail carrying trains, so what I can do is leave it to fate. Happiness always comes suddenly. I came across the ST set, when I was taking commuter train photos at Yoshikawa-minami station on the JR East Musashino line. It was my first time coming across the ST set outside of the railyards. Needless to say, I clicked away with my camera.

Set ST-21 of the DMU JR East KiYa E195 series leaves Yoshikawa-minami station

Official information, the DMU KiYa E195 series by Nippon Sharyo (in Japanese):

https://www.n-sharyo.co.jp/business/tetsudo/pages/jre195dc.htm

Official information, the DMU KiYa E195 series by JR East (in Japanese):

https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2017/20170902.pdf

Electric Car Preserved by a Model Railway Manufacturer

DeHa268 of the ex-Keikyu 230 series is preserved in front of KATO's main office

There're many preserved rail cars in Japan, but most of them are steam locomotives (SLs). It's probably because regular trains pulled by SLs had already been abolished in this country. SLs must be nostalgic for people. In contrast, preserved commuter trains are quite rare. There're not many commuter trains even in railway museums. Following the old Keikyu commuter train exhibited in Keikyu Museum, I'm going to show you the other precious preserved ex-Keikyu electric car today.

DeHa268 of the DeHa230 series is a 16-meter long electric car. It was a lightweight and high-speed commuter train built by Kisha Seizo in 1936. The original name of DeHa268 was De83 of the Keihin Electric Railway De83 series. Its curved face with three large front windows was state of the art design at that time. The electric control system was rheostatic, and the nose-suspension drive system was used. After operating for 41 years, DeHa268 was retired from the track in 1977.

The present owner of DeHa268 is a model railway manufacturer, Sekisui Kinzoku Company, also known as KATO. You may have KATO's model train sets. I have some of those. KATO took over DeHa268, and has been exhibiting it in front of their main office since September, 1977. Anyone can observe DeHa268 for free. When I recently visited there, local kindergarteners accompanied by nursery teachers were passing by and observing DeHa268. It must be an exciting promenade for children. For your information, KATO's headquarter is located near Minami-Nagasaki station on the Seibu-Ikebukuro line. Thank you, KATO.

Side view of DeHa268

Official website, Hobby Center KATO Tokyo (in Japanese):

https://www.hobbycenterkato.com/tokyo

Shooting the Rare Train: EMU JR East E257-5500 Series

Set OM-51 of the EMU JR East E257-5500 series travels on the Yokosuka line

It's fun to take photos of rare trains. The exhilarating feeling is exceptional when I could shoot a rare train successfully. Last October, I went to Kamakura to shoot a limited express train, EMU JR East E257-5500 series. This rare train has green-colored stripes, whereas the standard E257 series, namely the E257-2000 series, has blue-colored stripes. They're just different in terms of the color of stripes, but that's important for trainspotters. That's what a hobby is like.

Firstly, I got information that the E257-5500 series will be operated as an extra train bound for Kamakura. Next, I checked the timetable, and found that I will be free on the day of operation. The weather forecast predicted sunny on that day, so, I gave the go-ahead to this photography plan. The last challenging problem was identifying the best spot for taking photographs. I needed to stay south of the track to keep the sun behind myself, but there were very few such idealized places.

On Sunday, October, 23rd, I visited a precious spot, which I found on a map and an aerial photograph. It was located outside of the gently curved tracks of the JR East Yokosuka line. It looked an idealized place to shoot the rare train, but my only concern was whether the whole train could be contained properly within an image. Five minutes later, the time has come. It's now or never... shooting. Thank goodness! Please look at the top photo.

I fully enjoyed this rare train shooting.

Set OM-51 of the EMU JR East E257-5500 series leaves Kita-Kamakura station

Lina Bell Train on the Disney Resort Line

Set 3 of the EMU 10 series (Type X), "Lina Bell Train", on the Disney Resort line

Happy New Year! The year 2023 has begun. At the opening of New Year, I'm going to continue to introduce a special monorail train that came to my mind... "Lina Bell Train" on the Disney Resort line.

Let's quickly review the Disney Resort line. It's a public transport under the Railway Business Act, NOT an attraction inside the resort. The route is a looped single track running through amusement facilities, official hotels and JR East Maihama station. There're four stations over the total operating length of 5.0 kilometers. The trains run counterclockwise throughout the day.

Let's head to the main topic. Lina Bell is one of Disney's mascot characters. She is a fox, who likes solving mysteries. Duffy, a bear boy, is a good friend of Lina Bell. "Lina Bell Train" is a special poster train launched on September 8th, 2022. We can see Lina Bell, Duffy and the other Disney characters here and there interior of the train. The vehicle operated as Lina Bell Train is set 3 of the EMU 10 series. The 10 series was commissioned in 2001. Five sets in total were built by Hitachi. Each set has a different body color, namely blue, yellow, green, peach and purple, but only the purple (set 3) and the green (set 4) are currently operated. The new model, named the 100 series, has been replacing the old 10 series

The train operator announced that the set 3 will be operated as Lina Bell Train until March 2023. The set 3 will be retired at that timing.

Interior of "Lina Bell Train"

Official information about "Lina Bell Train" (in Japanese):

https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/tdrblog/detail/220831/