Spot the Difference: Tobu 50070 and 50050 Series

EMU Tobu 50070 series travels on the Tokyu-Toyoko line.

I have already uploaded nearly 1,700 posts in this blog. I thought that all kinds of the existing trains in Tokyo had already been introduced to you here, but it was not true. I recently found that I haven't shown you some more models yet. The introduction to trains in Tokyo is almost endless. Today, I'm going to show you the EMU Tobu 50070 series for the first time. You may think that it's the same as the other Tobu trains such as the 50050 series, which I showed you before. Let's give it a shot. Can you spot the difference between the 50070 series (the top photo) and the 50050 series (the photo below)?

Was it a piece of cake for you? The answer is "the LED displays on the front". The 50070 series has full color LED displays, which can make white-colored light. On the other hand, the 50050 series has conventional LED displays, which can't make white-colored light.

For your information, the 50070 series was launched in 2007 for the direct operation between the Tobu, Tokyo Metro-Yurakucho, Tokyo Metro-Fukutoshin, Tokyu-Toyoko and Yokohohama-Minaomirai lines. On the other hand, the 50050 series was launched in 2006 for the direct operation between the Tobu, Tokyo Metro-Hanzomon and Tokyu-Denentoshi lines. The 50070 and 50050 series are also known as the brothers of the 50000 and 50090 series, which I showed you before in this blog.

It's fun for me to perceive a fine difference between these trains as a trainspotter.

EMU Tobu 50050 series travels on the Tobu line.

Trains in Yokohama City: 2023 Update

“Yokohama DeNA Baystars” train travels on the Tokyu-Toyoko line

What are the most popular sports where you live? In Japan, baseball and football are the two most popular sports across the country. Yokohama City is no exception. A professional baseball and a professional football team are based in this large city. To promote sport and sport watching, two professional sport teams currently tie-up with railway companies.

Let's see examples. The top photo is "Yokohama DeNA Baystars" train of Yokohama Minatomirai Railway. Yokohama DeNA Baystars is a professional baseball team based in the city. This team plays games at Yokohama Stadium near Nihon-Odori station on the Minatomirai line. To promote the game watching, Yokohama Minatomirai Railway operates the special poster train from March 27th using set Y515 of the EMU Y500 series. You can see large photos of popular players belonging to Yokohama DeNA Baystars on the side bodies of this train. This poster train is directly operated onto the Tokyu-Toyoko, Tokyo Metro-Fukutoshin, Tobu-Tojo and the Seibu-Ikebukuro lines.

On the other hand, the photo below is "F. Marinos Sport Park" train on the Keikyu line. F. Marinos is a professional football team based in the city. This team recently opened rental futsal (5-man football) grounds, rental meeting rooms and a restaurant in F. Marinos Sport Park near Kurihama station on the Keikyu line. To promote this sport park, Keikyu operated the special poster train from June 5th to August 6th using set 2133 of the EMU 2100 series. F. Marinos's team colors, namely red blue and white, very much fit the train.

"F. Marinos Sport Park" train travels on the Keikyu line

Official information, the design of "Yokohama DeNA Baystars" train (in Japanese):

https://www.mm21railway.co.jp/info/news/uploads/YOKOHAMA%20DeNA%20BAYSTARS%20TRAIN%202023.pdf

Official information, "F. Marinos Sport Park" train (in Japanese):

https://www.keikyu.co.jp/company/news/2023/20230530HP_23020TE.html

Preserved Subway Train in Toshima Ward

12-001 of the EMU Toei 12-000 series is preserved in Chihaya Flower Park

Do you remember that I enjoyed strolling around Kachidoki station on the subway Ooedo line last month? After posting it, I had a feeling I was forgetting to introduce some more on the Ooedo line. I finally remembered! That's a unique prototype train before inauguration of the Ooedo line.

The Ooedo line was opened in 1991 as the first subway line applying the linear motor technology in Tokyo. Before applying this advanced technology, the subway operator, namely the Transportation Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Toei), introduced a prototype train, and repeated test runs in their Magome railyard. That prototype train is set 12-001 of the EMU Toei 12-000 series. Set 12-001 was built by Tokyu Sharyo in 1986. It's composed of one motorcar (12-002) and one trailer (12-001). It has stainless-steel bodies with a magenta-colored stripe. Initially, set 12-001 was built as a standard motor train, but modified to the linear motor train in 1987. That's because the linear motor technology was developing quickly at that time. After one year of test runs, Toei decided to construct the Ooedo line as a linear motor subway line.

What happened to set 12-001 after that? It was not operated as a commercial train on the Ooedo line, and retired from the track in 1988. It was then transferred to Toshima Ward in 1991, and preserved in Chihaya Flower Park. Visitors can freely observe this precious prototype train during the daytime. I would like to thank everyone involved in preserving set 12-001.

Hydrangea flowers and the preserved prototype train in Chihaya Flower Park 

Official information about Chihaya Flower Park (auto translation):

https://www.city.toshima.lg.jp/340/shisetsu/koen/056.html

The 90th Anniversary of the Inokashira Line

Set 1729 of the EMU Keio 1000 series travels on the Inokashira line

On August 1st, 2023, Keio Corporation celebrated the 90th anniversary of their Inokashira line. In commemoration, Keio is displaying a memorial plate on the train set 1729 of the EMU 1000 series.

Let me review the Inokashira line. It's a 12.7-kilometer-long commuter route in the western part of Tokyo Metropolis. The track is 1,067 millimeter-size double. The electric system is 1,500 V DC with overhead catenaries. 5-car trains, named EMU 1000 series, is the sole model on the line. The Inokashira line was partially opened from Shibuya to Inokashira-koen in 1933, and fully opened to Kichijoji in 1934 by Teito Electric Railway, which was an Odakyu group company. The owner of the Inokashira line was transferred to Keio after WWII.

I was born in a residential area on the Inokashira line, and have been witnessing the history of this commuter route. There were some empty lots beside the track when I was a kid. I often played baseball there with my friends and the balls sometimes got inside the track. I can't see such empty lots anymore. Luggage trains were operated when I was a kid. The railway employees sometimes gave me a ride, but I missed such special opportunities anymore, because luggage trains were abolished. Green-colored passenger trains with a nose suspension driving system were operated when I was a kid. Its gargle running sound was definitely my favorite, but those trains were replaced by the modern 1000 series with a soft sound. Time really flies.

The 90th anniversary plate, the Inokashira line

2023 Summer Memories: Izusan Fireworks

EMU JR East E257-2000 series without gangway stands at Atami station yard.

My stay in Atami City had passed quickly and the day to go home had arrived. Before leaving, I visited Izusan in the eastern part of the city to enjoy local fireworks. Japanese people have a love of fireworks and I'm also one of them. Fireworks add a sort of poetic charm to the summer season. Izusan Fireworks is no exception. It's just a small-scale local event, but held twice this year, because COVID-19 calmed down. About 3,000 fireworks were set off on the coast. They were gorgeous and well programmed. I fully enjoyed Japan's summer features.

Well, I can't be written off here as this is a railway blog. Taking this opportunity, I'm going to show you the EMU JR East E257-2000 series standing at a detention line of Atami station yard. I introduced this model twice in this blog, but this is the first time to show you "a leading car without gangway". I'm very happy to perceive this kind of fine difference among the trains as a trainspotter.

Incidentally, the E257-2000 series is a renovated model. It was originally commissioned in 2001 under the name of the E257 series, and mainly used for a limited express train, "Kaiji" on the Chuo main line. 19 years later, the decrepit E257 series revived under the new name of the E257-2000 series. A total of 117 units were remodeled by JR East Nagano and Akita factories. The E257-2000 series is currently operated as a limited express train, "Odoriko" via Atami station.

Izusan Fireworks