2024 Sakura Season on the Inokashira Line

Set 1755 of the EMU Keio 1000 series approaches Takaido station

On March 29th, the Meteorological Agency of Japan declared that this year's sakura (cherry) blossoms had started blooming in Tokyo. That was five days later than most other years. The agency then reported that they fully blossomed on April 4th. As I posted before, Japanese people harbor special emotions towards cherry blossoms. We are also reminded of the emptiness of life seeing the beautiful blossoms dropping only a week after they fully blossom. Cherry blossom viewing is a part of Japanese culture. This year, I visited Takaido station on the Keio-Inokashira line. As I introduced you before, there are plenty of cherry trees on both sides of the tracks around this station.

After getting off at the station, I started strolling on the bank of Kanda River, which runs parallel to the Inokashira line. While strolling, I came across a group of kindergarten pupils and their teachers. It brought back my childhood memories, because I also went to a kindergarten nearby Takaido station. It's already a long time ago. Here is a place filled with my memories. The trains have totally changed, but the beauty of the cherry blossoms hasn't changed. I could take many trains and cherry blossom pictures in little time from the river bank and the station platform. I tried to change the atmosphere of the photos this year. Full blown cherry trees, which were reflecting on the front windows of the EMU 1000 series, is my most favorite picture on that day. Spring is here!

Cherry blossoms reflect on the front windows of Set 1777 of the EMU 1000 series

Abukuma Express: 2024 Update

Set AB-2 of the EMU Abukuma Express AB900 series, "Lapras and Lucky Train"

This is the sequel of my post before last. Sorry for jumping from one topic to another. After observing the preserved train at Soneda station on the Iizaka line, I shifted my attention to the adjacent track. 10 minutes later, the train, which I really wanted to see, was approaching me. That was the EMU Abukuma Express AB900 series.

Abukuma Express, also known as Abukyu, is a local railway company straddling Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. Connecting Fukushima and Tsukinoki stations, its operating length is 54.9 kilometers. The track is mainly single, and electrified. The gauge size is 1,067 mm. The electric system is 20,000 V - 50Hz AC with overhead catenaries. The section between Fukushima terminal and Yanome signal station is shared with the JR East - Tohoku main line.

Different from nine years ago, Abukyu's main fleet has been replaced by the EMU AB900 series, which debuted in 2019. You may have a feeling "I've seen this train before". Wow, you're sharp! This model has the same specifications as those of the JR East E721 series. A total of 7 sets, 14 cars, are currently operated on the line. Each set has a different color, but only Set AB-2 (see the top photo) is a special poster train, named "Lapras and Lucky Train". As you know, Lapras and Lucky (Chansey) are members of Pocket Monsters. Lapras is cheering for Fukushima Prefecture. On the other hand, Lucky is supporting Miyagi Prefecture. Lapras and Lucky, please get along and help each other!

Set AB-5 of the EMU Abukuma Express AB900 series

Official website, Abukuma Express (in Japanese): http://www.abukyu.co.jp/

Advent of Spring on the Seibu-Tamagawa Line

EMU Seibu New 101 series travels on the Tamagawa line

It's getting warmer and warmer in Tokyo. The maximum daytime temperature is nearly 20 degrees Celsius. The spring outing season has just started. I recently visited the Seibu-Tamagawa line for the first time in three years.

To start, let me quickly review the Seibu-Tamagawa line. It's a short local route in the western part of Tokyo. Connecting Musashi-Sakai on the JR East Chuo line and Koremasa near Tama River, the route length is 8.0 kilometers. The track is a 1,067 millimeter-size single and electrified. The electric system is 1,500 V DC with overhead catenaries. 4-car trains are operated every 12 minutes. This route was opened in 1917 to transport gravel from the Tama riverbed to large cities for construction. It's similar to the history of the JR East Nambu line. The route was, then, changed to a commuter line in 1967.

I got off at Shin-Koganei station, and headed to Nogawa river. On the way to the river, I found a fantastic shooting spot of the Tamagawa line trains. It was a straight track in a trench surrounded by a residential area, and had good visibility. The even more good news was that numerous yellow-colored canola flowers were blooming beautifully along the track. The land for the future double track project is especially a suitable space for canola planting. Another of my favorite shooting spots was Nimaibashi bridge over Nogawa river. I could enjoy both the colorful New 101 series trains and the beautiful stream. Spring is here on the Seibu-Tamagawa line.

EMU Seibu New 101 series crosses Nimaibashi bridge over Nogawa river

Preserved Train on the Iizaka Line

Set 7101 of the EMU Fukushima Kotsu 7000 series is preserved at Soneda station

This is the sequel of my last post. After enjoying the latest trains, the EMU 1000 series, on the Iizaka line of Fukushima Kotsu Company, I hit upon a question... "Where have all the old trains gone?" "All scrapped?" Please don't worry! I found that one set of the old train was being preserved at Soneda station. That's Set 7101 of the EMU 7000 series.

Set 7101 is composed of 2 cars, namely DeHa 7101 and DeHa 7202. It's amazing that Set 7101 is preserved as the whole set, not just one car. Even more surprising, Set 7101 is preserved not only as an exhibit, but also utilized as a waiting room for railway passengers and a break room for local people. Please look at the photo below. The inside of the vehicles is kept clean, and equipped with indoor plants. Mellow music is played on a large screen. Paintings, which have been drawn by a local artist, are also exhibited. I fully enjoyed this healing space for a while.

For your information, the EMU 7000 series is the ex-Tokyu 7000 series. A total of 6 sets, 14 cars, were transferred to Fukushima Kotsu in 1991, when the Iizaka line was boosted from 750 to 1,500 V DC. Please look at the top photo. You can see the good old "Pioneer bogies", which were developed in the US, below the body. The brake disks are shining! The EMU Fukushima Kotsu 7000 series, it was great to see you today!

Interior of Set 7101

Official information about the preserved train, Set 7101, by Fukushima Prefectural Government (in Japanese):

https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/infra/soneda.html

Fukushima Kotsu: 2024 Update

Set 1103 of the EMU Fukushima Kotsu 1000 series travels on the Iizaka line

I visited Fukushima City for the first time in 9 years. What was new with the local railways in this northern city?

Let me quickly review Fukushima City to start. It's the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in Tohoku District, some 270 kilometers north of Tokyo. The population is about 270,000. The urban area is rather small, but it's bustling with throngs of local people. The city is surrounded by beautiful nature, and famous for the production of delicious peaches.

Now, let's get down to the main topic. After arriving at Fukushima station by Tohoku Shinkansen, I headed to Fukushima terminal of the Iizaka line, which is operated by a local company, Fukushima Kotsu. The Iizaka line is a 9.2 kilometers-long railway connecting Fukushima and Iizaka, which is known as a hot spring resort. The track is single and electrified. The electric system is 1,500 V DC with overhead catenaries.

Different from 9 years ago, the vehicles on the Iizaka line had been totally changed. The current model is the EMU 1000 series, which was transferred from Tokyu Railways in 2017. A total of 6 sets, 14 units, are operated on the line. They are second-hand cars, but look brand-new in my opinion. Specifically, the front design of the head cars looks different from the previous Tokyu 1000 series. It's not surprising, because these head cars had been modified from the middle cars of the Tokyu 1000 series. The driver's cabs were added later. To be continued...

Set 1109 of the EMU Fukushima Kotsu 1000 series travels on the Iizaka line

Official information about the EMU Fukushima Kotsu 1000 series (in Japanese):

https://ii-den.jp/new.php