Preserved Steam Locomotive just along the Railway Track

Steam locootive C57 66 is preserved just along the JR East Keihin Tohoku line

Do you have any spot you want to check out? For example, you often pass by that spot by train, but you have never been there. Iriarai-nishi Park in Tokyo was one such spot to me. I often passed by there by the JR East's Keihin-Tohoku line train, but I didn't visit there until recently.

What is Iriarai-nishi Park like? It's a public park for children to learn about transportation. For that purpose, several vehicles are exhibited in the park. Unit 66 of the steam locomotive Class C57 (hereafter C57 66) is one such exhibit. It's preserved just along the Keihin-Tohoku line track in a "semi-dynamic state". It means that the driving wheels can be rotated by compressed air. In fact, this special "wheel rotating show" is held twice a day. Needless to say, it's a popular event among local children.

For your information, the Class C57 is a 4-6-2 (Whyte notation) type steam locomotive that has a tender attached. It was developed by the Ministry of Railways in 1937 for pulling passenger trains. It is 20.28 meters long, and weighs 67.5 tons. The driving wheel diameter is 1,750 millimeters. A total of 201 units were built by Kawasaki-sharyo and the other companies. The Class C57 is called "the lady" among rail-fans. I agree with it, because its design is beautiful. For example, the boiler is slender, in contrast, the driving wheels are large. Please check out my previous post on the Class C57 as well, if you have time.

Side view of C57 66 in Iriarai-nishi Park

Odakyu New Mocoron Train

Odakyu New Mocoron Train passes through Soshigaya-okura station

Odakyu updated their Mocoron (or Mokoron) poster train. 

What’s Mocoron? It is a mascot character of Odakyu Electric Railway. According to Odakyu, he (or she) is a blue-colored rabbit to assist in child-rearing around the Odakyu line. He (or she) likes riding trains, and always looks for something fun. On November 29th, 2023, Odakyu made Set 5055 of the EMU 5000 series debut as the first generation Mocoron Train. It was popular among local children, but it's lacking something to be honest. The problem was that Mocoron was illustrated only on the front of the train. We couldn’t see Mocoron on the side bodies.

The new Mocoron train debuted on June 4th, 2024. It was again modified from Set 5055 of the EMU 5000 series. We can see various poses of Mocoron on the side bodies and in the train. Furthermore, the large stuffed Mocoron is boarding on the driver's cab. That’s so cute. I'm also one of his (or her) fans.

For your information, Odakyu makes much of assisting in child-rearing. For instance, the train fare for elementary school student is flat… only 50 yen (0.32 US dollar). As I posted several times, Japan's population has entered into a decreasing phase. Railway companies can't keep their arms crossed in this situation. They are in competition to attract passengers, and have to refine the value of their lines. Otherwise, the residents will move to the popular areas on other companies' lines. The strategy of Odakyu is attracting child-rearing families.

Odakyu New Mocoron Train passes through Chitose-funabashi station

　

Official information about Odakyu New Mocoron Train (in Japanese):

https://www.odakyu.jp/news/b4fuqs0000002u0d-att/b4fuqs0000002u0k.pdf

Lily Garden in Fukaya City

South entrance of JR East Fukaya station on the Takasaki line

It’s mid-summer in the metropolitan area. On July 29th, the highest temperature of Japan was 41.0 degrees Celsius, which was recorded in the interior of the metropolitan area. I hesitated a bit, but decided to go out. My destination this time was a lily garden in Fukaya City.

Let me review Fukaya City to start. It’s an interior city in Saitama Prefecture, about 80 kilometers northwest of Tokyo. This city is famous for producing leeks… but, there’s more. Fukaya is also famous for floriculture of lilies. In this season, lily flowers are in full bloom here and there in the city. One of the spots for holidaymakers is the lily garden of Fukaya Green Park. When I visited the garden, I saw many lily lovers. The flowers were pink, red, white, orange and yellow-colored. I enjoyed the colorful flowers and forgot the heat.

To get to this gorgeous garden, the nearest railway station is Fukaya on the JR East Takasaki line. You may remember when I introduced you to this distinctive station before. Please look at the top photo. It’s the entire building of the Fukaya station. You can see the unique station building and the railway tracks under the building. This building looks like Tokyo station. Why? It's because Tokyo station is made of bricks, which were produced in Fukaya City. For your information, Fukaya City offers a free shuttle bus service from Fukaya station to Fukaya Green Park. Thank you!

The lily garden in Fukaya Green Park

The 11th Generation Sounyan Train

Set 11004 of the Sotetsu 11000 series, "the 11th generation Sounyan train"

As I posted several times, many Japanese railway companies have their own mascot characters. The purpose of these characters is to make people feel familiar with the local railways. The railway mascot character is a solution to enhance the value of the railway line as well.

Sagami Railway (hereafter Sotetsu) is keen on spreading their mascot character, named Sounyan. According to Sotetsu's website, Sounyan is a cat and an employee of Sotetsu. He is in charge of public relations. His hobby is taking photos and eating around. Umm... I think that Sounyan is not very original, just an ordinary employee... but wait a moment! There is more to Sounyan's profile. He has a serious problem that has been bothering him. People tend to assume that he is a raccoon dog in spite of being a cat. I was surprised that Sounyan has a mental problem. What a deep profile it is!

So, let me finally get to the main part. On March 21st, Sotetsu launched the 11th generation Sounyan poster train. That's Set 11004 of the EMU 11000 series. This time, we can see not only Sounyan, but also images of several sightseeing spots, on the bodies of the Sounyan train. The sightseeing spots are, for example, Shibuya on the Tokyu line and Shinjuku on the Tokyo Metro line. Why are they on the other companies' lines? It is because Sotetsu trains are directly operated onto the Tokyu and the Tokyo Metro lines. Thoughtfulness to the colleague companies is important, isn't it?

Sounyan-printed priority seat (courtesy seat), the 11th generation Sounyan train

Official information about the 11th generation Sounyan train by Sotetsu (in Japanese):

https://www.sotetsu.co.jp/pressrelease/train/r24-46/

Steep Monorail Line to the Old House

Monorail line to Kobayashi Family House

What comes to your mind when you hear Tokyo? Most of you probably think of it as a big city and the center of economics in Japan. That’s true, but there’s more. Please visit Hinohara Village in the western part of Tokyo Metropolis. You will find a different Tokyo there.

Please look at the top photo. It’s a monorail line constructed by Hinohara Village. There are a total of six lines in the village. They are important transportation means, as the road network is still not very developed. Most of the routes are only for local people, but holidaymakers are allowed to take the monorail line in the top photo, because it’s an access mean to a sightseeing spot, Kobayashi Family House. This monorail line is 450-meters-long. The maximum inclination of the track is 43 degrees. Passenger capacity of the vehicle is 8. The operating interval is 40 minutes. It takes 15 minutes for going up and 10 minutes for going down. You need to make a reservation in advance, but there is no charge... thank you!

After arriving at the summit station located at 750 meters above sea level, you will find an old house there. Please look at the photo below. That’s Kobayashi Family House. It’s a wooden house with a thatched roof, built in the early 18th centuries. Kobayashi Family House in Tokyo Metropolis… it’s not a famous sightseeing spot, but has a very relaxing atmosphere.

Please check out my previous post about the mini-slope car in the plum grove as well.

Kobayashi Family House

Official information about Kobayashi Family House by HInohara Village (in Japanese):

https://kobayashike.tokyo/

Official information about the monorail line to Kobayashi Family House by HInohara Village (in Japanese):

https://kobayashike.tokyo/access/