Ancient Camphor Tree on the Hachiko Line

DMU JR East KiHa 110 series runs on the Hachiko Line near Ogose Station

 

Camphor is a typical evergreen broadleaf tree in Japan. One of the features of this tree is that the trunk becomes big as it grows. Japan's largest camphor tree, which has a trunk with a circumference of 24.22m, is seen in Kyushu Island in the western part of Japan.

Though not to the extent of Japan's largest, there is also a large camphor tree in the Tokyo metropolitan area. It is called "Kamiyatsu-no-Ookusu (a large camphor tree in Kamiyatsu village)", whose trunk has a 15m circumference and its height is 30m. It is listed as Japan's 19th largest and Saitama Prefecture's largest tree. It is estimated to be over 1,000 years. When I visited there, it was rising into the blue sky after the snowfall had let up.

To get to this ancient tree, take the JR East Hachiko Line and get off at Ogose Station. Connecting Hachioji, a western suburb of Tokyo and Kuragano in Takasaki city of Gunma Prefecture, the Hachiko Line penetrates the north-western part of the Tokyo metropolitan area from south to north. The track gauge is 1,067mm and the operation length is 92km. It is a single track with some minor exceptions.

The Hachiko line is divided into two sections at Komagawa. The southern section is a commuter line, electrified at 1,500 V DC; meanwhile, the northern section is a non-electrified, typical local route. DMU KiHa 110 series is operated hourly on average.
 

Kamiyatsu-no-Ookusu (a large camphor tree in Kamiyatsu village) is seen near Ogose Station

 

More information aboout the DMU JR East KiHa110 series (in Japanese):

http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/local/kiha110.html 

EMU 255 Series: Boso View Express

EMU JR East 255 series, Boso View Express, passes through Maihama Station on the Keiyo Line

 

Boso is a large peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. It is situated between the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay. Along with Izu, Boso Peninsula is famous for being a resort area to enjoy marine activities.

To get to this peninsula resort, Tokyoites have two major public transportation modes. One of them is a highway bus operated via Trans-Tokyo Bay Highway. Passing through a submarine tunnel (9.6km) and a bridge (4.4km), it takes one hour from Tokyo to Kisarazu, a gateway city to the peninsula. The other mode is a JR East train. It also takes one hour from Tokyo to Kisarazu going around the coast of the bay. The bus and the train are fated rivals of each other.

Along with the E257-500 series, the EMU 255 series is the representative train operated between Tokyo and Boso Peninsula. It was launched in 1993 to replace the old trains, EMU 183 and 189 series. One set is composed of 9 cars. A total of 5 sets, 45 units have been manufactured so far by Tokyu and Kinki Sharyo. Its nickname is the Boso View Express.

Rotating seats are equipped on this train, meaning that group passengers can sit face to face and enjoy chatting. Furthermore, the tables are consoled within the armrests; therefore, a group of passengers can use these tables even when sitting in opposite seats. Today, these types of seats and tables are common on limited express trains; but at first, when the 255 series debuted in 1993, they were rare for passengers.
 

EMU JR East 255 series, Boso View Express, passes through Kasai-rinkai-koen Station

 

More information about the limited express to Boso Peninsula:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/sazanami_wakashio.html

More information about the EMU 255 seies (in Japanese):

http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/express/255.html

Aerial Lift to the Heaven in Fujimidai-kogen

Fujimidai-kogen Ropeway (gondola lift)

 

After showing the freezing snow scene on the Nambu Line, I am going to show you the brisk summer scene in a highland to change the mood.

Fujimidai-kogen is located in the southwestern part of Nagano Prefecture, some 200km west of Tokyo. It is a highland area situated 1,400m up in the mountains. Because of its cool climate and beautiful scenery, a lot of holidaymakers visit there for summer.

To get to this highland, take the Fujimidai-kogen Ropeway from Achi Village. Connecting Sanroku and Sancho stations, its operating length is 2,549m. The height difference between the highest and lowest points of the route is 610m. Twelve-passenger gondolas are able to transport 2,400 passengers per hour.

This aerial lift was completed in 1996 to transport skiers in winter as well as sightseers in summer. The cable line was constructed by Nippon Cable, while the gondolas were manufactured by CWA in Switzerland. The gondola lift is powered by a 940kW electric motor.

One of the features of this aerial lift is that the passengers have to stand in the gondola. For that purpose, the ceiling of the gondola is quite high. It is said that there are only three standing-type gondola lifts in Japan.

After arriving at Sancho Station, visitors can transfer to the chairlift, which leads to the summit of the highland. When I visited there last summer, it was very clear and cool even in midsummer.

Fujimidai-kogen... it is a heaven on the earth as advertised.
 

Beautiful scenery of Fujimidai-kogen near Sancho Station on the Fujimidai-kogen Ropeway

Tokyo Snow Scene: JR East Nambu Line

EMU JR East 205-1200 series arrives at Inagi-Naganuma Station on the Nambu Line

 

Snowfall changes an ordinary looking railway scenery into an extraordinary silvery world. Snow-capped white tracks are very beautiful after the snowfall has let up and the sun has come out. The JR East Nambu Line is no exception.

The Nambu Line is one of the transportation arteries in the eastern part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was opened in 1927 to transport gravel from the Tama riverbed to large cities for constructions. Connecting Kawasaki and Tachikawa, the route length is 45km. The track gauge is 1,067mm and the electric system is 1,500V DC overhead.

When I was a child, I often took the Nambu Line with my school teacher and classmates to go pick some pears in autumn. Our destination was Inagi-Naganuma Station, where there were many pear farms around the station. My teacher told us that the Inagi-Naganuma area is suitable for pear cultivation, because the land is well-drained. It is situated on the gravel from the Tama riverbed.

Today, the scenery of the Inagi-Naganuma area has totally changed. It has become a large commuter town in the Tokyo metropolitan area. New houses line the street. The station has also been renovated with the construction of new elevated railway tracks. It is clean; but I can't expect a lot from modernization, as I am a rail fan with nostalgic eyes.

Everything flows, nothing stands still; only the snow scene is the same both now and in the future.
 

EMU JR East 205 series arrives at Inagi-Naganuma Station on the Nambu Line

EH200: Blue Thunder on the Steep Track

Electric locomotive, Type JRF EH200 stands at Tachikawa station yard on the Chuo Line

 

Japanese Shinkansen (high speed train) and the urban commuter trains are probably famous among foreigners; but how about the freight trains in Japan?

When the state-owned Japanese National Railways were split into several regional companies in 1987, the freight transportation segment was spun off as an independent firm, namely Japan Freight Railway Company (JRF). JRF has been going through a long period of hardships; but recently, it has climbed into the black and produced an income.

JRF doesn't have its own tracks, with some minor exceptions, but they have many locomotives to pull the freight trains. For instance, Type EH200 is a specialist electric locomotive (EL) for steep tracks in mountain ranges. It debuted in 2001 to replace the old EL, Type EF64. A total of 25 units have been manufactured so far by Toshiba.

This newly designed EL is operated on the 1,067mm gauge tracks with a 1,500V DC system, such as the JR East Chuo Line. Oil transportation is its main assignment. Pulling Type TaKi1000 oil tank cars, its maximum speed is 95km/hour on the steep tracks of the Chuo Line. Being coupled two units, the UIC indication of a wheel arrangement for the EH200 is (Bo-Bo)+(Bo-Bo). It has eight 565kW induction motors with a VVVF inverter (variable frequency drive) control system.

The nickname of the EH200 is "Blue Thunder", which was chosen by the public. It is named after its body color and high performance.
 

Side view of the electric locomotive,Type JRF EH200

 

More information about locomotives of Japan Freight Railways (in Japanese):

http://www.jrfreight.co.jp/transport/improvement/development.html