French Garden on the Izukyu Line

Uncoupling scene of the EMU JR East E257-2000 (and E257-2500) series

It's the end of May already. This year's rainy season is approaching day by day in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Before the gloomy season, I traveled to the Izu Peninsula to feel the clear early summer.

My destination was Kawazu Bagatelle Park, about 160 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. It's famous for its French garden with various roses. When I visited there, the peak season of spring rose blossoms was over, but still many kinds of roses were blooming. The French-styled garden was also impressive. It was geometric and symmetric... completely different from Japanese gardens. A palace-styled building in front of the garden and a spire beside the garden were also beautiful. I fully felt the atmosphere of France.

To get to Kawazu Bagatelle Park, the nearest railway station is Kawazu on the Izukyu line. It takes about two hours from Tokyo station on the JR East Tokaido main line by limited express train, "Odoriko". This convenient train is directly operated onto the Izukyu line via Ito station. So, passengers can go to Kawazu station from Tokyo without changing trains. My vehicle was the EMU JR East E257-2000 series. One set of the E257-2000 series is composed of 9 and 5 (E257-2500) cars. The 9-car train is called the main set, and operated between Tokyo and Izukyu-Shimoda; meanwhile the 5-car train is called a sub-set, and operated onto the Sunzu line of Izu-Hakone Railway to Shuzenji. Passengers can observe coupling and uncoupling scenes at Atami station on the JR East line.

Kawazu Bagatelle Park near Kawazu station on the Izukyu line

Final Chapter of the Tokyu 9000 Series

Trainset 9007 of the EMU Tokyu 9000 series (July, 2022)

On May 11th, 2023, Tokyu Railways announced their investment plans for fiscal 2023, in which new-model cars for the Oimachi line will be built to replace the deteriorated EMU 9000 and 9020 series. The final chapter of the 9000 and 9020 series has eventually begun.

Tokyu has a labyrinthine railway network in the southwestern part of Tokyo Metropolis and Kanagawa Prefecture. The Oimachi line is just a short commuter route connecting Oimachi and Futako-Tamagawa (10.4 kilometers), but all trains are directly operated onto the Denentoshi line through Futako-Tamagawa station. The EMU 9000 series is a major fleet on the line. It was commissioned in 1985 mainly for the Toyoko line. 75 cars (15 trainsets) are currently operated on the Oimachi line. On the other hand, the EMU 9020 series is a small group on the Oimachi line. It was commissioned in 1992 mainly for the Denentoshi line under the original name of the 2000 series. 15 cars (3 trainsets) are currently operating on the Oimachi line under the new name of the 9020 series. Technical specifications of the 9000 and 9020 series are more or less the same. The photo is trainset 9007 of the EMU 9000 series with special decorations. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Tokyu Group, the company operated this special poster train from April, 2022 to April, 2023.

I don't know how many years more until the retirement of the 9000 and 9020 series, but hope that they'll be operated as long as possible.

Trainset 9007 stands at Jiyugaoka station on the Tokyu-Oimachi line (July, 2022)

2023 Cherry Blossom Season in Oyama Town

EMU Odakyu 60000 series, limited express "Fuji-san"

It's late May already. The cherry blossom season this year ended a long time ago, but I would like to introduce you to some more cherry blossom scenes in 2023.

I visited my grandmother's grave last month, and offered flowers for the first time in two years. She lived a long and healthy life, and passed away several years ago at the age of 103. Her grave is located in Fuji Reien (Fuji Cemetery), in Oyama Town, Shizuoka Prefecture. It's at the southern foot of Mt. Fuji, and known as a vast cemetery surrounded by beautiful forests. The main street of the cemetery is very wide and famous for its cherry trees. They were in full bloom when I visited there. A flurry of cherry blossoms blowing in the wind was really romantic. It was a shower of cherry blossoms.

To visit Fuji Reien, the nearest railway station is Suruga-Oyama on the JR Central Gotemba line. For passengers from downtown Tokyo to Suruga-Oyama, a direct train, "Fuji-san (Mt. Fuji)", is convenient. Fuji-san train starts from Shinjuku terminal on the Odakyu line, and is directly operated onto the JR Central Gotemba line to Gotemba terminal. My vehicle was the EMU Odakyu 60000 series, "MSE (Multi Super Express)". MSE was launched in 2008 as a multi-purpose limited express train. I found a special sticker on the front of the train celebrating the 15th anniversary of MSE. Congratulations on the 15th anniversary! I wish MSE will be active on the track for a long time.

The main street of Fuji Reien (Fuji Cemetery)

The Preserved Seibu SL in Shinagawa Ward

Steam locomotive Unit 7 of Seibu Railway is preserved in Higashi-Shinagawa Park

I recently found a precious steam locomotive (SL) in Shinagawa Ward of Tokyo Metropolis. It was being displayed in a public park, named Higashi-Shinagawa Park, within an apartment complex. I'm going to introduce you to this SL today.

The SL Unit 7 of Seibu Railway was built by Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works, the United States, in 1897 as the product number 1,711. It was ordered by Iga Railway, but the inauguration of that railway had failed to obtain the shareholders' approval. The SL was then taken over by Hankaku Railway (later the Ministry of Railways) under the name of Unit 3 of the Class A1. After being operated by several railways, it was transferred to Seibu Railway in 1943 under the new name of Unit 7. After 22 years more, this SL was eventually retired from the track in 1965, and stored and displayed in Higashi-Shinagawa Park in 1969.

Unit 7 is a 2-6-0 (Whyte notation) type tank locomotive. It's 8.967 meters long, and weighs 27,350 kilograms. This SL was quite unique, because it doesn't have trailing wheels. As you know, standard tank SLs have trailing wheels (for example 2-6-4). It implies that the rear part of this SL was too short to put a water tank and a coal storage box with appropriate sizes. Unit 7 SL may have been lacking in terms of usability. It's fun to learn technical specifications of railway vehicles. I fully enjoyed to observe this precious preserved SL on that day.

Unit 7 is a 2-6-0 (Whyte notation) type tank locomotive

Peony Garden on the Odakyu Line

EMU JR East E233-2000 series travels on the Odakyu line

After cherry blossoms falling from the trees, peony flowers have started to bloom in Tokyo. I went to Machida Peony Garden in Machida City, about 40 kilometers southwest of the center of Tokyo Metropolis. Along with the garden of Nishiarai-daishi temple, Machida Peony Garden is famous for its beautiful peony flowers from April to May. What jumped into my eyes there was various colored flowers. They were red, pink, yellow, purple and white-colored. Specifically, my favorite ones were the large yellow and pink-colored flowers, which were fully blooming and shining under the spring sunlight. The red-colored Japanese traditional parasol matched these peony flowers.

I can't be written off here as this is a railway blog. To get to this beautiful peony garden, the nearest station is Machida on the Odakyu line. Taking this opportunity, I'm going to show you one of the trains being operated on the Odakyu line. The JR East E233-2000 series is a commuter train directly operated from the JR East Joban line onto the Odakyu line via the subway Chiyoda line. It was commissioned in 2009 to replace the old 207-900 and the 203 series. A total of 18 sets, 180 units, were built by Tokyu Sharyo. The E233-2000 series has narrower bodies than those of the standard E233 series. It's because the vehicle limit of the subway Chiyoda line is smaller than that of the JR East and Odakyu lines. I hope that you will understand the variety of trains in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Machida Peony Garden near Machida station on the Odakyu line