EMU Seibu 6000 Series: Variations, Part 3

Set 6158 of the EMU Seibu 6000 series without door pocket windows

Sorry for jumping from one topic to another, but I am going to follow up and explain variation of the EMU Seibu 6000 series a little bit more.

Please look at the photos. This train, Set 6158 of the 6000 series, doesn’t have windows on the door pockets. It belongs to the late 3 sets. As I showed you before, the 6000 series is composed of a total of 25 sets, 250 units. They are famous for having great variety (see my post on 31/1/2020 and 23/9/2024). For example, the early 17 sets have stainless-steel bodies; meanwhile, the late 8 sets have aluminum alloy bodies. The early 2 sets have silver-colored front faces; meanwhile, the late 23 sets have white-colored front faces. The early 22 sets have windows on the door pockets; meanwhile, the late 3 sets don’t have windows on the door pockets. In short, Set 6158 has aluminum alloy bodies, white-colored front faces, and no windows on the door pockets.

Finally, let me explain a little about the technical specifications. One set of the 6000 series is composed of 6 motorcars and 4 trailers. It’s known as Seibu’s first variable frequency drive trains with induction motors. GTO (Gate Turn-Off thyristor)-VVVF (Variable frequency drive) was initially adopted, but later changed to SiC (silicon carbide)-VVVF. It’s also first time to adopt bolster-less bogies. More importantly, the 6000 series had changed the image of the Seibu trains from the somewhat dowdy yellow trains to the urban sophisticated ones.

Close up of Unit 6058 of Set 6158

Revival Colored Trains on the Sotetsu Line

Set 10708 of the EMU Sotetsu 10000 series, "Previous red"

Sagami Railway (hereafter Sotetsu) launched special-colored trains. On May 18th this year, two sets of revival-colored trains were started to operate on the line. One is Set 10708, and another one is Set 10705 of the EMU 10000 series.

Let me review the EMU Sotetsu 10000 series. The 10000 series is one of Sotetsu's main fleets. It was launched in 2002 to replace old models. A total of 8 sets, 70 units, were built by Tokyu Sharyo (present J-TREC) and JR East Niitsu factory. To reduce the manufacturing cost, the 10000 series has common specifications with those of JR East's EMU E231 series. For instance, TIMS (Train Information Management System) is introduced in both the 10000 and the E231 series. One set of the 10000 series train is composed of 10 or 8 cars. MT ratio (the ratio of the number of motorcars to the trailers) is 1 (5M5T or 4M4T). 4 sets had already been renovated to the so-called “Yokohama Navy Blue trains”, but the special-colored trains on today’s topic still keep the original specifications.

Now, let's head to the main topic. Set 10708 (10-car train) has red-colored stripes on the front. This color is named “previous red”, which was taken from the retired Sotetsu train, such as the old-7000 series. On the other hand, Set 10705 (8-car train) has light-green-colored stripes. This color is named “nostalgic grass green”, which was taken from the original color of the 10000 series. Sotetsu is developing a variety of trains.

Set 10705 of the EMU Sotetsu 10000 series, "Nostalgic grass green"

Official information, Operation of specaial-colored trains by Sotetsu (in Japanese):

https://www.sotetsu.co.jp/news/train/info-train-2024-04-02/

EMU Seibu 6000 Series: Variations, Part 2

EMU Seibu 6000 series with aluminum alloy bodies and door pocket windows

Following the EMU JR East E233-8500 series, I’m going to post the other surefire topic for old-school trainspotters today.

The EMU Seibu 6000 series is a commuter train on the Seibu and its direct operation lines. A total of 25 sets, 250 units, were built by Tokyu-sharyo and Hitachi. As I showed you before, the 6000 series is famous for having great variety. Firstly, the early 2 sets have silver-colored front faces; meanwhile, the late 23 sets have white-colored front faces. Secondly, the early 17 sets have stainless-steel bodies (see my previous post); meanwhile, the late 8 sets have aluminum alloy bodies (see the top photo). Thirdly, the early 22 sets have windows on the door pockets; meanwhile, the late 3 sets don’t have such windows. Are you with me so far?

Next, let’s see the early 22 set, which have windows on the door pockets, in more detail. Among the 22 sets, the late 5 sets are extra rare. Their windows on the door pockets are useless! In other words, passengers can’t see out the windows (see the photo below). What happened to this train? The gimmick is as follows. These 5 sets originally had windows on the door pockets; however, the inner windows were then replaced by the walls to display advertisements. Advertising revenue in the train should be larger than the renovation cost of the trains. Seibu must have calculated the specific details of cost performance.

Hats off to Seibu’s business effort!

Door pocket windows of set 6054, the EMU Seibu 6000 series

C57 57: My Neighboring Locomotive

Unit 57 of the steam locomotive Class C57 is preserved in Okura Athletic Park

There is an expression in Japanese that says "it is darkest under the lighthouse". I am not a native English speaker, but “the darkest place is under the candlestick” in English may have similar meanings. For me, Unit 57 of the Class C57 (hereafter C57 57) is exactly the steam locomotive preserved "under the lighthouse”. C57 57 is preserved in Okura Athletic Park in Setagaya Ward of Tokyo Metropolis. This public park is near my house, but I had never been to there until recently. 

Let me review the Class C57 to start. The 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.

C57 57 was built in 1938 by Kawasaki-sharyo. It was mainly operated in the northern part of Japan, so, there is a large snow plow on the front. After operating for 38 years, C57 57 was retired from the track in 1976. Its total driving distance was 3,365,110 kilometers, which is equivalent to 4.5 round trips from the Earth to the Moon. C57 57… thank you for your hard work.

Back view of C57 57

Train Viewing from Chiba Port Tower

EMU JR East E233-5000 series travels on the Keiyo line

There are many observation decks where we can view trains in the urban areas of Japan. They are, for example, Kitatopia and Carrot Tower in Tokyo Metropolis and AER Observation Terrace in Sendai City. Thankfully, they are free. Today, I’m going to introduce Chiba Port Tower today. You have to pay an admission fee, but it costs only 420 yen (3 USD), so you should go there. As the name suggests, Chiba Port Tower is located in Chiba Port, about 40 kilometers east of Tokyo. The nearest station is Chiba-minato (Chiba Port) on the JR East Keiyo and Chiba Urban Monorail lines. Visitors can enjoy gorgeous downtown, port and train views from the 113 meters high observation deck.

Please look at the top photo. You can see the EMU JR East E233-5000 series travelling on the elevated track. The E233-5000 series is the major commuter fleet on the line. It was commissioned in 2010 to replace the old models such as the 209-500 series. One set is composed of 10 cars (6M4T). I enjoyed a view of the 200 meters long train from the side. Its bright and vivid colored body stripe is definitely my favorite.

Next, please look at the photo below. You can see a 2-car suspension monorail train, the EMU 0 series, travelling on the Line 1 of Chiba Urban Monorail. The 0 series is the latest model commissioned in 2012. Its nickname is Urban Flyer. I enjoyed watching that Urban Flyer was flying above Port Street.

EMU Chiba Urban Monorail 0 series travels on the Line 1

Official website, Chiba Port Tower (in Japanese): https://chiba-porttower.com/index.php