Serving Quadruple Purposes at One Railway Crossing

Container train pulled by the electric locomotive Class JR Freight EH500, "Kintaro" 

This is the sequel of my trip to Fukushima City last month. I would like to show you my favorite spot in the city.

Yashikishita Railway Crossing is a famous train viewing spot among rail-fans. We can observe four kinds of trains there. I didn't look up the train schedule on purpose, and waited for trains with excitement. Ten minutes later, a red-colored locomotive jumped into my eyes. That was JR Freight's electric locomotive Class EH 500. Cool! The EH500, also known as Kintaro, was launched in 1997. It's an AC (20,000V, 50 and 60Hz) - DC (1,500V) triple mode locomotive. Being coupled in two units, the UIC indication of a wheel arrangement is (Bo-Bo)+(Bo-Bo). It has eight 565kW induction motors with a variable frequency drive control system. Pulling cargo container wagons, its maximum speed is 110 kilometers per hour. Five minutes later, a green colored train approached me. That was JR East's EMU 701 series. Dazzling! The 701 series is a standard commuter train in the Tohoku area. It was commissioned in 1993. Different from the trains in Tokyo, the 701 series is an AC train. The coloring of the 701 series varies by areas. In the Fukushima area, it has green, red and white-colored stripes.

I'm running short of space in this post. You may ask, "What are the two other trains passing through this railway crossing?" Please don't worry! I've already introduced them in my previous posts. They're the Fukushima Kotsu and the Abukuma Express trains.

EMU JR East 701 series approaches Yashikishita Railway Crossing

The 20th Anniversary of the Minatomirai Line

Set Y511 of the EMU Minatomirai 500 series, the 20th anniversary poster train

On February 1st this year, Yokohama Minatomirai Company celebrated the 20th anniversary of their Minatomirai line. In commemoration, many events were held by the company.

Let me review the Minatomirai line. It's a subway route in Yokohama City, about 20 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Connecting Yokohama and Motomachi-Chukagai (Motomachi-Chinatown), the total length is 4.1 kilometers. It was opened in 2004 as an access route to the urban development area, Minatomirai 21. The track is double and electrified. The electric system is 1,500 V DC with overhead catenaries. All the trains are directly operated onto the Tokyu-Toyoko line.

The 20th anniversary poster train, Set 11 of the EMU Y500 series, is a fun event for rail-fans. We can see the rounded celebratory plate on the front. Moreover, there are stickers of the Minatomirai line's mascot character named "Em-em-san" on the side bodies. According to the company's website, Em-em-san is a seabird that attracts happiness. He (or she) was born in the port of Yokohama. He (or she) is very kind, and fond of walking and eating around. Do you want to be his (or her) friend? I accept this approachable profile, as I'm also fond of walking and eating around.

Joking aside, taking pictures of trains on the Minatomirai line is not easy, but Shin-Takashima station is the only suitable spot. There are no pillars between our position and the subway train, so, we can shoot the whole train from the opposite platform. Congratulations on the 20th anniversary, Minatomirai Railway!

Minatomirai line's mascot character, "Em-em-san"

Official information about the 20th anniversary poster train (in Japanese):

https://www.mm21railway.co.jp/info/news/2024/01/20-4.html

Official information about "Em-em-san" (in Japanese):

https://www.mm21railway.co.jp/mmsan/

Advent of Spring on the Keisei Line

EMU Keisei 3000 series passes through a vast tulip field near Keisei-Usui station

I'm continuing railway mini-travels to find the advent of spring. My next destination was a vast tulip field located in Sakura City of Chiba Prefecture, about 60 kilometers east of Tokyo.

I got off at Keisei-Usui station on the Keisei main line, and headed to the bank of Kashima River. After strolling for about 30 minutes, a windmill jumped into my eyes and in time, I could see the whole tulip field. Where am I? Is this the Netherlands? Joking aside, I fully enjoyed this colorful tulip field for a while. The even more good news was that I could shoot the tulip field backed by Keisei trains, because the tulip field was located near the Keisei line track. An 8-cars train, the EMU Keisei 3000 series, was passing through the numerous colorful tulips. They are red, yellow, pink, white and so on. The railway track is separated by a road, so, you can see several automobiles are in the foreground of the train, but never mind. What's more important was that I didn't worry about backlighting, as it was a cloudy day. Luck was on my side.

For your information, the EMU Keisei 3000 series is the main fleet of the Keisei commuter trains. A total of 326 cars, were built by Tokyu Sharyo (present J-TREC) and Nippon Sharyo between 2002 and 2019. The EMU Shinkeisei-N800 series, Hokuso 7500 series, and Chiba New Town Railway 9200 series have the same technical specifications as the Keisei 3000 series.

Is this the Netherlands?

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/