Iketama Happy Train travels on the Tokyu-Ikegami line On June 23rd, Tokyu Railways launched a special poster train, named Iketama Happy Train, on their Ikegami and Tamagawa lines. I’m going to introduce you to this unique train today. Let me quickly review the Tokyu-Ikegami and Tamagawa lines to start. They are short commuter routes in the southwestern part of Tokyo. Connecting Kamata and Gotanda, the route length of the Ikegami line is 10.9 kilometers. On the other hand, the Tamagawa line connects Kamata and Tamagawa. Its route length is 5.6 kilometers. The track is 1,067 millimeters-wide do ..read more

EMU Yamaman 1000 series travels on the Yukarigaoka line As I recently posted, I took the Yamaman-Yukarigaoka line for the first time in eleven years. What has changed and what has remained the same on this small AGT (Automated Guideway Transit) line? The trains haven't changed. The EMU 1000 series is still operated on the line as a sole model. These lovely trains were built by Nippon Sharyo in 1982. The 1000 series is comfortable to ride except in summer. What does that mean? What I’m saying is air conditioners are not equipped on the trains. That must be tough for passengers in thi ..read more

Set 1523 of the EMU Tokyu 1000-1500 series arrives at Senzokuike station  The Japan Meteorological Agency made an announcement that this year's rainy season ended on July 18th in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which is one day earlier than usual. It’s the beginning of midsummer in Tokyo. I visited an urban oasis in Tokyo. That's Senzoku Pond in Ota Ward, about 10 kilometers southwest of the city center. This pond was originally a spring. If we look back at the history, it was developed as a precinct of Senzoku-hachiman Shrine in 860. The spring was then changed to a pond for irrigatio ..read more

Set AE3 of the EMU Keisei AE series passes through Shin-Mikawashima station On December 30th, 2023, Keisei Electric Railway celebrated the 50th anniversary of their Skyliner operation. In commemoration, Keisei is displaying memorial stickers on the train set AE3 of the EMU AE series. Let me review the history of Keisei Skyliner. It's an airport access train, operated between the city center of Tokyo and Narita Airport. As you know, Narita is the second international airport in the metropolitan area. The first generation Skyliner was commissioned in 1978, when Narita Airport was opened. That w ..read more

EMU Yamaman 1000 series travels on the Yukarigaoka line Here we are still in the middle of the gloomy rainy season in Tokyo. We have been having hot and humid days. I'm thinking of refraining from strolling in this season, but once the sun's rays peep through the clouds, I can't help going out. My destination this time was Sakura Lavender Land in Chiba Prefecture, about 40 kilometers east of Tokyo. It's a vast lavender field, where the purple color spreads over. Lavender has long green stalks topped with a bunch of small purple flowers. They are extremely fragrant, and help me to be relaxed ..read more

Unit 1156 of the electric car 1150 series is preserved in Kuraki Park Do you remember when I introduced you to five preserved streetcars of the ex-Yokohama City Tram several years ago. They were the electric cars 500, 1100, 1300, 1500 and 1600 series preserved in the Yokohama Tram Museum. Today, I'm going to show you one more, named the 1150 series, preserved in a public park. To start, let me quickly review the Yokohama City Tram. Yokohama is located about 20 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, and is the second largest city in Japan. This mega-city once had an extensive tram network operated by ..read more

Unit 48647 of the Class 8620 is preseved in Takachiho Town (Photo: Nicolai Okkels) I've received interesting pictures from a Danish rail-fan. He traveled Shikoku and Kyushu islands of Japan, and shot a preserved steam locomotive. My thanks go to Nicolai Okkels, who kindly sent me these photographs. Unit 48647 of the Class 8620 is a precious steam locomotive (hereafter SL) preserved in Takachiho Town of Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu Island. Unit 48647 is preserved on the railway bridge. Why is it there? Because, this bridge is a part of an uncompleted railway line, which was canceled before comp ..read more

Set 1761 of the EMU Keio 1000 series passes by azalea blossoms   Continuing with what I covered last time, I'm going to show you the change of the seasons on the Keio-Inokashira line today. After the cherry blossom season goes by, the azalea season comes to the Inokashira line in May. Train passengers can enjoy gorgeous azalea blossoms here and there. Please look at the top photo. That's one of my favorite spots around Fujimigaoka station. It's not a on a large scale like Komagome and Mejiro stations on the JR East-Yamanote line, but this spot holds its own. It serves double purpose ..read more

Set 1780 of the EMU Keio 1000 series passes by a canola field On June 21st, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that this year's rainy season had begun in Tokyo. It was 14 days later than the average year. From June to mid-July, the Tokyo metropolitan area has a hot and humid rainy season called Tsuyu. It's a gloomy period before midsummer for Tokyoites, so, I'm refraining from trainspotting. Instead, I looked for my favorite photos saved in my hard disk. Please look at the top photo. As I posted several times, I was born in a residential area on the Keio-Inokashira line, and have been ..read more

EMU Tokyu 3000 series travels on the Tokyu-Shinyokohama line One year has passed since the Tokyu-Shinyokohama line was inaugurated. I recently visited this new route again for the first time in a year. Let me quickly review the Tokyu-Shinyokohama line. It's a connecting line between the Tokyu and the Sotetsu lines. Connecting Hiyoshi and Shinyokohama, the total operating length is 5.8 kilometers. The track is double and almost the entire route is underground. All trains are directly operated onto the Tokyu-Toyoko line via Hiyoshi station. On the other hand, about half of trains are directly ..read more