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21Apr/150

Chuo Shinkansen hits 603km/h

Amazing news today from JR Central: The Chuo Shinkansen with a 7-car consist has achieved 603km/h. Only a week ago they hit 590km/h, breaking their previous record of 581km/h. The news is already spreading.

Update: From an unknown source, there's an amazing diagram of the track here on Google Maps. I'd really like to thank the Author, but there is no mention of them!

For anyone searching for the track, it's hard to find the exact route of the Chuo Shinkansen on the usual internet mapping services. I've therefore chosen to outline the path below. Meanwhile, here's an overview. The tunnels are in dark-green and the rest of the track is dark-pink. Note that it's not 100% accurate. Especially the west-end where I 'think' the tunnel entrance is being built.

map-overview

Fuefuki

This is the west-most end of the test track. It's based in southern Fuefuki and the mapping services struggle to keep their satelite data updated. The images that follow are from Google, Yahoo and then Bing. You can use the large factory building in the top-left of each image as a point of reference.

Ryuanji-google-maps

ryuanji-yahoo-maps

Ryuanji-bing-maps

As you can see, Yahoo (being the Japanese local) hasn't updated their maps in quite a while; the pillars are still under construction. Meanwhile, all services in 'street map' mode have zero information on the test track.

From here we'll be tunnel-chasing. The track goes through mountains... a lot of mountains... For those playing at home, start from here.

Sakano

This bridge casts a great shadow. The track is 100% covered here. In fact, it's covered almost the entire way, there's only one spot where we'll be able to see the trains, so far.

tunnel-sakano

Hatsukari

You'll note two smaller enclosed bridges here. One major goal of the Chuo Shinkansen is to keep the track as level as possible throughout the length of the track. Japan's mountainous terrain makes this routing rather difficult, but mountains provide a very stable platform to build very flat track. Of course, you'll find the odd valley in the terrain and so enclosed bridges have been used to not hinder operation of the service.

tunnels-hatsukari

Ohara

Yessss... exposed track. This bridge also casts a good shadow. I want to go and check this area out when the trains are running more frequently. Will have to ensure shutter speeds are at something ridiculous.

open-bridge-ohara

End of the line: Asahisoshi?

Google maps would have you think that this area is the end of the line... but it's not. There's a terminus here, but the line has been extended further east to Uenohara. We'll use Bing to finish the other segment.

terminus-asahisoshi

Uenohara

On Bing, you can see the following tunnels in a further state of completion.

final-tunnels-bing

Another tunnel entrance?

All providers show this satellite imagery. It seems to be inline with the tracks, but I can't tell if it's the continued east-bound construction.

final-tunnel-entrance

The Chuo Shinkansen is to be running between Nagoya and Tokyo by 2027 and then Osaka to Tokyo in 2045. That sounds like a long time away... but I have a hunch they'll have it running sooner.

13Mar/150

Kyoto City Tram (WWII Era Japanese City Maps)

Did you know that Kyoto used to have an extensive street-car network? I sure-as-hell didn't and was very happy to find out. This all started due to the post: Early Showa period Kitakyushu tram on JNSForums. Yes, the post describes Kita-Kyushu... well west of Kyoto, but further down Kitayama-san posted the link to the US WWII Military Maps. My eyes then opened wider than before...

Japan City Plans 1:12,500 (U.S. Army Map Service, 1944)

First and foremost, a VERY large thanks to the Library at the University of Texas at Austin. In the archives exists a set of maps of Japanese Cities that was used for military activities against Japan during WWII. These maps are of high quality and provide a snapshot of the layout of towns in Japan during 1945-46. Specifically of interest to me was the city map of Kyoto South.

I was busy inspecting the Umekoji roundhouse to the west of the main station when I saw (what looked like) a moat ... built of railway track. A square border exists on the map, and since Kyoto was the ex-capital, I initially thought it was a fortification. It then became apparent, after looking down the very west 'wall' that it was, indeed, a tram track. There was a specific gap that had the small note: "PROJECTED CAR LINE".

Note: There's maps of a lot of different cities in Japan. Check out the index here. Some notable maps: Kyoto North, Sapporo, Sasebo, Toyama, Nagasaki, Wakayama and Ichinomiya (with good overview of Nagoya). Nagoya actually gets a lot of maps: north-east, south-east, south-west and north-west. The mines in Ogaki get a map and so does Yokkaichi... these are the areas I've visited before around Minoakasaka and Tomida.

There's a lot of data in those maps. They mainly cover industrial/factory areas so that they could've done real damage to Japan's industry. Osaka doesn't seem to get a mention! The closest the maps get are Suita (OK, that's really close), Otsu and Seta, Yokkaichi and Wakayama.. but I'm repeating myself.

Tokyo gets a whole index.

Kyoto City Tram (京都市電)

From the wikipedia article, the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau ran the 京都市電 Kyōto Shiden Tram Network up until 1978. Ridership reached a peak in 1946, a second peak in 1955 and then progressively dropped towards 1978. The network was then closed in stages.

Studying the WW2 maps showed where the network was at the time. Intriguing, I had never known there was ever an 'outer loop' tram line of Kyoto. Tracing this around, I then found there were lines flowing south-east as well, down to the river adjunct with Inari Station and also south down to Station.

In the map below, you can see the alignment horizontal from the road that stops on the left. It seems there was also a bridge over the canal, but the maps I've seen show that the terminus was on the west bank (Just below the Neko Cafe TiME!!)

Inari

And down at Chūshojima, you can see where the trams veered east from their north-south direction into the station. The road indicates where the tram line was. The station building (where the blue station symbol is) was actually the tram terminus.

Chushojima

Umekoji still has a running example

At Umekoji roundhouse in Kyoto, it turns out there's still a functional example with it's own tram line. The museum is to be expanded in the near future, but I assume that the tram-line will survive.

From the shot below, you can see the line running from the south-west clockwise around to the north tip of the precinct.

Umekoji

There also seems to be a lot of preserved street cars around the museum. They're listed as "Umekoji Park", so I don't quite know if this is in the precinct or in the park to the east. I'll find out and update this when I visit the museum next. Read further down to see where the surviving rolling stock are located...

Did they ever finish that projected car line?

Check the map out here, you'll see that the US surveyors indicated that there was a strip of track that wasn't completed at the time. This map was created in 1944 from a miriad of sources. Check the bottom-right of the map to see who they used to create it.

us-ww2-map-west-kyoto

The line is known as Nishiōjisen (にしおおじせん) 西大路線. There are two maps referenced on the main wiki page: the first one seems to indicate that this missing track is between 4th and 7th blocks (Nishiōji Shijo - Nishiōji Shichijo) and the second one doesn't show the outer loop at all!

The wiki page for the actual line indicates that trams were running from the June 3rd, 1935. The line was then extended further north with the connection from 7th to 9th blocks operating from December 12th 1938. If the maps were created in 1944, then their intelligence could have been quite wrong?

Other surviving rolling-stock

Further References

旅鉄おとーはん has a nice gallery here: 懐かしの京都市電ギャラリー. There is also a page with a map of the Kyoto Tram network!
むーさん has a great set of pages with random tram networks from Japan (it seems to be a quiz): 宮さんの全国路面電車アトランダム № 1. "No. 4" is a shot from Kyoto. Also here (No. 3) and then a whole page with shots of the network from 1961.

Conclusions

Declining ridership saw the end of this network... just another city to lose another form of transport. Sydney, Australia is a prime example of this! Will have to check out a few of the old alignments when I'm in Kyoto next.

25Feb/150

JR West Thunderbird

I just happened across an eBay auction for a "Thunderbird" 7-Car consist in JNR red/beige livery which very much looked like a JR West Raichō or Kitakinki. After digging a little deeper, it turns out that the seller actually directly translated the Kanji of 雷鳥 to "Thunder bird". This, whilst literally correct, is a mistranslation of the train name which is, of course, the Raichō.

Little did I know that the JR West Thunderbird actually steals its name from the Raichō, which means "thunder bird" in Japanese. The bird is actually the Rock Ptarmigan, a native to the Tate[yama] Mountain Range of the Toyama region (which is where the train[s] travel to.)

Interesting to know that JR West first called the Express the 'Raichō', then released a 'Super Raichō' and then created a new service to the same area with the same name, but this time in english: the 'Thunderbird'.

Going through my galleries, turns out I have more shots of the Thunderbird than I care to remember!

Thunderbird passing Suita JR Tokaido Line to Osaka (from Ogaki) Thunderbird approaching Ogaki Thunderbird heading to Osaka Height limit

Thunderbird passing Suita Thunderbird heading to Osaka Thunderbird heading to Osaka

Twilight Express EF81 104 joins (passing Thunderbird) Thunderbird coming into ShinOsaka Thunderbird enters Toyama Station

Thunderbird paused at Toyama Station Thunderbird paused at Toyama Station_001 Thunderbird Set at Shin Osaka Station

Thunderbird passing Takatsuki Thunderbird passing Takatsuki Thunderbird heading to Osaka

Thunderbird heading to Osaka Thunderbird to Toyama Thunderbird arriving at Toyama

Thunderbird leaving Toyama

The Thunderbird just happens to be one of my favourite EMUs. It's colour-scheme is a little dated, but the design and practicality (opening end-vestibules) is awesome. Not surprisingly, it also reminds me of the Dutch NS Koploper.

5Feb/1511

Model Railway Shops in Osaka

To make the guesswork easier, here's a list of terms that should help you on your never-ending-search-to-find-model-trains. To translate things, use Google Translate. To convert from Romaji, Hiragana, Katakana or Kanji use J-Talk's Kanji Converter

English Romaji Hiragana Kanji
Train resshya れっしゃ 列車
Electric Train denshya でんしゃ 電車
Steam Train kishya きしゃ 汽車
Diesel Train kidoushya きどうしゃ 気動車
Model mokei もけい 模型
Model Train mokei resshya もけい れっしゃ 模型列車
Railway Model tetsudou mokei てつどう もけい 鉄道模型
Gauge geeji ゲージ --
Shop shoppu/mise ショップ/みせ
?-Shop ?-ya ?-屋

Den Den Town, Osaka

Poppondetta (ポポンデッタ)

One of the most well-known Osaka hobby shops. A place you simply must visit. Has everything.
(Note that their Tsurumi shop is closed!)

Super Kids Land (スーパーキッズランド本店)

A large toy department store with a floor dedicated to model railways. A good selection of HO-scale too!

Hobby Land Pochi (ホビーランドぽち)

A cute little shop with a good selection of consists. Also a good bargain-bin for second-hand items. Note that they will be graded from A-D where D is quite broken!

Volks Osaka Showroom(ボークス 大阪ショールーム)

Another toy department store; you'll find the trains on level 6.

Shinsekai

Rail Workshop Higeshin (レール工房ひげしん)

A small store on the north-west corner of Shinsekai. I walked in and couldn't communicate, but there's glass cabinets of nice stock, both N and HO. The owner is usually there building models as well. Seems to have a 'club' atmosphere with regulars often hanging around to chat to the owner.
Note that Shinsekai is a relic of Osaka, planned/built as the 'suburb of the future' back from 1903.
Address: 大阪市浪速区恵美須東1-22-1

Uehommachi (East Osaka)

Ikoma (いこま工房)

There's a good story behind this shop. I visited it in 2010 with a friend from university; her uncle actually works there. Back then the shop was south-east of Kintetsu Osakauehonmachi Station and it was a confusing walk from the station to get to it. The shop was small, full of glass cabinets and cutting boards. It had a great selection of N-scale and HO, specialising in paper kits. I remember that there were a lot of full N-scale sets, some 'custom made' and painted to prototypical awesomeness. I bought a DE10 and a set of passenger cars, beautifully detailed.

The shop has now moved here and, although I haven't been back since it moved, it seems to be a bigger and better presence with full layouts for demonstrations. It also seems a lot easier to get to!

Umeda

Hobby Land Pochi (Umeda)

Haven't been to this one, but can only imagine it's just like its brother in Den Den Town.

Yodobashi Camera

Another department store... trains are on B2. I always end up going here since it's so close to Osaka Station and I can send my friends to other levels if they don't want to check out trains.

Mach mokei (マッハ模型)

This shop actually seems to be pronounced ma-ha mokei; but for some reason they've translated that to 'mach'.

Minamikata

H&Y Model Trains

Someone go and check this place out!

Awaza

Rail Craft Awaza (レールクラフト阿波座)

Review to come....

Hanakawa (North-East)

Hobby Land Pochi (Hanakawa)

Haven't been to this one, but can only imagine it's just like its brothers.

Toyonaka (North)

Ichifuji Model Shop

Review to come....

Takastuki

Recycle Shop (Ryouhin Kaikan) (HobbyDo!)

I accidently stumbled across this shop. I'd bought a bike for my 4-week stay in Shinosaka and had been riding east towards Kyoto. The Tokaido main line and Shinkansen are both out that way and can be seen up quite close. Anyway, this shop is walking distance from JR Takatsuki Station, but closer to Hankyu Takatsuki-shi Station. Head due-east from either and then north-east along 国道171号線 (Japan National Route 171).
The shop has a great selection of new and second hand goods. I especially loved rummaging through the box of B-Train Shorty odds-and-ends. It seems that they had many split up boxes of B-Trains and each component is individually priced. Just remember, when you get to the counter things always add up!

Facebook Page

Matsubara

Mokei-ya (Model Shop) (もけいや松原)

From the website, this place seems to have a lot of stock. Has anyone been!?

Kobe

Tamtam Hobbies

(This used to be in Amagasaki, but that closed)
庫県神戸市東灘区青木1-2-34 サンシャインワーフ神戸1F

Hobby Land Pochi (Kobe)

Haven't been to this one, but can only imagine it's just like its brothers in Den Den Town and Umeda.
2 Chome Sannomiyacho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

2Feb/150

EMU Staging Yards, NE Takatsuki

These photos were taken back in January 2008. I'd hired a bicycle and had been dawdling along the Tokaido Main Line from Shin-osaka through to Takatsuki. I'd made it all the way to the staging yards just north-east of Takatsuki (Google Maps seems to indicate the area is known as 'Amanishinocho') before turning around to return to Osaka.

I stopped and took these shots from the pedestrian crossing visible in the map above. I can't quite believe that it isn't an overpass. I don't know if this crossing still exists today.

Towards Kyoto...

Takatsuki, looking at 3 sets of 321 Series towards Kyoto

And towards Osaka...

Takatsuki, looking towards Osaka.

28Jan/150

My Favourite Shinkansen: 300 Series

This photo was taken with a second-hand (and then damaged by me) Fujitsu Finepix back in 2006. It was my first meeting with the 300 Series and it was love at first sight.

300 Series Shinkansen

I can't believe they've already chopped this model up.

21Jan/150

Battered EF66s at Suita, Osaka

Continuing the trend of top-rated pictures, here's a couple of EF66s (one of my favourite japanese locomotives) light-engine through Suita Depot in NE Osaka.

EF66s at Takatsuki

11Dec/140

Oigawa Railway’s Zoom Car 21000 Series

This has been my wallpaper for a few years now... was a complete fluke to get the shot and is prized as one of my favourites.

A Nankai 21000 Series at Oigawa Railway

If you're ever in Japan, then the Oigawa Railway is a must visit. Heritage stock, thriving in an absolutely beautiful setting. Frequent steam services also! Turns out they (recently [I lie, 'recently' is just me excusing myself for not checking their site often enough]) acquired 3 ex-Seibu E31 Class locomotives. Hilariously similar to the locomotive that my Kato Amtrak 'fake' is based on?

21Nov/132

Sleeper Trains to be retired by 2015

This was sad news... Japan has a brilliant selection of sleeper trains and, although they have been phasing a lot of them out over the years, to hear that they're getting rid of the top-notch services was heart-breaking.

My experiences on sleeper trains in Japan has always been fantastic. The staff are amazing, dedicated to their work and more than happy to help out a non-fluent Japanese speaker. Currently my checklist includes the Twilight Express, Nihonkai, Kitaguni and Hokutosei, but I'm think I need to get the others ticked before they're scrapped.

So, here's the original article and here's the english version. Noteable points:

The Japanese Fiscal Year runs from April of said year to March 31st of the next. So 'End of Fiscal 2014' would be March 31st 2015 and 'End of Fiscal 2015' would be March 31st 2016.

Note that the Sunrise Seto and Sunrise Izumo will continue to run.

I can understand that they're scrapping the older (although very well maintained) services ... but it's astonishing that JR East is scrapping the services that have just received brand new locomotives to haul them! The EF510-500 Series locomotives were only introduced in 2010 to pull both the Casseiopeia and Hokutosei services.

Something random to check out: Here's a link to EF81-104 (one of the Twilight Express Locomotives) being chopped up. Turns out that's the one I travelled behind back in July 2009. RIP.

Pictures of the Sleeper Trains

Nihon-Kai

NihonKai pauses at ShinOsaka Nihonkai at Osaka Nihonkai Headmark
Nihonkai B-Class Nihonkai at Shinosaka Nihonkai paused Goodbye Nihonkai

Twilight Express

The Twilight Express at Shin Osaka The Twilight Express pulls into ShinOsaka Twilight Express en-route to ShinOsaka
Twilight Express heads to Osaka Station Twilight Express enters Higashi-Muroran Twilight Express A-Class
My room on the Twilight Express Twilight Express Salon du Nord Twilight Express dirty after travel from Sapporo to Tsuruga
Twilight Express EF81 104 joins (passing Thunderbird) Twilight Express EF81 104

Hokutosei

Hokutosei arrives DD51s on Hokutosei Grand Chariot in Hokutosei
Hokutosei at Fukushima Hokutosei at Fukushima

Kitaguni

Kitaguni at Osaka Station Kitaguni at Osaka Station Kitaguni at Osaka Station
Internal view from top bunk of Kitaguni External view from top bunk of Kitaguni Kitaguni at Naoetsu

Unfortunately, I've never seen the Casseiopeia in the flesh... Will need to do so before they cut that up too.

22Aug/121

Eizan Dentetsu (Eiden) Kyoto, Japan

Was just travelling via Google Earth and decided to check out North Kyoto. The Eizan Electric Railway runs one and two-car EMUs from Demachiyanagi Station up to either Mount Kurama or Mount Hiei. I haven't travelled up to Hiei-san yet, but I do love the trains that travel up to Kurama.

Usually google maps satellite photography is taken at random hours and doesn't capture anything interesting, but it seems this time they have captured a Kirara 900 Series about to pass an 800 Series at Ninose Station.

Just thought I'd take a snapshot and record it... it's a beautiful area of Kyoto and everyone must visit at least once!

Meanwhile... here's a few old shots of my visits there including these two EMUs.

Eizan Dentetsu Kirara 900 at Iwakura Station Kirara 900 at Iwakura Station
Kirara 900 paused at Demachiyanagi Station Kirara 900 Kirara 900
Eizan Dentetsu 800 Series Eizan Dentetsu Yards Eizan Dentetsu
Kirara 900 Eizan 800 Series Eizan Dentetsu - Demachiyanagi
Eizan Dentetsu Colourful Train Eizan Dentetsu Kirara 900 Maple Orange Eizan Dentetsu Kirara 900 Maple Red_001
Eizan Dentetsu Kirara 900 Maple Red_002

I could go on about this railway forever .... go and visit it now.