JPN « modelrail.otenko

10Sep/150

Osaka – Super Rail Cargo

I've tried before, but always failed. The Super Rail Cargo is an express EMU freight service that runs in the middle of the night and is a hard one to photograph. Turns out though, that Japan doesn't do daylight-savings. Therefore, in summer, in the wee hours of the morning, one has a good chance of seeing this thing on the move.

One service leaves Tokyo whilst the other leaves Osaka, around the same time, nearly every night of the week. I've never tried to hunt down the Tokyo end, as it's sorta out-of-the-way down past Shinagawa. Fortunately, the Osaka side passes through Umeda, on it's way towards (and along) the Tokaido Main Line.

The Stake Out - Fukushima Station

This train runs from Ajikawaguchi yards, along the Yumesaki Line, joins the Loop Line at Nishikujo, passes Noda and then heads north where it branches off the loop at Fukushima. It's even at road-level and there's a level-crossing, so you get an advance notice of anything approaching.

I used my freight timetables as posted here to know when it might arrive. It was my last morning in Osaka, a Tuesday, and I wasn't going to miss it this time.

I was staying in Tennoji and awoke at 4am. There were no train services at that time, so I found a taxi and asked to go to Fukushima Station. The driver alerted that there was nothing to be gained in going there, but I actually stated that I hoped to take a photo and he chuckled and agreed that it was OK.

It was around 4:40am and indeed still dark.. but I was very happy to have the sun rising.. although on the wrong side for a good shot. There were lively characters coming out of Karaoke venues or bars, but also people making their way to work.

At 5:05am, the booms triggered and an EF66 with a short rake appeared. It seems this would be ▲59 making it's way from Suita. I think I still had my polariser on at this point, not really knowing the best way to shoot in low light. Hence the photos are quite dark.

A loop line service came through at 5:12am... meaning that I could've slept in a little later and taken it from Tennoji. There was no way I was going to risk that timing though.

Either way... The gates then activated again and the M250 came through!

Not the best photos... but for the first time I saw the actual service in flight; whilst I had a camera ready. Success!

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4Sep/150

Osaka – Umeda and Hirano – August 2015

The goal was simple... there's a freight train that runs from Umeda to Hirano and there's enough time to catch it at Shin-Osaka, bolt to Hirano and catch it again. Of course... this would be correct... if Umeda Freight Yard still existed. Little did I know that, whilst waiting at Shin Osaka station, the yard had been demolished some 3 years earlier!

The timetables I posted here were initially wrong. Wherever I had 'Umeda' should have actually been 'Osaka'. I thought 'Osaka' (from the freight train timetable) meant 'Umeda'... but it actually meant the yard right next to the Shinkansen depot out past Senrioka!

Shin-Osaka Station

I waited here for a while to see the freight head through to Umeda. Instead I got to see the standard array of express trains. Mixed in with these was a freight heading to Ajikawaguchi which caught me off-guard. You can find the timetables for Suita to Ajikawaguchi here.

The Ocean Arrow/Kuroshio in pictured above actually left 5 minutes late. That last picture shows the driver hanging out the front of the train with the stationmaster discussing something that was preventing him from leaving. What I didn't capture was the guard bolting down the platform with a few sheets of paper that must have been the timetable/run-sheet that you see paper-clipped in the cabin. It seems the driver was issued with the wrong one, as he swapped the one in the train with the one the guard delivered. The train then departed.

It was 30 minutes past the time that the train was meant to arrive and I decided to cut my losses. These trains are usually very close to clockwork and the Ajikawaguchi train had passed... so it was time to go.

Transit to Hirano

I took the Haruka Airport Express to Tennoji (thanks Rail Pass!) and then a local to Hirano. It was a quick trip. Of course, the goal was to pass the freight yard to see if there was any activity. Instead I was presented with the following...

I think I let out a big 'Ohhhhh....' at that point and had fellow passengers look oddly at me. Everything clicked. I was glad I'd left, but unhappy that I'd waited so long at Shin-Osaka. This is Japan... if the train doesn't arrive 5 minutes after schedule then move on.

Hirano Station

This is a little station on the line to Nara. I've posted the freight timetable for this yard here. It is located two stations east of Tennoji and you must take a local service on the Yamatoji Line to get there. The stop between Hirano and Tennoji is Tobushijomae and is located on the south-west corner of the freight yard I sought out. Stay on the left side of the train between these two stations and you'll get a good view of what's about to depart.

The yard has three staging roads immediately next to the passenger lines, but at ground level... the passenger lines are elevated. In these roads you'll find made up trains that have just been delivered, or are about to depart. Trains that arrive are staged here whilst either the engine that brought them runs around or the yard worker takes them away. There is a shunt road that runs right up beside Hirano station for this purpose.

I ventured out to Hirano on a Wednesday. As I passed the yard, I saw an EF66 about to carry out this very task. I got to the station in time to see it shunt right up next to the platform. It proceeded back into the yard and everything was quiet. There are occupation indicators line-side on the freight shunting roads that show you if anything is approaching. They'll flash if the track is occupied and stay lit if nothing is happening. Note that the flashing indicates that the road is in use. The train on the road may not come all the way up to the station. The points are situated a fair way back west and the shunting will only reach the station when long consists are being worked.

I followed the timetable and realised that there was an inbound freight due. From the city-bound platform, you can see the triangle to the east where the freight trains come from. It didn't take long before a freight came in, 5 minutes early. This was dragged through by an EF210. After this, there was nothing scheduled for a few hours... of course, I stupidly only looked at inbound traffic.

I was out of time and had to head back... completely failing to look at the outbound traffic timetable. As I left at 1pm on a local back to Tennoji, I passed an EF81 on its way to Suita. Totally pissed off, I was. EF81s are a favourite and I've taken a shot of one very similar to this one before... years before! In Umeda Yard! This poor old thing has been hanging around Osaka just waiting for me to return!

I returned to the apartment only to find that everyone else was still shopping... so... knowing that Hirano was 10 minutes from Tennoji, I ventured back to see the ~2pm services (one inbound and one outbound.)

An EF210 came in, 10 minutes early... and then the EF66 I'd seen earlier proceeded to Suita with a short rake of flats.

There was now nothing due until after 5pm, so I decided to call it a day and visit Den Den Town. I'd come back later to catch the EF81 in action.

Hirano Station, 2nd Attempt

My second attempt was carried out on a Friday. I based my plan around the 1pm depature of the EF81. Arriving at 12, I hoped to see at least one service... but absolutely nothing came through. The yard had zero workers and zero locomotives... just a few rakes of half-built consists. As I passed the yard on the way in I could see that nothing was happening, but I waited in vain anyway. Fail.

What was worse? The platform indicators were showing 'Pass' on the nearest platform to the yards. I'd not seen a pax go through here at all... so I sat, staring at the indicator... waiting for that "Train approaching" sign. Hours. Nothing. Oh well... they must program the slots in and not cancel them.

Hirano Station, 3rd Time Lucky

This time I attacked the station on a Monday. As I passed the yard on the local train, the EF81 was not there. It had been there waiting to depart the first time I'd visited and so I was worried. This time there were other locos in the yard, but none ready to head out.

I got to the station, parched. There was nothing due for about halfa so, despite the platform board showing a 'Pass', I ventured to the city-bound platform for a beverage. There are no vending machines on the outbound platform. Lo'and'behold, my favourite EF81 bolts past just as I'm on the other side, inserting coins. I leave half the coins inserted, grab the camera and got a few photos... school kids nearby were wondering why a photo was more important than a drink...I smiled.

Not to be fooled again.. I proceeded back to the outbound platform and caught the next freight coming in. Turns out there was also a young railfan there doing the exact same thing.

Passing time was easy... there was a local every so often and expresses interspersed.

And then it happened... the EF81 came through and the world was at peace.

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2Sep/150

Akihabara Washington Hotel

This is the first post of my most recent trip to Japan. It was the first time I'd been there in Summer and I was not expecting the weather to be so damn nice. Yes, humid, slightly, but not quite tropical-humid... somewhere half-way towards out-back humid.

Anyway, the trip started in Tokyo. I usually stay on the west-side of the Yamanote Line, but this time I stayed east. Akihabara to be exact. The good thing about the east side? The Shinkansen lines run on this side, terminating at Tokyo Station.

Akihabara is north of Tokyo, so only the 'northward' Shinkansen run through. Well, the north-west-ward also run through too now. Fortunately, the shinkansen tracks are all above ground until just after Akihabara station, so there are several vantage points if you search for them.

One vantage point is the Akihabara Washington Hotel. It is actually so well known for it that they have an actual room dedicated to trains; including a model railway! (Note the single bed.)

Checking in

When booking the hotel, I left a comment requesting a room that could see the Shinkansen. I received an email response saying that this was not a problem. Upon check-in, I neglected to remind them and was first given a room staring into another office building to the south.

I returned to the counter and politely asked if my comment still existed and if there was any chance of a room looking over the tracks. The receptionists kindly oblidged... although I did hear a snicker between the two girls that the "gaikokujin ha densha wo mitai, heya kara." I couldn't tell if it was my bad Japanese or if I was a train nerd.

Room with a view

Second time lucky! The room had a great view of the Kanda River and a shrine on the opposite bank. To the right were the Shinkansen tracks heading to Tokyo. There is also an elevated flyover of the Ueno-Tokyo Line.

From here ... it's going to just be pictures. There's a vending machine on every floor... so a few beers and a bit of train watching was had.

Stay here, it's awesome. Just remember to check that your room has a view!

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5Aug/150

Tokyo Freight: Shinjuku Station

So you're in the big smoke for the day and want to see a freight train? The best advice I can give you is to head on over to Minamisenju as Shinjuku sees very little activity. On the off chance you can't do this, please refer to the table below.

Timetables

The timetable covering Shinjuku station incorporates two paths through Tokyo. The major path is the branch to Sumidagawa Freight Terminal (aka Minamisenju) and secondly the less-busy line through Shinjuku Station to Shin-Tsurumi yard. It seems that trains choose a path south from Omiya and split at Tabata Station to either destination.

I'll just cover the freight through Shinjuku for now.

Service	Origin	Depart	Pass	Pass	Arrive	Comments
Southbound		Omiya	Tabata	Shinjuku	Shintsurumi
▲3080 ~ (▲3071)	Sapporo	0205	0226	0254	0314	▲ = X間-Y間月曜日運休 (Not Mondays between Aomori[Junction]-West Hamamatsu)
3086 ~ (3075) ~ (3073)	Sapporo	1135	1152	1212	1227
4070 ~ (5072)	Sendai	0214	0236	0256	0326
8086	Sumidagawa	!!	1449	1509	1528	!! = Starts at Sumidagawa at 1402 to Tabata by 1410.
8572	Utsunomiya	0209	0231	0251	0320
8588	Utsunomiya	0454	0512	0532	0554

Service	Origin	Depart	Pass	Pass	Arrive	Comments
Northbound		Shintsurumi	Shinjuku	Tabata	Omiya
(▲3070) ~ ▲3081	West Hamamatsu	0246	0301	0321	0340	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
(3090) ~ (5090) ~ 4081	Nagoya	0227	0249	0309	0334
(96) ~ (5096) ~ 4083	Nagoya	0446	0502	0522	0543
8089	Yokohama Hazawa	1528	1551	1611	!!	Proceeds to Sumidagawa at 1743 after Tabata. NOT Omiya.
8171	Kawasaki	0300	0320	0340	0407
8585	Kawasaki	0515	0532	0552	0618

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26Jul/150

Osaka Freight: Suita to Ajikawaguchi (Super Rail Cargo)

This line is an extension of the Suita to Umeda freight/express-train line that runs from Shin-Osaka Station to the Umeda Freight Yards.

This line continues further south-west, rising back up to the height of the kanjosen and then branching off on the Yumesaki Line to Universal Studios Japan. Before this though, is Ajikawaguchi freight yards. The home of Sagawa Transport's M250!

This freight train is famous... it's actually an EMU high-speed express freight service that runs through the night to get your urgent deliveries to Tokyo. The opposing service departs Tokyo at the same time and they pass somewhere half-way along the Tokaido Main Line in the middle of the night.

Due to its timetable, you'll really only ever see it resting in the Ajikawaguchi yard. Sometimes I've seen it photographed in the early morning at the Tokyo end, but never really in daylight when moving.

Due to this, I still haven't managed to properly photograph this train. I've seen it depart Ajikawaguchi once and you can find a post with a movie of the departure over here.

Rail-set Train

The last column on each table is a rail-set train. I've seen this pass before from an assortment of locations.

Ajikawaguchi

This area is difficult to photograph, but there is a large level crossing on which you can gently walk into the middle of and take photos. Just be very considerate and respect the requests of staff if they ask you to get out of the way!

Timetables

As per previous Osaka timetables, all times are up until Suita. I'll look into extending the SRC through to Tokyo at a later date.

Service	Origin	Arrive	Depart	Arrive	Comments
Southbound		Suita		Ajikawaguchi
▲51	Tokyo	––	0511	0526	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
▲59	Tokyo	––	0451	0510	▲ = 土 or 休日運休 (Not Saturdays or Holidays)
(4078) ~ (1081) ~ 91	Sendai	ºº0723	0833	0900	ºº = ??
▲93	Osaka	1102	1111	1157	▲ = 月曜日運休 (Not Mondays)
(1881) ~ 1883	Kyoto	1447	1603	1628	Rail-set or 'other' cargo.

Service	Depart	Arrive	Depart	Destination	Comments
Northbound	Ajikawaguchi	Suita
▲50	2309	––	2324	Tokyo	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
▲58	2259	2320	2328	Tokyo	▲ = 土 or 休日運休 (Not Saturdays or Holidays)
▲90	1703	1739	1742	Osaka	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
5088 ~ (3089)	1818	ºº1851	1944	Sendai	ºº = ??
1180 ~ (1182)	1040	ºº1127	1225	Kyoto	ºº = ?? Rail train or 'other' cargo.

I will go back and get the Super Rail Cargo once more!

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26Jul/150

Osaka Freight: Suita to Umeda Freight Terminal

REALLY BIG UPDATE: As of ... god knows when ... this yard has been entirely removed! Here I was, 2 weeks ago, at Shin Osaka station, waiting for a train from Umeda to pass but, alas, nothing came through. Turns out that, upon cruising past on the Haruka, the Umeda Freight Yards no longer exist! The timetables below are still valid but all traffic terminates at Suita.

Any mention of Umeda below is historical. The timetables have been updated to show Osaka... This yard is located right next to the Shinkansen Depot to the south-east of Senrioka.

Buried in upper-central Osaka is Umeda, home of the Hep-5 ferris wheel, the Umeda Sky building, the amazingly-new Osaka station and a relic: The Umeda Freight yards. Very easy to access, these yards' time has to be limited. The yard is situated on a prime development location and the surrounding buildings have slowly been creeping in.

In the yard you'll usually find any number of EF66s, EF81s, EF210s and DE10s for the shunting. There was a rake of WAMUs in there when I checked it out 10years ago, but recently it's been only container traffic. There is a large shed at the southern end which restricts visibility. You'll also find a very long passenger tunnel under the width of the yard. It connects the Umeda Sky Building to Yodobashi Camera. I really do wish this was an overpass!

I'd previously walked around the area and took a few photographs. The album is here if you want to check it out.

This yard is on the 'Osaka Station Bypass' that the high-speed trains to Wakayama and the Airport use. Also the Super Rail Cargo to Ajikawaguchi and the freight trains I'll mention in this post.

The traffic mentioned is fun to photograph and the lighting at any time of day provides great opportunities. Below are some shots of the area. Note that the first photo below was taken from the Heart-Inn hotel just south of the yard and walking distance from Osaka Station.

Timetables

Times listed are between Suita and Osaka and don't relate to the map above :) I'll update that soon!

Service	Origin	Arrive	Depart	Arrive	Comments
Southbound		Suita		Osaka
1069	Niiza	0616	0656	0705
3050	Fukuoka	0721	0742	0754
▲4058	Niigata	0654	0732	0741	▲ = 休日運休 (Not Holidays)
(2060) ~ 4060	Sapporo	2026	2054	2103
▲5066	Hiroshima	ºº1446	1533	1545	▲ = 火曜日運休 (Not Tuesdays) Has ºº, define this.
▲56	Tosu	0506	0516	0528	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
(3072) ~ 72	Matsuyama	1002	1034	1045
(3076) ~ 76	Niihama	0329	0433	0445
84	Hirano	1700	1705	1717
86	Himeji	ºº1747	1838	1850	(Timetable has ºº. Define this.)
▲90	Ajikawaguchi	1739	1742	1754	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
(4088) ~ 1085	Sendai	0458	0536	0545
1089	Tokyo	0527	0605	0614
2074	Kagoshima	ºº1248	1319	1330	(Timetable has ºº. Define this.)
3094	Kanazawa	0430	0508	0517
8098	Aomori	0039	0422	0433
1392	Hirano	1459	1501	1515	配給 = Light Engine Movement
1476	Suita	––	0926	0937	配給 = Light Engine Movement

Service	Depart	Arrive	Depart	Destination	Comments
Northbound	Osaka	Suita
▲57	2043	2056	2058	Tosu	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
1066	2024	2033	2117	Tokyo
▲4059	2232	2241	2319	Niigata	▲ = 休日運休 (Not Holidays)
4061	2324	2333	0011	Sapporo
73	0824	0836	0848	Takamatsu
75	1547	1600	1630	Takamatsu
81	1112	1124	1126	Himeji
83	1124	1138	1212	Hirano
85	2105	2117	2127	Himeji
▲93	1049	1102	1111	Ajikawaguchi	▲ = 月曜日運休 (Not Mondays)
▲1080	1924	1934	2017	Niiza	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
1084 ~ (4089)	1829	1839	1925	Sendai
▲2081	1230	1243	1256	Fukuoka	▲ = 月曜日運休 (Not Mondays)
2089	1211	1224	1226	Okayama
3095	1333	1343	1425	Kanazawa
62 ~ (3051)	1640	ºº1651	2029	Fukuoka	Define ºº on stop at Suita.

All traffic above is containerised. Also note that the yard can only be entered from the north. Hence trains to Ajikawaguchi (which is further down the line) have to be accessed by running around at Suita!

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24Jul/150

Osaka Freight: Suita to Hirano (Kudara Terminal)

There are three ways for freight to be delivered into Osaka by rail. The first is into Ajikawaguchi located to the west of the city near Universal Studios, The second is into Umeda Freight Terminal, right in the heart next to Osaka Station, and the third is to take the Osaka Higashi Line to the east and arrive at Hirano Station. The latter service is the one we'll be investigating today.

The freight line itself runs south out of Suita Terminal, over the Yodogawa (Yodo River) and then wraps around the city, clockwise from Shigino to Hirano. This used to be freight only, or for movements to dead-head electric stock, but it currently being upgraded to a passenger line. The line was originally to be called the 'Osaka Outer Loop Line', but is now to be known as the Osaka Higashi Line. At Suita, the freight approaches from Suita in the east, whereas the passenger services will approach from Shin-Osaka in the west. Likewise, at the end of the line the passenger services will take the triangle to the west and arrive at Shinkami/Kyuhoji, whereas the freight ventures west to Hirano Freight Yard.

Currently there is no passenger service between Shigino and Shin-Osaka, but this is expected to start by 2018. There seems to have been an illegal site occupation on the former alignment near the triangle at Suita.

Seen to the left is the map of the line from both Google and Yahoo respectively. As you can see, the blue line highlights the path which crosses the river and then heads around lower Osaka.

There are no yards in between Suita and Hirano, so the freight will proceed as quickly as possible south, slotting in to the passenger traffic at the junction north of Shigino.

Once at Hirano, the freight is transferred to road vehicles for the rest of the journey.

I believe that both electic and diesel locomotives work over this line, but I've only currently seen DD51s pulling the freight services. Then again, if you look at the an EF66 here on Street View and an EF81. That latter EF81 looks like the locomotive I photographed in Umeda Yard years ago.

Timetables

Thanks to the latest JR Freight Timetable for 2015, I can provide the following timings for the freight services in and out of Hirano. Please do take note of the comments column and ensure that you're ready for disappointment. Not all services run on this line, regardless of the slots available.

Service	Origin	Arrive	Depart	Arrive	Comments
Southbound		Suita		Hirano
▲65	Tokyo	0542	0547	0623	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
1067	Koshigaya	0442	0444	0515
83	Osaka	1138	1212	1251
(▲1077) ~ ▲1079	Niiza	0948	1145	1222	▲ = 新座(夕)-横浜羽沢間稲沢-百済(夕)間日曜日運休 (Not Sundays between Niiza[Evenings]-Yokohama and Inazawwa-Hirano[Evenings])
▲1092	Nabeshima	1311	1350	1422	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
▲4070	Niigata	0625	0637	0719	▲ = 南長岡-百済(夕)間休日運休 (Not Holidays between South Nagaoka-Hirano[Evenings])
(▲4077) ~ ▲4076	Hachinohe	1647	1713	1748	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
(82) ~ (▲3082) ~ ▲5087	Asahikawa	1420	1422	1453	▲ = 青森(信)-百済(夕)間月曜日運休 (Not Mondays between Aomori[Junction]-Hirano[Evenings])
¤7085	Tokyo	0411	0420	0457	¤ = Runs on unknown dates, not regularly.
8096	Sapporo	1352	1404	1440

Service	Depart	Arrive	Depart	Destination	Comments
Northbound	Hirano	Suita
▲64	2129	2201	2232	Tokyo	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
84	1629	1700	1705	Osaka
▲1074 ~ (1076)	1945	2018	2044	Niiza	▲ = 百済(夕)-稲沢間日曜日運休 (Not Sundays between Inazawwa[Evenings]-Hirano)
1078	2044	2144	2128	Koshigaya
▲1093	1929	2002	2043	Fukuoka	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
▲4071	1303	1335	1427	Niigata	▲ = 休日運休 (Not Holidays)
▲4075 ~ (▲4074)	1959	2030	2123	Aomori	▲ = 日曜日運休 (Not Sundays)
▲5086 ~ (▲3083) ~ (83)	2231	2304	2312	Sapporo	▲ = 百済(夕)-青森(信)間日曜日運休 (Not Mondays between Hirano[Evenings]-Aomori[Junction])
¤7082	2150	2222	2240	Tokyo	¤ = Runs on unknown dates, not regularly.
8097	2307	2342	0140	Sapporo
1392	1425	1459	1501	Osaka	配給 = Light Engine Movement

I've translated the comments from the timetable to the best of my ability. From this I've even learnt of new freight yards that I had no idea about. For the comments that also suggest places, I'm a little confused... Should there be a need to state the to/from, when you could just say that the service doesn't run? Or is it part of a greater service where some legs aren't always operating? Does this mean that the consists will be shorter?

I'll find out in a few weeks when I go stalk this service for a morning or two!

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19Jul/151

DE10 Locomotive – Co-Bo or AAA-B?

Any idea what I'm talking about? It's the wheel arrangements of diesel/electric locomotives. As per the old steamers (Whyte Notation) and their arrangements of 2-6-4 or 4-8-4+4-8-4, more modern locomotives use a similar nomenclature known as the UIC classification.

The basic idea is that, per bogie, a letter starting from A is assigned, determined by the amount of wheelsets; where a wheelset is 2 wheels plus an axle. The letter is incremented from A for each wheelset. A bogie with two wheelsets will be defined as a Bo, 3 wheelsets means a Co.

You'll notice I put the letter 'o' after the B and C above. This is because, on some locomotives, the wheelsets can be mounted on the frame. The 'o' indicates that the wheelset is mounted on an attached bogie. I was about to write that I hadn't officially seen an 'Ao' yet; wouldn't the bogie spin on the wrong axis and derail? It turns out that it wont if you mount it correctly. The Japanese DD54 (wikipedia.jp) is of class Bo-1-Bo. I do note that it's not an 'Ao'... but it is indeed a bogie with only one axle!

As above, not all wheelsets are mounted on bogies, and not all wheelsets have power attached, so you'll need to read the wiki link on UIC classifications to really get the full picture.

Japanese wheel arrangements

My favourite Japanese electric, the EF-66 as seen below, is a Bo-Bo-Bo.

This majestic piece of equipment therefore has three bogies with two driven wheelsets each. The Japanese fashion is to have traction motors strapped onto each axle in parallel.

An now, the DE10

This is one of the more light-weight, shunting-type locomotives used around yards in Japan or for shorter freight movements. It's seen below at Aomori, ready to pull the passenger consist of the Nihonkai that I travelled on away from the EF81 that was ready for a snooze.

I recently acquired a Micro-Ace model of one in the Watarase Railway colours. Gold and Maroon is really quite fetching over the standard Red/Grey/White/Black.

Anyway, back to the point, I was reading the back and saw that the 'real world' technical specifications indicated that the wheel arrangement was infact AAA-B (where that B can be translated to a 'Bo'.) I was expecting Co-Bo... not AAA. What gives? It turns out that, for tractive effort and weight distribution, the front bogie is actually articulated! So they've classified it as three mini-bogies of one driven axle each.

I then recalled seeing mentionings of this on the JNS Forum posts here [DE10 - What does it haul?] and here [More tech questions re Class DD51 and DE10 diesels]. The latter links to a blog post titled 【仙貨へGO！】この足は誰のもの？仙貨に搬入されたDE１０の台車たち from a Japanese enthusiast by the name of 歩王(あるきんぐ) (Arukingu). 仙貨 (Sen-kamo) is actually an abbreviation of Sendai Kamotsu, the freight yard in Sendai. Do not get this confused with Sendai Transport, a comedic rock band! The title of the blog post loosely translates to: "[Let's go to Sendai Freight Yard] Who's wheels/legs are these? Lifting a DE10 Locomotive." Here's the main picture you really need to see:

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17Jun/150

Osaka – May 2013

More from the photo album I'd neglected... This time it's Osaka and it's 3 years since I'd last visited.

Shinosaka station

Staying at the same apartment as usual (Thanks Masa-san!) I had the same great view of the trunk from Shinosaka Station to Osaka Station north of the Yodogawa.

With my freight timetable in hand, it was easy to be there at the right time to see the transfers through to Umeda Freight Yard or Ajikawaguchi.

Later that night I ventured to Shinosaka Station itself and checked out the expresses on platforms 11 and 12.

Hankai Tram Network - Ebisucho

The Hankai Tramway runs from the southern end of Den Den Town into the southern suburbs of Osaka. It has a cute selection of very well looked-after aging rolling stock.

The two photos at the end are from the steps on the northern side of Spa World as you head into Shinsekai. It's a display of one of the old Hankai Trams and has mentionings on the history. I couldn't read it ....

Noda Station - Tetsudou Library

I waited here one night for the Super Rail Cargo M250. It didn't come... The Railway Library is still there though! Very impressive... something that wouldn't commercially survive in any other country, I'd imagine... the photos below are the most recent from May 2013 and then photo I took in 2010. Not much of a difference, just different paper posters in the left windows.

A Haruka also bolted past on its way to Kyoto...

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16Jun/150

Taking the long way from Osaka to Kansai Airport

Digging through my backed up iPhoto album, I'd realised that I'd completely failed to upload and blog about my 2013 trip to Japan. I'll be collating (and trying to remember) the photos and trips and hopefully write about them in due course.

This post is about a trip I took from Tennoji to Kansai Airport. Usually you'd just jump on the Nankai Rapi:t or JR West Haruka, but I had time to burn and new places to visit.

Why not take the express?

Scenery from a train window in Japan is, more often than not, impressive. It's not as educational as a TV, but the quality is realistic and the views picturesque. The audio quality is also fantastic and there's often a connection to the soul when one of the clicks or clacks actually physically interacts with you.

Realising this, I had decided to extend what would be a very short and fast trip into a long and thoroughly enjoyable one through the south Osaka countryside.

Kansai Main Line

From Tennoji, I watched the expresses depart southbound towards the airport and realised that 3 or 4 of them would reach my destination before me. I was in for a much longer trip, starting off heading east, instead of south, towards Oji.

This is the Kansai Main Line (the translation could also be "Kansai Original Line") which cuts across the Kii Peninsula from Tennoji through to Tsu. I travelled on the west side of it from Tennoji through to Oji, which uses an assortment of EMUs. Further to the east you switch to a DMU to get over the mountain range to Tsu.

Note that Google Maps correctly shows the name from Kamo to Namba as the Kansai Main Line. JR West has given the stretch from Namba to Kamo the nickname "Yamatoji Line" and runs the "Yamatoji Rapid" on it.

Wakayama Line

This line runs from Oji to Wakayama. From Gojo Station, the track parallels the Kino River (Kinokawa River? Kino River River?) giving the passenger some fantastic views. I was there in early Summer and there were carp kites hanging from cables strung across the breadth of the river. For the life of me I can't believe that I didn't take any photos.

Hanwa Line

This is the stretch of track from Tennoji to Wakayama. Multiple express trains run along here... The Haruka to the airport and the Kuroshio/Ocean Arrow to Shingu. I checked out Wakayama station, a junction for the Kisei Line and the Wakayama Railway Kishigawa Line.

Musota Station

This is the first station north of Wakayama on the Hanwa Line. The expresses don't stop... and there's a sweeping curve and bridge to the south, providing a great spot to get them coming through at full-tilt.

You then get great shots from the north with the mountain range in the background.

Yamanakadani Station

Heading north, the track enters a mountain range just after Kii Station. In the middle of that range is Yamanakadani Town. This little town has a tiny station where the expresses bolt through.

Shinge Station

Further north, after the mountain range, the track makes it way towards the branch to Kansai Airport at Hineno. Two stations before this is Shinge Station. It's extremely urban and sees very much the same traffic. No express trains stop here.