Search the Community

Sunday I went to the Seibu Musashigaoka Depot open house. Crowded with families and tetsuota (a given since it's in Saitama) but there were railways from all over Kanto represented at the souvenir booths. I picked up a surplus route map of the Tokyu Lines before the beginnning of through services via the underground Shibuya Station. They gave buyers two choices- a yama-gawa version with the left side stations being inland locations, or an umi-gawa version where the left side is stations close to the sea or southern Kanagawa locations. I chose the umi-gawa version, as that's the one I'm used to seeing, being Yokohama based. Cost 1000 yen.

A one scene/location video of action between Hakuraku and Myorenji on a weekend morning. Camera is pointed in the up direction (towards Shibuya). In the description section, if you click on the times, you can go directly to the train listed. Too many 5050's as usual, but nice to see other types making the lineside action more interesting, including my favorite Tokyo Metro 10000 series. *this section of the Toyoko Line still maintains the old style of urban/inner suburban railway operation with numerous grade crossings, curves, cuttings and embankments.

Saturday I was trainwatching and shutterbugging at Myorenji Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line in Yokohama (I wanted to see some of the run-through trains). The 5050 series are ubiquitous, but while they passed (or stopped with the 8 car units) I noticed most of the cars are equipped with ladders mounted on the sides (below the center doors), to allow passengers to easily get off in emergency situations. Perhaps there are other trains equipped in such a manner, but this is the first time I saw such a mounting rather obviously placed in the lower center of the car.

Keio, Tokyu, Seibu and Tokyo Metro now number there stations and I have issued revised route maps. Tokyu has a PDF map showing station numbers.There is an interactive version of this map on the Japanese language Tokyu web site that links through to station information pages. This version of the map is not on the English language Tokyu web page and I just happened to stumble upon it. The Tokyu map shows the name and color of Tokyo Metro through routings, something that is rare. PDF version http://www.tokyu.co.jp/railway/menu/rosen-web080602.pdf Interactive version http://www.tokyu.co.jp/railway/menu/station.html Seibu also has a new PDF map showing station numbers. Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line, Fukutoshin Line, and Tokyu Toyoko LIne stations served by through routed trains.are also shown. http://www.seibu-group.co.jp/railways/tourist/english/train_information/railwaysmap.pdf Keio also has added station numbers to their route map, but there is no info on stations served by through routed trains. http://www.keio.co.jp/english/railwaymap/map.pdf Tokyo Metro shows its own stations, but none of the station served by through routed lines. http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/pdf/routemap_en.pdf Tobu does not have an English route map. Keisei only has minimum of mapping. http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/timetable/ There is a Suica Pasmo Route Map on the JR East web site, but it only shows principal stations and no station numbering. http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/pdf/RouteMap_majorrailsub.pdf The maps with station numbers and through routing are an improvement. Still there is a need for more information on through routing stops. The space requited for this may require a separate panel (on the reverse in a print version-for iinstance) to clearly present the services.

Nothing unusual or newsworthy here. Just my favorite Kanto region rolling stock (since the retirement of the Keikyu 1000 series). I love how when worked, the traction motors on these units almost sound automotive- going away, it sounds like a racecar. Also, motor driving units with pantographs are "boss"! Express bound for Chuo Rinkan passing through Tsukushino: Accelerating from a stop (at Fujigaoka Station). Hear that sublime chopper whine, signature Tokyu, and also common on the Toyoko Line when the 8000 series were in their prime, before the beer cans took over (first train in the series): same location, some knarly traction roar towards the end there:

Over the past couple of years by chance I have been become aware of several stub lines in Tokyo that are completely at odds with the typical image of Tokyo trains. If possible the videos are full line rides. Keisei Kanamachi line The Keisei Kanamachi line became a stub line with the opening of the Keisei Skyliner service. Trains run from Takasago to Keisei Kanamachi where a connection is made with the JR East Joban line. Length: 2.5 km Stations 3 4 car trains Full length video June 28, 2010 during the final stages of the stub line preparations. Today Tobu Kameido line This line links Kameido on the JR East Chuo Sobu line with Hifune on the Tobu Skytree line. Length 3.4 km Stations 5 2 car trains http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6YEM0gjQws Tokyu Oimachi line The Oimachi line links Oimachi Station on the Keihin Tohoku line with Mizonokuchi Station at the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line and has a connection with the Tokyu Toyoko line at Jiyugaoka Station. Length 12.4 Km Stations 15 5 car local trains, 6 car express trains Average Daily Ridership 438,979 (3rd busiest Tokyu line) Tokyu Ikegami Line The Ikegami links Gotanda on the JR East Yamanote line with Kamata Station where the Tokyu Tamgawa line and the Keihin Tohoku lines connect and has a connection with the Tokyu Oimachi line at Hatanodai. Length 10.8 km Stations 15 3 car trains Average Daily Ridership 216,844 Tokyu Tamagawa line The Tokyu Tamagawa line (there is a Seibu Tamagawa line too) links Tamagawa and connections with the Tokyu Toyoko line and Tokyu Meguro with Kamata where the Tokyu Ikegami line and JR East Keihin Tohoku lines are found. Length 5.5 km Stations 7 3 car trains Average Daily Ridership 141,311 To be continued....