Search the Community

First, this DE10 rides up on ice and derails in Akita. While not doubting Japan's well maintained and well operated railways, I have difficulty believing that this has never happened before. Maybe it lost its balance because the digits in its road number aren't on straight, it's really driving me nuts. This is the Akita Rinkai Railway, and while trying to figure out where the hell it actually is (Google Map requires you to be significantly zoomed in to show it), I found that they are unfortunately ending operations in March. At least this guy has an excuse for driving something wildly off course. Location: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7531443,140.0628819,204m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en Then I see this video about a Prius getting onto the tracks in front of a 223 series in Yasu, Shiga at this crossing: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0835718,136.0449003,314m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en Seems like entering a gated-off area and interfering with operations could have been prevented, you know? Next, there are these inept guys driving a tank truck when its brakes are blown off or something, which naturally times it perfectly to collide with a 183 series on Azusa service. The authorities decide to use a Mitsubishi Montero to try to slow it down. Seems like, I don't know, bad governance or something. Fortunately there's this cool shinkansen-steamer thing at Okama Station. https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7115082,141.0718867,425m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Hello all, I have purchased the KATO E6 and I currently have the KATO H5 on order. I have already received the KATO E6 a while ago, and I have the issue that it keeps derailing (sometimes, pretty badly) at switches. -None- of my other KATO trains have this issue anywhere, even at top speed. Switching to a different E6 train just gives the same issue. I have all KATO rails and switches, very new. Some amazon.co.jp reviews say that both the H5/E5 and E6 are prone to derailment. Is there any way to stop it from derailing? Maybe weighing it down? Suggestions or personal stories/fixes are highly appreciated. I would order the TOMIX versions to see if these have the same problems, except that the TOMIX versions are much harder to acquire and very expensive. Does anyone know if the TOMIX versions also derail so often? Thanks!

This news item I missed back in July, but it's interesting enough to post. JR East was already pegged to provide consultant services for the HS2 project in Great Britain, but on July 22 the firm revealed they had already started another service in addition to the previous announced items. This involved the use of their proprietary Hercules computer program to generate run curve diagrams. These run curve diagrams will be used to figure minimum running times between two designated points (stations) on the HS2 route. Presumably then hypothetical operating diagrams (schedules) can be generated using the data. One definition of a run curve: http://www.rtri.or.jp/eng/rd/seika/2003/02/lowcost_E08.html Details of the HS2 project: Top speed: 400km/h Top revenue service speed: 360km/h Train frequency- on completion of initial 1st segment (London-Birmingham): 14tph, on completion of second segment (Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds): 18tph Train length: 400m Details of the JR East project for HS2: Duration of simulation: June 10~Nov. 7, 2015 Test section to be used: Initial 1st segment (London Euston to Birmingham as well as connections to existing lines from Birmingham to Manchester/Leeds) Rolling stock to be used in simulation: JR East E5 and E6 Hypothetical HS2 trainset Stopping patterns: express type and stopping services Speed limits/standards to be utilized: JR East standard operating speed limits HS2 designated operating speed limits JR East press release: https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2015/20150719.pdf Previous news from spring: http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/hs2-appoints-jr-east-as-a-consultant.html

Check this out guys the details are super awesome! original link: http://fanpress.jp/news/entry-65.html

Here's a nice video compilation of JR East Tokyo-area services that have changed with the March 15, 2014 schedule revision. Videos by tiyodarain (chiyoda line, I think).

There are other such videos of 1435mm rolling stock being transported on temporary 1067mm trucks (Keisei Skyliner AE and some subway rolling stock comes to mind), but it's pretty rare, and it's very interesting to see this train behind a DE10 and EF65. In the description, ayokoi (uploader of the first video) says that up to now, transport had been by sea to Sendai. This is set Z9 being transported from Kawasaki's Hyogo Works to JR East's Akita Shinkansen Depot. JR West and JR Central territory, by ayokoi: Going through Nagoya station, by sinkaisoku225: YT uploader tobu2181 caught it at Omiya behind EH200-22: On the Takasaki Line, by JyunichiroGotou: Tetsudo Fan News: http://railf.jp/news/2013/06/02/105000.html Ompuchaneru thread: http://rail-uploader.khz-net.com/index.php?id=1098097