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This is a placeholder post that I will edit later to be a summary of the trip, but for right now I just had to share the amazing thing that happened to me today. Also, here’s my photodump from my camera. If anyone’s curious, it’s a Canon Powershot G12 that I kinda know how to use. Eventually I will upload my phone’s photos to this folder as well. Japan Photos

Anyone have any good shops they know of near Sapporo Station or vicinity?

This video title is "kasoku sugee," an ASCII face, and then another "sugeeee." I'll translate it as "awesome acceleration." This is DE10-1691 in an out-of-service move from Sapporo to Naebo on August 19, 2021. Built by Nippon Sharyo, it was delivered to Obihiro Depot on February 13, 1975. It has been in Hokkaido throughout its life. Assigned to Kushiro Depot on April 1, 1987 for its first day on the JR Hokkaido roster, it was subsequently based at Hakodate, and at Asahikawa as of April 1, 2021. 1691 is part of the 1500 subseries which included 265 locomotives, numbers 1501 through 1765. The teamde10 link below lists a few interesting points in its history. At 8:06 AM on January 15, 1993, the Kushiro Oki earthquake occurred, which derailed it within the Kushiro diesel shop. Snow plows, brake and sand equipment, and stabilizer bushings were damaged. It was put back on temporary rails a few days later. On March 14, 2016, it powered the last track inspection on the Esashi Line before the line's transfer to the third sector South Hokkaido Railway Company. Its radiator fan, at the end of the long hood, has Naebo's three-leaf ornament. Obviously the main point of interest here is the acceleration and engine rpm. A Yahoo chiebukuro post puts its maximum acceleration at 2.89km/h/s on the level. All DE10s have the DML61Z engine, a 61 liter V-12. From the 1000 subseries on, they have the B variant, good for 1350 horsepower at 1550 rpm. I haven't read whether or not the engine control system will take it over that. If that's 1550 rpm in the video, I'd say it's fast enough 🙂 http://teamde10.fem.jp/rireki/de101600/de101691.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JNR_Class_DE10

YouTube member Arkibk Train Aki just released a zenmen tenbou video of the Airport Rapid Service from Otaru to Shin-Chitose Airport from a JR Hokkaido 721 Series train set F-4103: It's the first time I've seen such a clear video of this service.

Bridgestone produces tires for Sapporo Subway, the first and only rubber-tired metro in Japan. This nice 1971 commercial shows the Bridgestone tires mounted on sapporo subway 2000 series trains, with some nice special effects. Also note the unusual wheel arrangment of the DM (single wheel at the front, double at the middle, one between coaches) and the unique track arrangment: single central guiding rail, plus the ̶t̶h̶i̶r̶d̶ second live rail in the middle of the two tracks (or shuold i say "lanes"?).

My local line is starting to see some changes, namely the upcoming installation of platform doors and ATO operation. First of all, the old rolling stock was retired last month. Small rather handmade-like notice of the retirement event: Balises for the ATO system were installed several months ago. Recently the platform edges have been marked for the installation of the platform doors: Posters announcing the change in stopping points at stations and changes in the timetable. Headways will be shorter, but the time stopped at each station will be longer, thanks to ATO operation.

Hakodate Liner may be expanded to 6 car trains for peak period services. It appears JR Hokkaido is considering adding an additional 3 carriages to the originally planned 3 carriage Hakodate Liner shuttle services between Shin-Hakodate Hokuto and Hakodate, scheduled to start next spring. The additional carriages will require lengthening of a platform at Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station. Cited was the capacity of a Hokkaido Shinkansen H5 trainset at 731 passengers, while the capacity of a 3 carriage shuttle train would be 441 passengers. Doubling that number would ensure all could get a ride to Hakodate during heavy traffic periods. Business interests are welcoming the move. http://dd.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/area/donan/1-0151676.html Hokkaido Shinkansen terminal platforms may be located west of the main Sapporo Station platforms. It has come to light that JR Hokkaido is considering locating the platforms of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, scheduled for completion to Sapporo in 2030, approx. 300m west of the current station. Originally it was planned to build the shinkansen platforms at the current location of the (south side) #1 and #2 zairaisen tracks, and build a new zairaisen platform on the north side. However, doing so would result in traffic conflicts affecting up to 100 scheduled zairaisen services due to trains crossing over, so the option of building at the west location is being considered. However, having shinkansen platforms at that location would reduce greatly convenience for passengers, as they would be located far from subway and long distance bus connections. http://dd.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/economy/economy/1-0152629.html

Going to Sapporo in September and am trying to determine the best shots to watch trains outside of Sapporo Station of course. Anyone in the group been there? I'm gun I g for as much ground level and at-grades as I can since I don't use zooms anymore to take pix.

Some recent views of the low floor tram recently acquired by Sapporo Transport Bureau for their streetcar line in Chuo Ward. It appears most of the locations are on the portion of the loop closest to Susukino. This unit will begin revenue service in May. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZu_RtDLX48