Suica's Japanese Railway Photos

[Suica]

As I have quite a few railway related photos from my Japan trips in 2011, 2012 and 2016 I figured why not show a few of them here? Maybe there would be some people interested.

So I might occasionally post a few photos here in no particular order.

 

 

Let's start with the JR West 500 TYPE EVA. I was able to ride this train from Tokuyama to Himeji in August 2016.

 

I actually wanted to ride from Hakata but wasn't able to reserve a seat. Tokuyama was my next option and it was worth it! Car 6 is the former green class car which has been "downgraded" to standard class reserved seating. You still get the green class comfort with 2+2 seating arrangement, larger windows and a very wide center armrest.

 

Car 8 features a driver's cab for children (and big children :icon_biggrin: ) to play.

 

The EVA theme inside the train starts in car 3 with Ritsuko Akagi and Kaji Ryoji keeping you company in the smoking room.

 

Car 2 features EVA themed standard unreserved seating.

 

Car 1 is the designated Shinkansen X Evangelion exhibition car.

Hikari Horaki and her two sisters Kodama and Nozomi guide you through various information panels

 

There's also the EVA Entry Core Unit.

 

Upon my visit to the exhibition car I also received the 500 TYPE EVA Guide Book.

 

Here's a photo I took from inside the train at Fukuyama Station. I love how Fukuyama Castle is right outside.

 

Another unique detail is that instead of a generic jingle, the Evangelion theme is played before announcements inside the train.

 

It was my first time riding a Kodama so the somtimes quite long waiting times at stations were pretty unusual to me. But if you have your train's timetable you can go outside and take some nice Shinkansen photos in the meantime. :)

 

 

[Eurostar25]

Nice photos Suica, I almost need to consider one of these outside the Tokuyama station on my layout, it sure is a eye catcher!

[JR 500系]

Beautiful Eva 500! Really hoped to take this but I guess it is impossible for me now...

[Suica]

Beautiful Eva 500! Really hoped to take this but I guess it is impossible for me now...

How come? No plan to visit Japan in the next two years? Its service period has been extended to spring 2018.

[JR 500系]

How come? No plan to visit Japan in the next two years? Its service period has been extended to spring 2018.

 

Yap... was given the RED light by the Mrs... that is of course until we at least made a trip to Europe...

[Suica]

Another unique detail is that instead of a generic jingle, the Evangelion theme is played before announcements inside the train.

I uploaded the video I recorded as we left Okayama Station. You can hear the Evangelion theme at 00:55

 

 

Yap... was given the RED light by the Mrs... that is of course until we at least made a trip to Europe...

 

Just kill two birds with one stone. ;)

 

Edited January 3, 2017 by Suica

[Densha]

@JR500

 

If abovementioned solution doesn't work, you can always opt for visiting the National Railway Museum in York during your trip to Europe. The NRM has a 0 type Shinkansen cab car in its collection. ;)

[katoftw]

Sammy and his gf has already been there.

[JR 500系]

@JR500

 

If abovementioned solution doesn't work, you can always opt for visiting the National Railway Museum in York during your trip to Europe. The NRM has a 0 type Shinkansen cab car in its collection. ;)

 

Good idea Densha san!  :)  I wonder what is the connection between girls and Europe... they always love to visit there, if not, at least once in their lives...

 

 

I uploaded the video I recorded as we left Okayama Station. You can hear the Evangelion theme at 00:55

 

 

Lovely chime! I just love it... The thing is, I think it is almost impossible to book the game right? I heard it was always fully booked out...

 

 

 

 

Just kill two birds with one stone. ;)

 

 

 

Sammy and his gf has already been there.

 

Thanks Suica san, and yes katoftw san is correct (though the gf part is more like wife though...  :)

 

[Kiha66]

Great photos Suica, I especially like the shinkansen video!  I didn't realize there were that many kiha 40 series units in Okayama.

Thanks Suica san, and yes katoftw san is correct (though the gf part is more like wife though...  :)

 

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Woo Kiha 66/67, my favorite!

[Sacto1985]

Suica, thanks for that video. when the train left Okayama Station, I saw parked at the station a bunch of JR West KiHa 40's used on the Kibi Line (aka Momotaro Line) that travels to Soja Station on the Hakubi Line.

[Suica]

Here's another video I filmed as the 500 TYPE EVA left Himeji Station.

Sorry for the shaky camera but my phone can't handle 60 FPS recording and stabilisation at the same time.

 

Lovely chime! I just love it... The thing is, I think it is almost impossible to book the game right? I heard it was always fully booked out...

Well, this is the strange thing. I knew there's supposed to be some lottery to even get into car 1. There was no such thing. The game was accessible to everyone as well.

[Suica]

Continuing on with another Shinkansen. The 700 Series Hikari Rail Star.

 

I rode this one from Hakata to Tokuyama to catch that 500 TYPE EVA.

 

The train left very early so I had quite a good choice of seats. I ended up getting one in one of the four compartments.

Quite a unique way to enjoy the ride in a Shinkansen.

 

This is the reason why I like the smaller Shinkansen stations like Tokuyama and Himeji here.

You can get whole trains in a single shot.

 

A little standard gauge overhead catenary inspection car(?) at Tokuyama Station.

 

[katoftw]

Very cool.  Might have to try for a 700 Hikari when in Japan next.  Thanks for the pics.

[serotta1972]

Suica, have you been able to acquire all the trains you rode on your last trip and or your train want list is just getting longer and longer huh? Nice pictures!

[Suica]

Suica, have you been able to acquire all the trains you rode on your last trip and or your train want list is just getting longer and longer huh? Nice pictures!

Hmm.. let's say I'm making good progress.

On the other hand I plan to visit Japan again this year and obviously ride some more trains, so there's that.

[Suica]

Continuing with an overnight trip from Himeji to Tokyo

 

JNR feeling in Himeji with an Setouchi colour 115 series

 

Shinkansen are cool and all but I decided to take the Sunrise Express back to Tokyo

 

Thanks to a friend I managed to get a Single-DX room

 

Amenity kit & shower card

 

Good night~

 

The 285 series looks absolutely gorgeous. I got the feeling it draws more photographers than other trains.

 

I found that the limited express platforms at Tokyo station are quite a good place to take photos of commuter EMUs

 

Lastly some JNR feeling in Tokyo with the 185 series waiting to start the day's first Odoriko service

 

Edited March 29, 2017 by Suica

[Suica]

A few photos from the Nagano Electric Railway, I visited in 2012.

If you're interested in riding old Tokyo area trains Nagaden is one of railways you might want to consider.

 

2100 series Snow Monkey Limited Express (ex JR 253 Series NEX) to Yudanaka

 

Yudanaka Station

It was nice to see some snow in late March. Buses leave from here to the Snow Monkey park. However we directly headed on to the nearby Shibu Onsen and back the next day.

 

3500 series local (ex TRTA 3000 series)

Wonderful 1960s design. I just love these EMUs. And the seats are super comfy!

 

8500 series local (ex Tokyu 8500 series)

 

The only trainsets I didn't get to ride, yet even see were the two 1000 series Yukemuri Limited Express sets (ex Odakyu 10000 series HiSE).

Tomix released models of the 2100 and 1000 series. I just wish someone would release the local EMUs. :P

[Densha]

Isn't the ex-Tokyu 8500 done by Tomytec? I believe MicroAce also announced a 2-car Eidan 8000, but that's without the red Nagaden stripe obviously.

[Suica]

Isn't the ex-Tokyu 8500 done by Tomytec? I believe MicroAce also announced a 2-car Eidan 8000, but that's without the red Nagaden stripe obviously.

You're right!

Unfortunately I'm 7 years late. :(

[Suica]

It's a super hot in Berlin today and I don't feel like doing anything that involves moving around, so I figured why not cooling down whith some photos from my Hokkaido trip in January 2013?

 

 

E751 series Tsugaru from Shin-Aomori to Aomori Station

 

Winter Wonderland Aomori~

Aomori actually had even more snow than Hokkaido at that point.

 

485 series Hakucho took us to Hakodate the next morning

 

Hakodate Shiden, the only 4 ft 6 in track gauge network outside of Tokyo

 

JNR Seikan rail ferry Mashu Maru

 

Mt. Hakodate Ropeway

 

JR Hokkaido's famous KiHa 40. I hope I'll be able to ride them next time

 

KiHa 183 Hokuto returning from Sapporo

Unfortunately I do not have any decent photos of the Super Hokuto we rode.

 

789 series Super Hakucho ready for our return journey through the Seikan Tunnel

 

Seikan Tunnel schedule and info map on board the Super Hakucho

 

I'm quite sad that half of those photos are history now. The limited express trains through the Seikan Tunnel were wonderful. I didn't ride the Hokkaido Shinkansen but it won't be the same. (I really don't like the E5/H5 series. It's super ugly~)

But I will go back to Hokkaido. Snow-covered Japan is just amazing!

 

Edited June 11, 2017 by Suica

[cteno4]

Perfect, cooled me off here in hot D.C.

 

Jeff

[JR 500系]

Beautiful pictures... Thanks for sharing! Certainly reminded me of my Hokkaido trip too back in 2012.... I rode on those Kiha-183 Super Hokuto and 789 series too... Through the Seikan tunnel ... Now we can even ride the H5 through the Seikan Tunnel..

 

I missed Hakodate though from my previous trip... I basically only travelled the whole way from Tokyo To Sapporo using the E2-1000 Hayate (When the E5 Hayabusa was new and rail pass couldn't be used on Hayabusa yet), transferring to the 789 series to go from Shin-Aomori to Hakodate, and then transferring to the kiha-183 Super Hokuto from Hakodate to Sapporo... I gotta go to Hakodate in my next trip...

[Suica]

Continuing with some photos from this month. I'm so glad I bought a (cheap) telephoto lense just before my trip. Gotta make sure to get an even better one for the next one though.

 

381 series Yakumo & KiHa 187 Super Matsukaze at Izumoshi Station.

 

283 series (Ocean Arrow) Kuroshio at Shingu Station

 

KiYa 95 Doctor Tokai, also at Shingu Station. 

[Das Steinkopf]

I really need to pull my finger out and upload more pictures from my trips, I have uploaded a decent amount to my Flickr account but I have a lot more to go.

 

I love the pictures you have of Dr Tokai.