JR East's "American Train"

[Socimi]

https://blog-001.west.edge.storage-yahoo.jp/res/blog-99-dd/ibuki8282003/folder/477613/06/6452206/img_0

 

As part of the 1988 Japan-USA friendship festival, the then newly formed JR East rolled out this special train, composed of  EF60 19 and a rake of 12 series 50 passenger cars, all rigorously painted in a "Stars and Stripes" livery. 

 

https://blog-001.west.edge.storage-yahoo.jp/res/blog-3c-a6/hyama5071/folder/192230/01/6974001/img_0

 

Inside there was an exibition about typical products of the USA and informations about the country.

 

http://d51498.com/past/19880704/american-train_harajuku.jpg

 

It was a moving exibition, starting at Harajuku station (more precisely, at the imperial pavillon siding, as seen in the image above) on the 4th of July, then stopping at Shinagawa, Hodogaya, Tsuruoka, Akita, Aomori, and then up to Naebo (Sapporo) via the Seikan tunnel.

After Sapporo, it went to Hakodate, Misawa, Kiryu, Takasaki, Takamatsu, Moji, Nagano, Kanazawa-Nishi then down to Kyoto and back to Tokyo.

 

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/tec_300x/imgs/7/8/787655e5.jpg?af694655

 

After Tokyo, it was transported via ship to Okinawa, where it was displayed for about a month, and then returned to Tokyo.

 

A model version in N scale was made by "Miyazawa Mokei Limited Model".

 

https://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0302/users/9/1/2/4/hankenken-img424x600-1487679481qvklnj17952.jpg

 

More infos:

 

https://www.google.it/search?q=アメリカンﾄﾚｲﾝ&rlz=1C1AOHY_itIT751IT751&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV8t2Jg8vWAhVKAxoKHck-DVQQ_AUICigB&biw=1234&bih=756#imgrc=RYd6tfjvQ2eFuM:

 

 

 

 

[Gryphr]

I have seen the model locomotive for this several times on HobbySearch, never thought it had an actual prototype. :)

 

Interesting that they removed the center bogie for the ship transport...I wonder what the reason for that was?

[Kiha66]

Thanks for sharing! I love the pictures of the ship being loaded, but I haven't been able to find pictures of the train in Okinawa.  I assume it was displayed in Naha port, does anyone know anything more?

 

1 hour ago, Gryphr said:

Interesting that they removed the center bogie for the ship transport...I wonder what the reason for that was?

 

Often when loading loading large equipment onto ships loose parts will be removed and shipped separately.  As the locomotive was being lifted via sling attached to the outer trucks, I assume the easiest way to manage the loose center truck was to just ship it as a separate item  This avoids the possibility of the center truck falling off or shifting during the lift.

[velotrain]

Instead of calling it "The American Train in Japan", I think "The Japanese Train with pseudo-American graphics" would have been more accurate ;-)