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Railway memories


Sr.Horn

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Looking back on my first trip to Japan in September-October 2004, I was not really interested in trains at the time. I was 19 years old and they were other days. Fortunately, the same did not happen on the next seven trips to Japan.

 

However, I do collect a couple of photos of Japanese railways from the time. Now I am satisfied to test some already disappeared trains:

 

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The Chuo Line was the "main" line I used on my first trip. This is because the 21-days JR Pass and hotel was near. At that time, 201 series was the king of the Chuo Line only two years before the introduction of the E233 series. 

 

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An old map on platform, probably at Ochanomizu Station. 

 

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A typical day trip from Tokyo: Nikko. Later, don't understand why agency didn't use the JR (considering the use of JR Pass) instead Tobu. BTW my direct travel to Nikko in a 100 series Spacia was fabulous.

 

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Rolling stock depot with 200 series Ryomo and 10000 series.

 

Comparing photos, return travel to Tokyo was using JR Nikko Line and Shinkansen (E2 Series) but no decent photos exist.

 

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Back from Tokyo Tower onboard at that time the new E231-500 series entering Tokyo Station. At that travel I used some 205 series (stopped) but no photos exist. Also in the picture, a 115 series Shonan livery stopped at track 7 (Utsunomiya Line).

 

It's time to move west:

 

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In 2004 still in function old-style "Solari" tapa-tapa boards at Maibara Station.

 

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Finally in Kyoto, one of the fastest (at the time) 700 series celebrating 40th Anniversary with "Ambitious Japan" campaign. In my fridge I have a magnet.

 

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And my love, the 300 series Shinkansen. The "main" bullet train during my first (and second) trip to Japan.

 

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My ryokan in Kyoto was quite far from the center, in Ukyo ward. This is the Saga-Arashiyama station on the Sagano Line with a 113 or 115 series (Kansai livery). Not sure if I wanted to take a photo of the signal or the train 🤦‍♂️

 

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My first onsen experience was in Kurama onsen, so time for Eizan Dentetsu! I think, in one travel I see all the rolling stock at that time:

 

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The 700, 900 Kirara and 800 series. Jackpot!

 

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This is not train-related but I was surprised with the 2004 technology. In Spain there was no way to know how far was the bus at that time.

 

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Time for Osaka. I was fascinated with the train melody, insomuch I bought two CDs with the Tokyo-area and Kansai-area songs. This is the Umeda Station (Midosuji Line), the IC card system didn't exist yet.

 

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From the Umeda Sky, the old Umeda Freight Terminal.

 

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A 0 series with JR West "Kodama" livery on the way to Hiroshima.

 

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A 100 series "Kodama" livery at Hiroshima station.

 

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Back in Kyoto a 113/115 series "Shonan" and a 183 series Limited Express "Maizuru".

 

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281 series Haruka service.

 

Well, the travel was great, more than 20 days visiting Tokyo, Kansai, Hiroshima and Hokkaido (3 days in Sapporo-Noboribetsu-Lake Toya). In a first moment, the Osaka-Sapporo trip was planned using the Twilight Express, but tot save time, agency finally change for the plane.

 

Next Railway memories: spring 2006.

 

 

 

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Well, I expected more train photos in 2006 (second trip) but the fact is I've less. 

 

In Akihabara, in 2004, I bought my first digital camera, a Sony DSC-W1, around €450, not bad considering the price in Spain (around €600). Two years after my second camera was a Panasonic Lumix FX-01, much better hand camera that I used for about ten years.

 

The two weeks travel in spring 2006 was a classic combination: one week in Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka and Nara), and one week in Tokyo (only a side trip to Kamakura and Yokohama).

 

The first two days where in Tokyo, with a trip to Kamakura and Yokohama, then, one week in Kansai and back to Tokyo. For this travel, the first solo travel to Japan I used a 7 days JR Pass.

 

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Again, the 300 series Hikari was the main bullet train of the travel, and the last time I used it.

 

No train photos in Kansai.

 

Back to Tokyo a couple of interesting shots:

 

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That's all.

 

The winter 2010 trip will be more exciting. PREVIEW:

 

 

😁

Edited by Sr.Horn
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Back again, it's time for the third travel to Japan in a one week of vacations in my university. This was in February 2010.

 

This is a more-focused-on-rail travel with a four consecutive days Japan Rail East Pass plus six days around Tokyo.

 

Master plan was: explore Sendai and Matsushima, visit Aizu-Wakamatsu because the station camera in that moment, and Matsumoto and Nagano day-trip.

 

But the travel started in an 8 hours transfer in Rome Fiumicino so... time to make a quick visit to the ancient capital with the Leonardo Express.

 

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The infamous trains of Linea B. Comparing with Rome, Barcelona area trains are quite clean (well...).

 

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Always in love with Solari di Udine giants boards :love4:. Not sure if it still existing in italian stations.

 

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And some Frecciargento ETR600 and Freciarossa ETR500 from my train to the airport.

 

Alitalia offered some good deals at the time, I paid only €430 for a round trip. After a quite travel, the Narita Express 253 series (end service in June) wait for me.

 

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The Narita Express always offering some interesting views of the Chiba area trains like the 115 series in "Suka" colors.

 

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At Tokyo Station I make my last change before arrive at Nippori Station where I had my hotel, the Tokiwa Hotel.

 

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Losing time in Shinjuku.

 

End of day 1 and 2.

 

 

 

 

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On 12/8/2020 at 5:48 AM, Sr.Horn said:

I was not really interested in trains at the time.

 

 

These pictures suggest otherwise! Very nice. Thanks for posting. 

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40 minutes ago, gavino200 said:

 

These pictures suggest otherwise! Very nice. Thanks for posting. 

 

Well, in 2004 was young and more interested in other things about Japan. Thanks! 😉

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It's six in the morning and I'm transfering from the commuter platforms to the Shinkansen tracks in Ueno Station. A group of tetsudo fans are waiting for last pictures of the legendary 489 series Noto express that end it's regular services in March 2010.

 

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The plan is easy: With the E4 MAX Yamabiko go to Sendai and change to a Senseki Line for Matsushimakaigan, sightseeing once of three views of Japan, and take a look on Sendai ambience and eat gyutan.

 

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I'm n love with the Senseki Line and it's 205 series trainsets.

 

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Back to Sendai I spend some time exploring the Station and it's impressive two stories plaza as well as some nearby shopping malls.

 

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Thanks!

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I feel so lucky to have been able to ride on a Type 0 before they were all retired. Sat in the cab a few times at various places too.

 

Unfortunately I didn't have a decent camera back them, just a disposable one and later a phone. I'll see if I can dig out some photos later but maybe nothing special.

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Around that epoch, I was in love with the fancy station webcam with audio. Coordinated with a geek train fan from Barcelona I planned to record my arrival (morning in Japan / night in Spain).

 

My travel, as a previous, started at Ueno. In this case my frist train was a E2 series Hayate.

 

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... next the 719 series "Akabe" livery.

 

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The day in AizuWakamatsu was freeze and rainy, a couple of days before, the area had a heavy snowfall reported by karibajct:

 

Part1

 

Part2

 

Back to the photos, I visited the castle and eaten famous Kitakata ramen, but the main sightseeing was the train station:

 

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Finally, my train to come back to Koriyama arrived, the 485 series "Aizu Liner":

 

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Of course in Koriyama I had time to explore a little the station views:

 

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Next: Matsumoto and Nagano.

 

 

 

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