Taiheyo Cement’s WOKIFU hopper cars on the Chichibu Railway

[miyakoji]

A interesting video and article by Mainichi.  I am a little surprised to see that the axles use journal bearings.  Although a number of these have been scrapped, there are still 13 in use.

 

 

 

Google translated article: https://mainichi-jp.translate.goog/articles/20240504/k00/00m/040/032000c?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

 

Google translated Wikipedia page on WOKIFU 100: https://ja-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/秩父鉄道ヲキ・ヲキフ100形貨車?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

[ED75-775]

They're definitely quirky, that's for sure. Probably the last such hopper cars in service to have a brakeman's compartment anywhere in Japan, though my knowledge as such is pretty negligible so take that at face value. Having seen the real things, and the matching WoKi 100 hoppers on my Chichibu Railway daytrip in June 2023, they were a major factor in buying the N-scale versions from Micro Ace the same day (plus a matching DeKi 300 locomotive); that, and the fantastic little videos produced by yukikazeful and Susukuma on YouTube.

 

May as well join the vibe and throw in some of my prototype shots from June last year. They were only quick grab shots, I'll have to see if I can do better next month when I go back!

 

 

 

Alastair

 

[Beaver]

18 hours ago, ED75-775 said:

Probably the last such hopper cars in service to have a brakeman's compartment anywhere in Japan

 

Having a brakeman or guard on any freight train is rare now. Most are driver only operation. You still occasionally see brakevans used by JRF to escort oversize or hazardous loads.