bikkuri bahn Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Starting in May, limited express trains running in Hokkaido with front passageways allowing passengers the view ahead will have this space off-limits to the public. Units affected are all kiha 281/283, kiha 261, and some 789 series units used on Super Hakucho services. JR Hokkaido decided on this move over safety considerations in the wake of the grade crossing accident this January near Fukagawa between a Super Kamui ltd. express (789 series) and a dump truck. Local railfans expressed disappointment upon hearing this news. Interestingly, JR Kyushu also operates two types which have a similar front end arrangement, but has no intention of following JR Hokkaido's lead. article (Japanese): http://mainichi.jp/hokkaido/seikei/news/20100416ddr041020003000c.html Link to comment
to2leo Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 What about the back end? I am so glad that I had a chance to do it last November. Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted April 21, 2010 Author Share Posted April 21, 2010 Probably will seal off both ends. Saves an extra task when reversing at a terminal. Link to comment
stevenh Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 hah... I hadn't even thought of looking out the other end of the train :) Link to comment
scott Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Well, dang. I mean, the odds are I'll never get there, but it would have been fun. Those backwards end-car-view videos make me seasick. :-P Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted April 22, 2010 Author Share Posted April 22, 2010 Well, dang. I mean, the odds are I'll never get there, but it would have been fun. Those backwards end-car-view videos make me seasick. :-P Yes, if I shift my gaze away, it seems objects are slipping away from me- weird brain optical effect. Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Doesn't bother me in the least. AS a former railroad employee, I always was quite baffled by the "cab ride view" on J-trains to begin with as a safety issue. Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted April 22, 2010 Author Share Posted April 22, 2010 I admit I never took advantage of this opportunity, despite living in Hokkaido. One reason is I hardly ever use the limited expresses. Another is I actually like to sit in my seat and enjoy the view while enjoying a cup of coffee as a regular passenger, rather than railfan jockeying for a place in the front. But I may try it sometime this month for "I did it" reasons, maybe on an early departure from Sapporo in the hope that other foamers won't be doing the same thing (fat chance, perhaps...) Link to comment
scott Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Another is I actually like to sit in my seat and enjoy the view while enjoying a cup of coffee as a regular passenger, rather than railfan jockeying for a place in the front. Heresy! But yeah, exactly. (Tea for me, though, if you don't mind.) Link to comment
westfalen Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 That's a shame, you could get a good 'driver's eye' view going through the Seikan Tunnel from the window in the front door of a 789. Link to comment
to2leo Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 When I was there, I had the whole front view by myself for hours if I wanted to, I don't think there were much interest in looking from there or the fact that not many people except railroad fans know about it. Link to comment
stevenh Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 That's a shame, you could get a good 'driver's eye' view going through the Seikan Tunnel from the window in the front door of a 789. I do have a bit of in-tunnel video and also upon exiting the tunnel recorded in near-HD on a disk somewhere... I can upload it if anyone wants to view... When I was there, I had the whole front view by myself for hours if I wanted to, I don't think there were much interest in looking from there or the fact that not many people except railroad fans know about it. When I rode in Jan this year there definitely was little interest from the locals. I had the front to myself. Link to comment
KenS Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 I do have a bit of in-tunnel video and also upon exiting the tunnel recorded in near-HD on a disk somewhere... I can upload it if anyone wants to view... That would be really cool to see. Link to comment
stevenh Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Hakucho: The approach to Kikonai just as we exit the Seikan Tunnel (snow snow snow!) Hakuto: Passing the Twilight Express (2xDD51) A stretch of the bi-di section, with a pass of another Super Hokuto at around 0:50 ...now let me try and find the actual tunnel video. Link to comment
ToniBabelony Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Shame... They did this in the Netherlands a few decades ago as well. http://www.nicospilt.com/Dieseltreinstellen5.htm Now it has returned in the ICE3 and it is worthwhile the extra effort of getting a ticket/seat upfront. Link to comment
to2leo Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Shame... They did this in the Netherlands a few decades ago as well. http://www.nicospilt.com/Dieseltreinstellen5.htm Now it has returned in the ICE3 and it is worthwhile the extra effort of getting a ticket/seat upfront. We got the front seats on the ICE-T to Munich. I love it, my friend got motion sickness on the other hand... Link to comment
Martijn Meerts Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 In The Netherlands jumpers aren't entirely uncommon, which is one of the reasons they don't really want anyone having a clear view out the front window. There are also a LOT of grade crossings, and again, accidents aren't entirely uncommon. Link to comment
ToniBabelony Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 In The Netherlands jumpers aren't entirely uncommon, which is one of the reasons they don't really want anyone having a clear view out the front window. What about Japan's outrageous statistics on suicide rates? http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/24/japan.mentalhealth Guess why the Chuo-line is coloured red? Not because it runs through the centre and has to stand out from the Marunouchi on the map... At least, that's what I've heard from some Japanese people I know... Link to comment
westfalen Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Shame... They did this in the Netherlands a few decades ago as well. http://www.nicospilt.com/Dieseltreinstellen5.htm Now it has returned in the ICE3 and it is worthwhile the extra effort of getting a ticket/seat upfront. We got the front seats on the ICE-T to Munich. I love it, my friend got motion sickness on the other hand... During my travels in 2008 I got a front seat on an ICE3 several times including from Nuremberg to Munich, coming into the dead end station at Munich I noticed the driver talking on his mobile phone and driving with one hand, being caught doing that in Brisbane would get you an express trip to the unemployment line. Then on my way from Stuttgart to Frankfurt Airport there was the driver who blanked out the screen behind him during station stops so he could have a smoke without being seen. Link to comment
to2leo Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I think our train has a faulty screen because it is keep on going blank and unblank. BTW, JR Sonic885 have the blank screen function too, if I remember correctly. Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Shame... They did this in the Netherlands a few decades ago as well. http://www.nicospilt.com/Dieseltreinstellen5.htm Now it has returned in the ICE3 and it is worthwhile the extra effort of getting a ticket/seat upfront. We got the front seats on the ICE-T to Munich. I love it, my friend got motion sickness on the other hand... During my travels in 2008 I got a front seat on an ICE3 several times including from Nuremberg to Munich, coming into the dead end station at Munich I noticed the driver talking on his mobile phone and driving with one hand, being caught doing that in Brisbane would get you an express trip to the unemployment line. Then on my way from Stuttgart to Frankfurt Airport there was the driver who blanked out the screen behind him during station stops so he could have a smoke without being seen. Here, the FRA banned cellphones from even being in the cab. The union (BLE) fought that a bit and finally the official rule became that cellphones could be in the cab, but must be powered off. Link to comment
scott Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I think our train has a faulty screen because it is keep on going blank and unblank. BTW, JR Sonic885 have the blank screen function too, if I remember correctly. Is this just a curtain or shade over the window, or is it some special process within the glass? Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now