Sapporo Depot Open Day

[bikkuri bahn]

A cut short holiday in Honshu allowed me the chance to visit the annual Sapporo Depot Open Day event today.  This event is not widely publicized (the date wasn't announced until about twelve days ago), nor is it on any JR Hokkaido websites or even the usual railfan sites.  I suppose it is intended for local residents mainly, and it's always held on a weekday.  Anyway, a local train from Sapporo Station took me to Inaho Station, which is located next to the depot.

 

Near the entrance, the sign announcing the event.

 

The shed interior spaces are roped off for safety reasons, but here are some views.

 

 

[bikkuri bahn]

(Part 2)

 

The new 735 series EMU was on display for everyone to view and look around in. 

 

 

Cab controls.  Newer JR Hokkaido EMUs use a one handle combi throttle/brake.

 

Builder's plate.  Built at Hitachi's Kasado Works this year.

 

I like these open days because I can get up close to the rolling stock, especially the undersides where all the interesting mechanicals are.  Two views of the N-TR735 bolsterless bogie (trailer).  I like this type because of the elongated frames, unlike the simplified short framed bogies common in recent Kanto-area EMU types.

 

 

[bikkuri bahn]

(part 3)

 

This being Hokkaido, diesel types were also represented.　Kiha 283 tilting DMU.

 

N-DT283 bogie.

 

Close up of the bolster/tilt mechanism.

 

Kiha 183 type, one of the later JNR designs.

 

I like these units because of these babies, 550 HP underfloor (DML30HSJ engine, 12 cylinder). I believe the baffled fairing underneath the cylinder heads houses the intercooler.

[bikkuri bahn]

(part 4)

 

Wrapping up the visit, also on display was my favorite JR Hokkaido type, the 711 series "akaden".  These are living on borrowed time.  On display was a nice clean unit (unlike some running, which are fading and rusting in places).

 

Good old fashioned analog driver controls, throttle (Hitachi make) on the left, brake lever on the right.

 

Double cone upper headlights, for adequate illumination during those snowy Hokkaido winters.

 

*I later found out (too late) that the Naebo Works were also holding their open day concurrently.  The Naebo Works usually hold their event sometime in October in conjunction with national railway day, but apparently not this year(?).  A pity, as Naebo's event is much larger in scale and has more demos, as it is more of a heavy maintenance and overhaul facility than Sapporo.  It seems JR Hokkaido is having trouble with staffing these events and/or costs, perhaps the railway boom has been a negative factor?

[David]

Cab controls.  Newer JR Hokkaido EMUs use a one handle combi throttle/brake.

 

Interesting, it looks like the handle is designed to be gripped on only one side - is it meant for one handed operation, and if so it seems to be oriented for left handed use from this perspective.

[bikkuri bahn]

Yes, the JR East E231/233 series have a similar arrangement, there is a handgrip provided for the right hand to hold.

[westfalen]

Cab controls.  Newer JR Hokkaido EMUs use a one handle combi throttle/brake.

 

Interesting, it looks like the handle is designed to be gripped on only one side - is it meant for one handed operation, and if so it seems to be oriented for left handed use from this perspective.

Using your left hand to operate the brake/throttle handle would leave your right hand free for other tasks, I think a left handed person would have trouble driving one of these.

[westfalen]

*I later found out (too late) that the Naebo Works were also holding their open day concurrently.  The Naebo Works usually hold their event sometime in October in conjunction with national railway day, but apparently not this year(?).  A pity, as Naebo's event is much larger in scale and has more demos, as it is more of a heavy maintenance and overhaul facility than Sapporo.  It seems JR Hokkaido is having trouble with staffing these events and/or costs, perhaps the railway boom has been a negative factor?

During a railfan tour in 1994 a group of about six of us turned up unannounced at the back entrance to Naebo Workshops across the footbridge from the station because one of us heard they had a small museum and gave tours. We called on the intercom at the gate and tried to explain what we wanted and after a while were escorted to an office given a cup of coffee and told to wait, we thought we might be waiting for security of police to arrive but they were just rounding up the guy who looked after the museum and someone who spoke English (he was an electrician by trade). They took us for a walk through the shops and opened up the museum for us before our translator explained they had to get back to their jobs. I'm not sure this would happen today though.

[bikkuri bahn]

Yes, the museum is open on the second and fourth Saturday afternoons of every month to the general public.  The open day is (was?) a much bigger event where much of the workshops are open to the public, in addition to the museum.  According to a blogger who went to this year's event at Naebo, JR Hokkaido had prepared commemorative pin badges as giveaways for the first 200 visitors, but still had plenty on hand around 3pm, when the event was scheduled to end.  It appears that JR Hokkaido's aim to reduce the number of visitors to the open day was successful, if indeed that was their intention. My estimate of last year's event in the autumn was a visitor count of at least 1000, though that was admittedly on the weekend.  After looking at pictures of this year's Naebo event (nothing special in terms of rolling stock), I think I made the right decision in going to the Sapporo Depot instead.

[dmustu]

Cab controls.  Newer JR Hokkaido EMUs use a one handle combi throttle/brake.

 

Interesting, it looks like the handle is designed to be gripped on only one side - is it meant for one handed operation, and if so it seems to be oriented for left handed use from this perspective.

Using your left hand to operate the brake/throttle handle would leave your right hand free for other tasks, I think a left handed person would have trouble driving one of these.

 

 

'Power Brake' controllers of a similar design to this have been pretty much standard in all multiple unit trains built for the UK since the late 80s. (The class 165/166 diesel units were the first type to have them). They always seem to be mounted on the left hand side, but I have not heard of anyone having trouble with them due to being right handed. The class 165/166 were designed for 'Driver Only Operation', so being able to control the train with one hand was usefull, keeping the other free for other things such as making announcements to passengers, operating train doors, etc.