Limited express Tokai - Shizuoka to Tokyo

[miyakoji]

Here's a video by YT uploader KAZUOo50 of JR Central's Tokai limited express which had its last run on March 17, 2007. Starting in 1955 with a locomotive and passenger carriages, it moved on to 80 series, 153 series, and 165 series EMUs before the JR Central 373 series rolling stock shown here was put on the service in 1996. KAZUOo50 made two recordings, one on February 22nd 2007 and the other on March 1st 2007, for this video. At 31:50 you can see his tickets for the February 22nd boarding. It's interesting to see the Tokaido Line as a double track line in the Shizuoka area, and then as just some of the tracks in a multi-track mess as it proceeds through Kanagawa prefecture.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tōkai_(train)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/373_series

Edited January 20, 2013 by miyakoji

[Ochanomizu]

You can still ride the 373 series on the Wide View Fujikawa Express.  It runs from Fuju to Kofu.  It is a 3-car set.  Car 1 is Green Car.  All car is non-smoking.

[Sacto1985]

You can still ride the 373 series on the Wide View Fujikawa Express.  It runs from Fuju to Kofu.  It is a 3-car set.  Car 1 is Green Car.  All car is non-smoking.

 

The 373's are also assigned to the Inaji limited express train between Toyohashi and Iida Stations on the Iida Line.

[bikkuri bahn]

I regret never riding this service before it ended.  I recall a desire back in 1994 or 95 to take a journey (back then 165 series), but never got around to it, my railfan interest being less than it is today. I did manage to catch a few rides back in the 90's on the Moonlight Nagara rinji service with 165 series- trips involving a few hours wait on a cold platform at Shinagawa Sta. at the beginning.

Edited January 21, 2013 by bikkuri bahn

[miyakoji]

The 373's are also assigned to the Inaji limited express train between Toyohashi and Iida Stations on the Iida Line.

I was thinking when I wrote this that JRC had more use for the 373s in 1996 when they first arrived. This is canceled, the Central Liner will be canceled, and the regularly-scheduled Moonlight Nagara is gone. There's still the Inaji as you point out, the Fujikawa, and a few Liners on the Tokaido.

 

I regret never riding this service before it ended.  I recall a desire back in 1994 or 95 to take a journey (back then 165 series), but never got around to it, my railfan interest being less than it is today. I did manage to catch a few rides back in the 90's on the Moonlight Nagara rinji service with 165 series- trips involving a few hours wait on a cold platform at Shinagawa Sta. at the beginning.

Yeah, the Moonlight Nagara. I was on it twice, once with these and once with 189s, I guess. I didn't enjoy it that much, to be honest. At some times of year there were two per night per direction, scheduled quite close to each other (at least the inbound ones). I have this recollection of the second one overtaking the first around Shizuoka or Numazu. Do you remember anything like that? Maybe there was some other factor at play. Anywho, as much as various aspects of railways appeal to me, I realized that I do like a view. :) I also like it if the train exceeds 30mph.

[Sacto1985]

I wonder why JR Central didn't sell a number of 373's to JR East to use on the Odoriko service, until I realized the trainsets are too short for such service.

[Ochanomizu]

I am sure the 373 series will not expire soon.  Many people enjoy riding that train.  The style of the seating is quite popular.

[bikkuri bahn]

I have this recollection of the second one overtaking the first around Shizuoka or Numazu. Do you remember anything like that? Maybe there was some other factor at play. Anywho, as much as various aspects of railways appeal to me, I realized that I do like a view. I also like it if the train exceeds 30mph.

 

I have a vague recollection of the regular Moonlight Nagara at the other side of the platform at Shizuoka or was it Hamamatsu? The train would dwell for long periods at these stations to let the freights pass, as well as to allow a humanitarian arrival time at points past Nagoya. My intention to ride the rinji version was never for comfort(!) or speed- but rather to enjoy (in railfan sense) the last of the 165's,as well as take advantage of the seishun 18 I was using for passage. However, I bought a regular joshaken from Shinagawa to Yokohama, as midnight fell shortly after leaving Yokohama, and I didn't want to waste a whole days worth of travel just for that short section.