EF81-140 with an Unusual Passenger Consist

[gmat]

Noted passing thru Omiya yesterday. There was a small crowd hanging around 1:27 waiting for it at tracks 4 and 6. The same crowd was waiting at tracks 9 and 11 when it came northbound. 

 

 

 

 

 

Returning north.

 

 

 

 

I had assumed that it was bringing the train to the Omiya Rolling Stock Center to be worked on, so was surprised to see it being pulled northbound again. Sorry, but I didn't think to record the type and car number of the train.

 

Come to think of it, it would have come on its own power. 

 

Best wishes,

Grant

Edited August 9, 2013 by gmat

[Ochanomizu]

Hello Mr gmat,

 

So strange, neh?  Were pax on board?  Was it the same formation in opposite direction? Same car numbers?

[Densha]

Funny how it says "out of service" while it's being pulled and usually is out of service if that's the case... but take a look at the pantographs that are up while it is being pulled by a loco!!

 

If you take a close look at the cab on the back in photo 0121 and 0215 you can see "111" written, maybe that's the consist number meaning that it is the same EMU?

 

Nice to see an EF81 with a Shibata coupler.

[ToniBabelony]

It's an E233-7000 for the Saikyō line. I rode one today from Shinjuku to Omiya and they're very good but also very boring. It was a relief to sit in a 415-1500 on the Mito line again later ;)

[gmat]

Sorry, I misread the time. It passed southbound at 3:19 and returned at 5:14. I didn't consciously look to see if there were anyone riding it but I think that it was empty. Densha, you are right in that 111 is probably the consist number. It is painted on on the widow, so it is permanent, not like LED numbers in the block below it, which changes for each run. I think when I photographed the Chuo Line E233 series trains, the window number was the same at each end car. I imagine that this one is the same. 

I wonder why it was running on the Tokaido Line. I've seen sometimes seen a red EF-81 with a blue train consist running thru Omiya Station. I believe it's on a training run. Is there a connection with today's train?

 

Best wishes,

Grant. 

[westfalen]

Just going by the scratches and dents on the front of the loco it looks like the same end is leading in both directions.  Could they have been taking the E233 somewhere to turn it around?

[miyakoji]

westfalen, I think you're right.  There are four marks on front of the locomotive, on the operator's side.  They look identical.  Also, it's not as clear so it's not as distinguishing, but the hoses look the same and there's rust or something orange on the coupler.

[ToniBabelony]

This was the E233-7000 Series 111 Consist on the way from Niitsu to Higashi-Ōmiya. It was probably y-ed in the Urawa triangle: http://goo.gl/maps/9vwPV

 

http://railf.jp/news/2013/08/09/120000.html

[miyakoji]

Good call Toni.  I was thinking about westfalen's comment today, wondering where there was a Y or a loop to do this.

[westfalen]

That answers where and why.  I've been wondering why the pantographs are up while the train is being towed by a loco, could be to power some auxiliary equipment on the train?

[ToniBabelony]

That answers where and why.  I've been wondering why the pantographs are up while the train is being towed by a loco, could be to power some auxiliary equipment on the train?

 

How about an internal communication system and brakes for the reversing at Urawa? Maybe the crew wanted to test the aircon as well while doing switching moves and travels. ;)

 

I think it's not so uncommon to have trains Y-ed at Urawa, being so near to the JR East Ōmiya rolling stock facility. I suspect this to happen quite often actually.

[miyakoji]

That answers where and why.  I've been wondering why the pantographs are up while the train is being towed by a loco, could be to power some auxiliary equipment on the train?

What would the reason be for turning the whole consist around?  After the train has been in service for a while, it could be for wheel wear I guess, but it's brand new.  There's no real distinction between the two ends, is there?