JR West 583 series Kitaguni Sleeper train

[JR 500系]

I'm not sure if this has been posted/ discussed before, but I do know that the 583 series Kitaguni (583系 急行きたぐに) is a sleeper train, but it certainly doesn't look like one, at least on the exterior.  

 

I tried looking for some videos on youtube and found this:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_em7cUZ06qY

 

It seems the seats are actually convertible to a bed!

 

Then there is the actual train on the inside:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zYiF7PXzHI

 

Pretty interesting. The green car is almost pitch dark!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mEtS8jWSek

 

Here's another. There's actually 'compartments', separated by curtains, and each with a tiny window to view outside.

 

Judging from the train itself, it seems like a 'low cost' sleeper train? Wonder if it is still in operation now?

 

* Kinda like the model though, it looks big and heavy, like a strong elephant. :)

[E6系]

Hello Mr JR500,

 

Did you know that 583系 was the worlds first EMU sleeper train?  At least, that's what I was taught.

 

In 1984 I rode on 583系.  I was a school boy at the time and can't remember the detail.  My family and I travelled from Ueno, north and up the west coast.  So sorry, I cannot remember our destination, but I believe it must have had something to do with a festival and visiting relatives.  It was certainly a 13 car train.  I did not enjoy the trip.  For some reason, maybe cost, my family used the four seats and did not convert to a bed.  I was sitting the whole night and it was uncomfortable.  I remember walking around the train and feeling like it was a hospital, with lots of stainless steel and curtains.

 

I have a complete 13 car sets in Tomix and Kato.  For me, it's an attractive model from the outside.

[Davo Dentetsu]

That first video...



Nah, surely not?  :P

[JR 500系]

Nah, surely not?   :P

 

Haha! The Silent Library gang!

 

 

Hello Mr JR500,

 

Did you know that 583系 was the worlds first EMU sleeper train?  At least, that's what I was taught.

 

In 1984 I rode on 583系.  I was a school boy at the time and can't remember the detail.  My family and I travelled from Ueno, north and up the west coast.  So sorry, I cannot remember our destination, but I believe it must have had something to do with a festival and visiting relatives.  It was certainly a 13 car train.  I did not enjoy the trip.  For some reason, maybe cost, my family used the four seats and did not convert to a bed.  I was sitting the whole night and it was uncomfortable.  I remember walking around the train and feeling like it was a hospital, with lots of stainless steel and curtains.

 

I have a complete 13 car sets in Tomix and Kato.  For me, it's an attractive model from the outside.

 

Thanks E6 san! Sad to hear you have bad experience on the Kitaguni. It was no wonder the 583 was the first sleeper EMU, thought it looked pretty vintage and old, with the old-school bi-fold doors and really blocky interior and exterior. I'm considering the model, but then again, it only goes as far as Shin-Osaka and is a JR West train so... Was more in-tune with the 285 Sunrise express instead, but thought the 583 looked really muscular.

 

I reckon the 583 is retired now?

[stevenh]

Kitaguni was retired last year in January: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitaguni

I rode it in 2010: http://modelrail.otenko.com/japanese-trains/chichibu-railway-september-2010

 

If it was still running I would've recommended a lower berth... much more room and a better view!

The upper berth had this view:

 

 

 

Shin Osaka Station:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning at Niigata:

 

 

 n

Edited July 11, 2014 by stevenh

[JR 500系]

Thanks for the nice photos stevenh! Your blog looks interesting too!

 

Wow now that peep hole is really.... small. Couldn't see much through that, but anyhow it's the night so I reckon that's okay. Seems the bed is really small too.

 

Nice photo of the 583, which makes me wanna get the model more. There's just something old, classic and catchy about this train, just can't explain it...

[bikkuri bahn]

I have a similar experience to E6, I was 9 or 10 years old, pre-Tohoku Shinkansen, I took one of these trains (ltd. express Hatsukari?) on a daylight run between Ueno and Sendai. We sat in a box seat, which was actually pretty nice as we were traveling as a family.  I do remember the ceilings being high, and the rather boxy interior fittings.  My next ride was was around thirty years later, on the Kitaguni.  One journey I booked the top berth of three, just for the hell of it.  Very cramped, it required alot of contortions to get dressed in the morning- bed length, like all JNR sleepers, was fine though. The second (and final) journey I booked a first class lower berth (A shindai)- this was very nice, with a huge window to watch the moonlit scenery on the Hokuriku Main Line pass by.

 

Not only was the 583 series the world's first emu sleeper, the fact that it could be converted easily to conventional seating allowed economy of operation- where normally a sleeper train sits idle after completing its nighttime journey, the 583 could make a return revenue journey to its home depot during the day as a conventional limited express.  This was done on the Shin-Osaka/Nagoya~Kyushu route until the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen .

[E6系]

Yes Mr bikkuri bahn,

 

I agree.  The large window is very nice when sitting in the box.  But there was not much to see at night.

 

I have one other memory: foot odour.  Everyone who was using a sleeper took their shoes off.

 

But I must confirm, I have always liked 583系 from the outside.

[Guest ___]

I agree with E6 there. There's something to be said for the 583 appearance. First time I saw one was at Shin-Osaka, and I sorta snuck on for a peak, and luckily wasn't trapped on it before it left like a certain Shinkansen that I got stuck on once.

[cteno4]

Has that bulldog stance/feel. I like it.

 

Jeff

[Sacto1985]

I believe the 583's were built for long-distance limited express runs from Shin-Osaka to Hakata Stations and Ueno to Aomori in the late 1960's. That's why when originally built, a restaurant car (SaShi 581) was included in each trainset because of the long distance of these trains traveled.

[Densha]

Do the 583 series still actually run somewhere?

[JR 500系]

@ E6 san: Yes I do believe the foot odour problem does occur, and I think it will definitely spoil the night / ride. Yes I liked the 583 more I looked at it, from the outside. I can't stand by that statement for the interior though.

 

 

Not only was the 583 series the world's first emu sleeper, the fact that it could be converted easily to conventional seating allowed economy of operation- where normally a sleeper train sits idle after completing its nighttime journey, the 583 could make a return revenue journey to its home depot during the day as a conventional limited express.  This was done on the Shin-Osaka/Nagoya~Kyushu route until the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen .

 

Ah interesting! Talk about versatility! A sleeper convertible to a regular train is always welcomed ~ But with the Sanyo Shinkansen, I think the demand decreases greatly, except for true rail fans, or those that would like a night ride and end up at their destinations in the morning instead.

 

 

Do the 583 series still actually run somewhere?

 

I hoped to catch it in person too next year. I bet it'll make a great looking picture!

[200系]

 Ah the 583系, nice to have a topic about an old J.N.R. soldier again!

 

 

It was no wonder the 583 was the first sleeper EMU, thought it looked pretty vintage and old

 

It is pretty old, the first 581系 (first series, could only be used on 20Kv 60hz lines) was delivered in 1967, while production of the 583系 (1,5Kv/20kv (50/60Hz) capable) started in late 1968 and finished in early 1972 (quite a short production run for a J.N..R. era EMU). So the few formations which survived until the early 2010's reached ~40 years of service at least (though the majority have been retired/scrapped since the early/mid 2000's)

 

 

But I must confirm, I have always liked 583系 from the outside.

 

So do I, though I've always found the narrow doors and high roof to detract a bit from her appearance. especially in comparison to the post 1972 modification Limited Express EMU types (183/189系, 485系 and 381系) which used the same cab/nose, I've always thought those units looked a bit more balanced then the bulky 581/583系. But I still like the 583系 (like almost all J.N.R. EMUs from that era)

 

 

Did you know that 583系 was the worlds first EMU sleeper train?  At least, that's what I was taught.

 

Nitpicking a bit, like I usually do, it was actually the 581系 which was the first sleeper EMU in 1967. Though as the 583系 is just a further development within the same series it doesn't make much of a difference of course.

 

 

But with the Sanyo Shinkansen, I think the demand decreases greatly, except for true rail fans, or those that would like a night ride and end up at their destinations in the morning instead.

 

With the opening of the full Sanyō Shinkansen in 1975, and even more so the Tōhoku shinkansen extension to Ueno in 1985, there was an oversupply of 581/583系 cars in the early/mid 1980's.

At the same time, there was a shortage of commuter/rapid type EMUs in the Nagasaki, Sendai and Hokuriku areas. In response to this J.N.R. rebuilt 153 cars to 419系/715系 commuter formations.

The fifteen 419系 formations contained 3 cars, and retained their 1.5kv/20kv(50/60hz) capabilities. the twenty-seven 715系 formations contained 4 cars, and where only able to be used on 20kv 60hz (0番台) or 20kv50/60hz (1000番台).

 

 

 

Do the 583 series still actually run somewhere?

I hoped to catch it in person too next year. I bet it'll make a great looking picture!

 

Not in scheduled service. JR East retired their last active (reserve) formations in March 2011 (after retiring the bulk of their fleet in 2002/2003), replacing them with displaced 485系 formations. JR West retired their final 583系 formations in early January 2013.

 

JR East retains one formation (N1/N2) for charters and special trains at Akita (she occasionally ventures west to Kyōto). As far as I know this is the only 583系 formation left, and taking into account the age of the cars (the two top cars are from the first 583系 batches, delivered in October 1968, so almost 46 years old, while the between cars are from the last batch delivered in March 1972 at a still respectable 42 years old) I'm wondering how long JR East will retain this formation.

 

 

-Sander

[Sacto1985]

Too bad nobody in Japan could have saved a couple more 583 Series EMU trainsets along with the SaChi 581 restaurant cars. They could have been brought out for special occasion usage on a yearly basis.

[miyakoji]

Yeah, any preserved dining cars would be cool.  Isn't there a small cafeteria in the JR Central museum that looks like the interior of a dining car?

[katoftw]

Am I the only one that thinks they all should be junked? Yeah keep some for historical purposes, but cut up the rest.

[JR 500系]

Thanks Sander san for the information as always! Nice to see the 583, it just has a very nostalgic and unexplainable feeling each time I look at it. I didn't knew JR East had 583! I thought they were only owned by JR West since they service Osaka, but then again they also service Niigata.

 

Speaking of which shouldn't I get the model for keep stake?  :)

[cteno4]

Sander,

 

Thanks great info as always! Glad there is still one left functioning.

 

Now I know what it was lurking at the back of my head he looks like godzilla!

 

I actually like the high top, its a distinctive look and has a certain retro feel to it.

 

Jeff

[bronzeonion]

Always puts a smile on my face when I see a new video on Youtube from someone that which features that last remaining 583 Series train in it. I know it sometimes works the Aizu Liner which would be a good way for people who want to travel on it without the bother of reserved tickets, sleeper tickets, special train tickets etc as it is just a 'Rapid' service.

 

It would be great if there was some way of telling which train will be working different train services! The closest thing for the Aizu liner would be to watch the live webcam and see which type of train was working the train the day before you try and go on it. However if you like old JNR limited express stock you won't be dissapointed, if it's not a 583 series it is normally the Nikko refurbished 485 series or it's also internally refurbished 485 that retains original appearance.

 

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/ttz_shirasawa/imgs/0/b/0befd185.jpg - Original appearance 485 series on Aizu liner

 

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/ttz_shirasawa/imgs/d/3/d38c7525-s.jpg - Refurbished 'Nikko' 485 series on Aizu liner

 

http://8.pro.tok2.com/~extra-t/extra-t_archives/2008/583sen-8213m-aizuliner3_sarashina1.jpg - 583 series on the Aizu liner

[Ochanomizu]

Hello,

 

JR Train Organisation Table for Summer 2013 has 583 Kitaguna listed on p142.  I don't have a more recent copy so cannot confirm current operation.

[kvp]

According to the wikipedia page, it's last run was in 2013:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitaguni

[E6系]

Hello,

 

One 6-car consist of 583系 is still running: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qjzQ7TIB_A

 

You can also read here: http://railf.jp/news/2014/04/07/130000.html

Edited July 23, 2014 by E6系

[bikkuri bahn]

Yes, that appears to be a JR East owned six car trainset based out of the Akita Rolling Stock depot, used for charter trains and the like.  I recall that it or a similar set was once based in Sendai, or thereabouts, a few years back??

[JR 500系]

Yes, that appears to be a JR East owned six car trainset based out of the Akita Rolling Stock depot, used for charter trains and the like.  I recall that it or a similar set was once based in Sendai, or thereabouts, a few years back??

 

HHmm... it seems charter only. Is there anyway one can board a charter train? Also the same goes for the E655 and 485 series like Irodori, Yamanami, Hana, Zipangu etc. Are there ways to go about reserving and being on board one of these charter only trains?

 

Would like to see how an antique train like the 583 series looks like in person, being on board, listening to the train move, the sitting arragements etc...