Claude's Japanese Adventure - September 2019

[Claude_Dreyfus]

Earlier in the month, Mrs Dreyfus and I paid another visit to Japan - mainly to see the Sumo, but also to pay a visit to Hiroshima. We also made use of the Japan rail passes; which are highly recommenced for any visit to Japan. I managed to grab a few pictures whilst out and about, some of which are below.

 

E651 - Omiya by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. 651 series on a north-bound service at Omiya.

 

E233 - Torro Station by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Just north of Omiya is Torro station...stopping off point for the bonsai village. Which was a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

 

Tobu line train by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. A Tobu line train crosses the Sumida river heading into Asakusa station.

 

Sobu Line E231 crossing the Sumida Rover by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Further down river, a Sobu line E231 crosses near to the Ryōgoku Kokugikan - the sumo stadium, which we were en route to for a day's entertainment!

 

E353 approaching Tokyo by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. One of the newly introduced E353 sets approach Tokyo station.

 

N700 set at Yokohama by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. We had a quick trip down to Yokohama on the Shinkansen, to visit the Ramen museum. This part is pretty much exclusively in the hands of N700s now, although some of the earlier 700s are still running.

 

http://E235 - Shinagawa by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. A busy scene at Shinagawa, with one of the new E235 Yamanote line units.

 

E259 - Narita Express set - passes Shibuya by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. E259 Narita Express set passes Shibuya station.

 

E233 - Harujuku station by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. A Saikyo line E233 set passes Harujuku.

 

Yamenote Line E231-500 Ueno by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. The E231-500 has been the stalwart of the Yamanote line for nearly 20 years; however newer E235 units are now replacing them, and they are being moved elsewhere on the Tokyo metro network.

 

N700 and 700 series Shinkansen - Tokyo by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Old and new on the Tokaido Shinkansen, an N700 and 700 series at Tokyo station.

 

Our Steed to Osaka - N700 by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. We then left Tokyo for Osaka and Hiroshima aboard this N700 set.

 

DD51 and EF81 (Twilight Express livery) - Osaka by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. A little bit of interest at Osaka - a DD51 and EF81 in Twilight Express livery, taken from the window of a Bullet.

[Claude_Dreyfus]

Part two is around the Hiroshima and Osaka areas:

 

EF210-8 at Myajimaguchi by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Myajimaguchi is the ferry for the Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate. Beautiful in the photos, beneath a load of scaffolding in reality! Still, I had an EF210 to cheer me up a bit on the way back to Hiroshima.

 

E227 Myanjimaguchi by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Local services in Hiroshima are now almost exclusively in the hands of the E227 units.

 

KiHa47 - Hiroshima by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Yet despite the wholesale rolling stock renewals, some older stuff is still running around. These KiHa47 are still in service, but for how long I wonder?

 

500 Series Shinkansen - Mihara by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Once the jewel in the crown of Japanese railways, the series 500 Shinkansen is now relegated to local services on the JR West Network.

 

210-314 at Mihara by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. The Sanyo main line is known for its fearsome gradients, steep enough to warrant a fleet of banking locomotives. These too are being replaced, the older EF67s making way for the new EF210-300 bankers. Interestingly, EF210-314 is the train engine passing through Mihara, as opposed to just being a banker.

 

115 - Mihara by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr

 

117 - Mihara by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr

I rather like the Setouchi area livery - it suits both the 115 and 117 units seen here.

 

E227 and 115 - Mihara by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Old and new at Mihara

 

EF210-136 at Mihara by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Another EF210-hauled container train heads west.

 

Hikari Railstar 700 series - Mihara by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Hikari Railstar series 700

 

DMUs by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. A collection of KiHa units

 

http://Series 500 by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. One of the iconic 500 bullets has fallen foul of the Hello Kitty craze. It is very pink...

 

E281 - Haruka by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr . The evil kitten seems to have infected some of the 281 Haruka units as well...

 

Nankai Rapit by Claude_Dreyfus, on Flickr. Fortunately it hasn't spread to the Nankai Rapit sets. that would be a travesty!

Edited September 29, 2019 by Claude_Dreyfus

[Earwicker]

Wonderful pics. My wife and I have been three times now, and still want to get back soon. These pictures don't help!

[JohnDMJ]

You sure that's not a Kato layout photographed from a suitable angle?

 

[Claude_Dreyfus]

On 03/10/2019 at 21:32, Earwicker said:

Wonderful pics. My wife and I have been three times now, and still want to get back soon. These pictures don't help!

Thanks. That is always the issue when looking at picture of J-trains... I've only been back a couple of weeks and I already want to go back!

[Claude_Dreyfus]

5 hours ago, JohnDMJ said:

You sure that's not a Kato layout photographed from a suitable angle?

 

Would be a cracking layout, that's for sure...