Bye-Bye! 20 series Blue Train in Japan
JR West announced that, the last remained 8 cars of "20 series" fixed passenger train set will be abolished completely on Nov. 29, 1997. 20 series have already retired from scheduled trains on 1986.
JR Tokai or Central Japan Railway Company plans to abolish "0 series" as the first generation of Shinkansen (or New Trunk Line) train before A.D.2000. So, also "100 series" including double deck dining cars will be disapeared before A.D.2009.
The UP capacity crunch has reached Iowa. On 11/8/97 evening, the UP parked a loaded auto rack train on the number 2 main track (south track) just north of ISU due to a lack of crew. An extreemly busy 2 track main line hosting 60 to 70 trains a day was temperaroly reduced to single track. A friend of mine has just informed me that two other trains were parked on the number 2 track, one east of the power plant in downtown Ames, and the other at the new high speed crossover site of Jackson (about 3 miles west of Minnesota Ave.) These two other trains were also lacking a crew. Last I heard, a crew was trying to bring all 3 trains into Boone Yard. Maybe UP will think twice about the plan to close Boone Yard! My friend overheard the dispatcher saying that the trains are being moved this evening.
The Ooigawa Railway in Japan added one steam locomotive on his daily steam train service. This SL is type C10 and numbered 8, so called C108. This engine went to Ooigawa Railway for a long time. They rebuilt it and let it run on Ooigawa Mainline. The first run of C108 on Ooigawa Railway was on 14th Oct,1997. That day is Japan Railway Memorial Day. C108 and C11 ran a special train.
According to my list there are 1457 steam locomotives surviving in the UK, Northern Ireland excluded. Of these 131 are recorded as in working order. There are many hundreds of loco's that have no status listed. Many of these are small industrial engines and their status is not as widely published. I am sure that the total in working order exceeds 200 and probably more like 400+. My list covers all steam locomotives of 1ft 3inches and over. There are also 3 included in the list (and the above total) that are brand new and not yet complete. One is a standard gauge pacific of a type that were all cut up. The other 2 are 1ft 11^}in for the Ffestiniog railway in Wales. These are due for completion 1999 & 2000. Total for standard gauge is 768, with 56 working. But the above applies and also some I don't have the gauge of so there are probably more of the total taht are standard gauge. Some of the above are, of course, main line locomotives and are still working excursion trains. There are many loco's being restored in the UK and it is impossible to keep track of all the work, especially from the smaller preservation groups.
Ta-Cha River bridge in Taiwan Yama line( or you can say mountain line) was retired on 9th Oct,1997. Now, TRA want to build a new line to replace the old line opened in 1908. We wish TRA or local organizations can preserve this line, but it seems too difficult.
TRA(Taiwan Railway Administration) will preserved #1 steam loco in their museum in the future. Now, this locomotive is in Taipei new park( or you can say 228 park) TRA want to repair it and let it run in the museum. The new museum will be located in Yen-ping N RD( The old TRA headquarter) I wish this dream can come true. However, don't forget TRA is working on another steam loco CK101. Did they want to give up this one?
UP has canceled all excursions planned this year They have a massive capacity problem. Their Main Lines are full, and they are falling behind when it comes to service. This may mean a new life for Tennesse Pass!!
Ichibata Electric Railway
4 of 6 old cars of ICHIBATA Electric Railway, SHIMANE Pref.,
will be replaced on early 1998.
Remined 2 old cars have hand-operated doors.
Usually, they are applied for special services.
JR EF62
3 of 4 remained live EF 62s expirated of the inspection term.
We can make no guess about their conduct.
The another (ruin of) EF 62 at TAKASAKI locomotive shed.
JR East announced that
some EF 63s will be preserved tentatively.
Though, already there is no sphere of their activity.
JR 583
87 cars of ex-JNR livery 583 series are stationed at AOMORI. Often they run between AOMORI to MORIOKA. Some of them sometimes show their faces at TOKYO region as group only trains. It's difficult to forecast their schedules. Press release will be at 22nd. of every month. (485 series should left over...and then?) (Also JR West have strange colored 583.)
75 coaches of ex-JNR colored 181 series diesel railcars are still well in JR West area. They work on TOTTORI and SHIMANE region mainly. From Nov.29th, the new Ltd.exp.trains of 181s will drive away ordinary exp. "Sakyu" between OKAYAMA to TOTTORI.
NSE will be disappeared on March 1999, except one train. The left train is painted as 70th anniversary special (or strange) coloring. Very few people love it. It may be the oldest charged limited express train in Japan?
Taiwan HSR will use Europe system. Power system is push-pull by German ICE, and passenger car is French TGV. That combination is a little strange. I'm disappointed about this consequence. I think that EMU train is more suitable then push-pull. If new HSR use ICE-3(EMU), I think the will be better.