Japan Railways    by Chih-Wen Jason Hung

        Although I am a railfan from Taiwan, I still like Japan Railways very much. Part of reason is Taiwan Railway was almost established in Japan era before WWII .Those trains just look like the brother of our Taiwan trains. Therefore, I think the reason I like Japan Railway is somewhat as Japan railfans like Taiwan Railway. I have been Japan many times. My first trip to Japan is in 1975 when I was just 5 years old. I still remember I took Yamanote line's green 101/103 class EC at that time. It is a very good memory for me. Actually, I began to like almost all JNR trains later. I always dream those JNR trains such as 485 class, 583 class can run into Taipei station someday. I remember I have had a dream which shows the 485 class EC ran through Chinese St in downtown Taipei when I was in elementary school. I like JNR trains very much, but not too interested in trains after JR established. Therefore, I went to Japan many times these years, because I know those trains will be gone very soon. I always buy Japan Rail Pass for travel. Every time I will ride the trains as many as I can. My friend tell me, if JR know how I use their JR Pass, they won't let me buy it again. For example, 2 weeks railpass is about 45000 Yen, but I ride the total $ of trains up to 200000 Yen. I can travel from the most south station to the north end station in 4 days.

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Steam in Japan

      Do you know this Japanese Railway Song: Kiteki issei Shimbashi Oo, Haya waga Kisha wa hanaretari ....... ? The Japan Railway was started in 1872 from Yokohama to Shimbashi(Tokyo). Although this total 29km rail was opened in 1872, but since Aug 1871, there were trains running between Yokohama and Kawasaki. On Oct 14th 1872, the Yokohama - Shimbasho railway was opened, and Japanese chosed this day as Railway Memorial Day. The following left photo is a very early steam in Japan which was preserved on very good condision in Majimura, Nagoya.
 
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       As you know, there are many steam locomotives preserved in running condition and run the special trains in many places. The Oigawa Railway must be the heaven of running steams. There are two C11s, one C56, one C10 running on Oigawa mainline(There is a C12 runs there sometimes which belongs to National Trust). Otherwise, the steam locomotive museum in Kyoto is another good place. That's a preserved roundhouse which opened in Japan railway 100 Anniversary year. Most of time, you can see one steam perform 3 times a day. The actor might be D51200, C612 or C622...

     I think D51 must be the most wellknown Japanese SL in the world. There were 1115 D51s produced. The photo I show you above right is D51498. To re-build this D51498 is caused by an Orient Express Event. It became the locomotive of these Orient Express coaches. After that, it is owned by JR East and run in many special evets. Most of its event are started from Takasaki where is the place I took above right B/W photo.

Classic EC in Japan

 
 
       Although many railfans are crazy for Japan Shinkansen, I prefer classic EC more than those new high-tech trains. The trains I show you above are Kumoha12. It ran in Tsurumi line in Tokyo bay area until Mar 1996. The right photo is in a branch line near Toshiba Factory, and the left photo is the last day regular service of Kumoha12 in this line. Although it was rainy that day, you still can see a lot of railfans went there, and crazy for it.

Japanese Diesel Car
 
 

      I am a big DC fan. I like those DC especially with BUS WINDOW. The left photo  is the preserved DC Kiha 11 in Japan made by Tokyu and the right one is Kiha181, one of my favorite Diesel limited express cars in Japan.

      Welcome to visit my  Japanese Diesel Car page

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