8th April, 2006

We took Cathay Pacific Flight CX506 in HK International Aiport in the morning. The flight was a B777-300. After 4 hour's time, we arrived Kansai Aiport in Osaka. We took the rubber-wheeled train back to the Custom Building, which was operated automatically like the one in HKIA.

After the Custom's check, we proceed to the railway station. We took the JR trains to the town. As a normal rail fans did, we were excited and took photos of 223 series and 281 series on the platform immediately.

The Kansai Airport was built on a reclaimed land. We had to cross a huge iron bridge to go back to town. On the way, everyone was excited. I took some photos of the advertisments inside the train compartment. There were toilet and LCD to display the next train stop. Tickets only showed the departure station and the fare paid. The destination station was not shown. In case the fare was not enough, passengers has to go to the automatic vending machines to re-issue a ticket with extra fare. I also took photos of 221 series and a special park.

We got of at Bentencho Station (弁天町) and unloaded our lugguages at Mr. Morita's mother's restaurant. There was a freight line outside, which was abandoned a few years ago.

At around 4 pm, we took the underground to wander around the city. The map of the underground was a bit complicated. However, every line and train had its specific colour and every station had a unite number. So it was not easy to get lost. (I thought HK should learn from this). We took the 20 Series Train in the Central Line (Green Line) from Bentencho toCosmosquare and took the New Tram (Blue Line) to Suminoe-Park(住之江公園). The New Tram used rubber tyre and powered from the third track. They used the same signalling system (ATC) as KCR. At the points, there were some guiding rails at the side to select the directions. At the terminus we took the 23 Series Train of the Yotsubashi Line (Blue Line) to Daikoku-ch(大國町) and changed to the Red Line (御堂筋線) to Tennouji (天王寺). Then we took Honkai Tram (阪界有軌電車),passed through busy streets and ballasted tracks and arrived Sumiyoshi(住吉). Finally, we changed another tram to the terminus at Ebisu-chou(惠美須町).

We went to Model Railway Shops at Nipponbashi Denden Town (日本橋). These shops were much greater than those at HK and as high as five storeys. One or two of the storeys were selling railway models. We took the Light Green Line Maglev Underground (磁浮地鐵). Train were not motored but at the bottom of the bogies would interact with the electromagnets at the centre of the track. In other words, the train used linear motors like the Maglev. Principles about these trains could be found at the Modern Transportation Museum at Bentencho. We went back to Taisho(大正).

At night, we went to the restaurant of Mr. Morita's mother for dinner. They served local Japanese foods. We accomodated at Mr. Morita's home and slept on the ground (tatami). Because of the time lag, everyone was tired.

We took group photo in the living room. Then we left Mr. Morita's home and took a train to Osaka Station. A female attendant drove the train. Before arriving Osaka, we saw an EF65 electric locomotive hauling Express Sleepers behind. Many Japanese rail fans were taking photos of this train at the platform. We had our cheap ¥350 breakfast at a famous noodle shop in Platform 1. The quality was good. Then we hurried to go to other platforms and of course the HOT7000 Series DMU, 103 Series (slow trains for Osaka Circle Line), kiha85 series DMU, 485 series (Thunderbird), 221 series could not escape from our cameras. We took a 221 Series train to Kyoto afterwards.

The 221 Series train had a maximum speed of 130km/h and spent only 45 minutes to Kyoto Station. After getting off the train, we took photos of 115 Series, 381 Series (running for Kyoto-Shingu (新宮) Express), Kiha65 Series, 183 Series, 681 Series (Maximum speed 220 km/h, practically used speed 160 km/h meter gauge EMU.)

Kyoto Station was very modern. After getting out of the station, we turned left, passed by a Temple for keeping dolls of Japanese ancestors and arrived at Umekoji Steam Locomotives Museum (梅小路蒸汽機車博物館) after about 20 minutes walk.

Inside the museum various types of model railways were displayed. Some model steam engines were precisely made. Outside the museum there was an old coach. Visitors could take a rest and had line on board. There was a fan-shape engine shed for storing various steam engines (eg. D52). Outside the shed, the largest steam engine C62 was resting behind the turn-table. A depot was located opposite to the shed and was reponsible for the maintainence work of the existing rolling stocks. A mailing coach, DE10 diesel loco, C62 with two classic coaches and EF66 electric loco were seen at the depot. We got on a steam-hauled train at 11 am. with a fare of ¥200. The route was a return trip on a 400m blind-ended track beside Umekoji Park . We had a Japanese lunchbox (Left: ¥600, Right: ¥850) at noon. Then we got on a classic tram(¥150). The tram ran a distance of about 200m. So it was a bit expensive. We also found some 1+1 bogie type freight coaches at the freight yard behind the park.

We went back to Kyoto Station in the afternoon. Firstly we went to the platform of Kinki-Tetsudo (近畿鐵路) to take photos of standard gauge trains. (30000 Series and XXX Series). Then we went to the platform of Shinkansen to take photos of 300 Series and 700 Series trains. We took a 700 Series train to Shin Osaka. The 15 minutes trip was quite expensive as it costed ¥1380. At Shin Osaka we took photos of 500 Series and the rarely seen 0 Series train. After that we took the air-bus to Osaka Airport. We watched domestic flights of ANA (B767, Propeller-type planes). We also went to the end of the runway to feel the atmosphere of air-fans. Then we took the monorail to Hotarugaike (螢池) and changed to standard gauged Hankyu Line (阪急電鐵) to Umeda(梅田). We took photos of other Hankyu trains at the station. (Fig.1, Fig.2). At night, we shopped at railway book shops and found some information about the trip of the next two days. Finally, we went to Osaka Station to took photos of "Ginga" (銀河) sleeper express which was hauled by EF65 locomotive. The train included Sleeper type A, Sleeper type B and a generator coach.

10th Apr, 2006

Today's route map
(Green line)

We set off early in the morning to Kyoto. Then we changed to a 115 Series slow train to Umahori (馬堀站). The whole trip took 1.5 hours. After getting off the train, we walked 10 minutes to the terminus of Sagano Tourist Railway (嵯峨野觀光鐵道)-- Kameoka (龜岡舊站). This was the old line of Sanin Line (山陰本線). After electrification, the railway company reserved the line for tourists. I think China should also preserve her old Jingguang Line like this. Opposite to the old station was the new electrified Sanin Line. A single trip of the tourist train took 25 minutes and costed ¥600. A DE10 diesel locomotive hauled 5 coaches. Coach no. 5 (just behind the loco.) was an open-type coach while coaches 2 to 4 were closed-type coaches. Only reserved-seat tickets were sold in these coaches.

When the train arrived, passengers crowded into the train. The scene was beautiful. The train passed through a narrow valley with a lot of bridges and tunnels. Bridges of the new Sanin Line met us a few times. Only two stations, Hodukyou (保津峽) and Arashiyama (嵐山), were stopped. The train stopped at some special landscape such as iron bridges so that passengers could take photos more closely. We arrived at the terminus Saga (嵯峨). I took photos with DE10 immediately. Then we went to the station to watch the railway models and the four steam locomotives.

In the afternoon, we went to Sagaarashiyama-eki (嵯峨嵐山站) which is the new Saga Station. We took a train to Kyoto, via Kusatsu (草津), and finally arrived at Kibugawa (貴生川). We changed to Shigaraki kougen Tetsudo (信樂高原鐵道) at the opposite platform. It was a private railway with only one or two diesel rail-bus operating the whole line. The line passed through a long slope of 3% and entered villages. Many villagers and travelled by this line everyday. There were a lot of small stations. We arrived Shigaraki (信樂) finally. This village earned money mainly by tourism and was famous for poetry. Because the lunch there was expensive, we bought our lunch at 7-eleven and then returned to Kibukawa.

At Kibukawa we took a train to Tsuge(拓殖) and traveled through Kansai-honsen (關西本線) to Kidu(木津). This was a mountain railway operating with 120 Series rail-bus. The line passed through a lot of bridges and tunnels. The section before arriving Kidu(木津) was built beside a river. The landscape was wonderful.

At Kidu(木津) we changed another JR train to Nara(奈良). Then we change another train (105 series) which ran through Sakurai(櫻井線) to Takada(高田). In the past, the king went to temples through this line frequently. We saw a lot of temples all the way. There were not many passengers. So many small stations were not selling tickets. The train driver sold tickets by a vending machine behind the driving cabinet. At Takada(高田) we took JR's 103 Series train back to Osaka.

We arrived Osaka at night. We shopped at model railway shops at Nipponbashi Denden Town (日本橋), eating snacks, (balls made from squids) and finally went to Mr. Morita's mother's restaurant for dinner. (Eating sashimi)

11th Apr, 2006

Today's route map
(Green line)

We traveled by private railways for the whole day. We got up early at 6 am, hoping that we can take photos of the two Express sleeper trains at Osaka Station. However, both trains arrived late. So we took photos of EMU (such as 207 series). The first sleeper train finally arrived at 8:45. It was the "Nihonkai (日本海)" hauled by EF81. Not long later, another train hauled by a red livery EF65 arrived. We were not disappointed at last. After having breafast, we went to Namba Station (難波車站) and took the Nankai Kouya Line (南海高野線) trains to Gokurakubashi (極樂橋). Before the train departed, we took photos of the Nankai EMU (Fig.3, Fig.4). Then we got on the Express train heading for Gokurakubashi. The train consisted of 8 coaches, with the first 4 terminating at Gokurakubashi. They belonged to the 30000 series and all seats were reserved. Because the minimum radius of curvature was only 100m, each coach had only 17m in length. The second half consisted of 4 coaches terminated at Hashimoto (橋本). They were the 11000 series with a length of 20m for each coach.

It only took 80 minutes to reach Gokurakubashi. At Hashimoto the second half of train decoupled. The first 4 coaches continued their trip to Gokurakubashi. The maximum slope from Hashimoto to Gokurakubashi was 5%. There were many bridges and tunnels. The speed was restricted to 35km/h because of the small radius of curvature. The line passed through valleys and villages. Finally, we arrived Gokurakubashi (極樂橋). This station had cable cars to climb up slopes as high as 50%. Gokurakubashi was a place for Buddhism. We walked through the Front Door and found a lot of Buddhist temples on the whole hilltop. Another side of the hill had a lot of graves. Many graves were special such as a grave with a rocket for an aviation company and brass statues for Honda. After this we took EMU (length 17m for each coach) back to Hashimoto. At Hashimoto the train immediately coupled with another half of train (length 20m for each coach). The wind pipes were inside the coupler and were connected automatically. So the whole coupling process took only 10 seconds. We have no time to get off and take DV.

We had lunch at a cafe at the riverside of Hashimoto. The scene outside was good. We had a good view of the railway bridge and trains running beside farmland. We took a JR train to Yoshinoguchi (吉野口) and changed to another train in Yoshino Line (吉野線). Nearly 70% of Kinki Line (近畿鐵路) used standard gauge but this line used meter gauge. Because this line had a single track only, the train had to stop at many stations to give ways to the trains ahead. We saw express trains 22000 series operating here. The train passed through mountainous tracks and finally arrived Yoshino. This village was famous for sakura. After taking photos of the 26000 series express trains at the station, we took the cable car. The whole area was full of sakura. I used my digital camera to take a close-up. At around 6 pm we got off the hill for shopping. We took express train back to Osaka at night. Although we had to change train for 3 times, a single ticket showed the three trains with reserved seats. China should learn more from this!

At night we went to the Osaka Station to take photos of Nihonkai (日本海) sleeper train which was hauled by EF81. We went back to Mr. Morita's mother's restaurant. We had sashimi again.

Today's trip was less tight. We went to Modern Transportation Museum in the morning. This museum consisted of 10 domains, mainly explaning the science behind railway. There were principle of maglev train, driving cabinet of 0 series Shinkansen, EF52-1, steam locomotive, various models, demonstration of hydralic transmission system of diesel engines, principles of pantographs, principles of 3-way valves, demonstration of interlocking systems, various types of signals, demonstration of relays in traction, overhead wire, track maintainence tools, auto-blocking system, model railway show with demonstrator's control panel. Outside the museum there were classic trains such as DD13, DD54, DF10, C62, KUROSHIO express, steam locomotives, 20 Series no. 24 dinning coach, classic EMU and mercury rectifier.

We went to Akindo-sushiro to have sushi as lunch. Each plate was as cheap as ¥105 (HK$ 7). In the afternoon, we went to Namba(難波) to take the strange looked Rapid to the airport. This train was comfortable. Telephone, automatic vending machines were installed on board. The only problem was that the Gent's toilet was a little bit open.

At the airport we shopped to spend the remaining Yen. We took Cathay's 747-400 back to HK and finished our journey.