The Banetsu Monogatari (ばんえつ物語, Ban'etsu Monogatari) is a locomotive-hauled set of "Joyful Train" railway coaches operated in Japan by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), normally between Niigata and Aizu-Wakamatsu.
Overview | |
---|---|
Service type | Joyful Train |
Status | Operational |
Locale | Japan |
First service | 29 April 1999 |
Current operator(s) | JR East |
Route | |
Termini | Niigata Aizu-Wakamatsu |
On-board services | |
Class(es) | Standard + Green |
Seating arrangements | 2+2 (standard), 2+1 (Green) |
Observation facilities | Cars 1 and 7 |
Technical | |
Rolling stock | 12 series coaches |
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
Operations
The Banetsu Monogatari trainset is normally used on SL Banetsu Monogatari excursion services between Niigata and Aizu-Wakamatsu, hauled by the JNR Class C57 steam locomotive C57 180. It is also occasionally used on other excursion services.
- JR East class C57 steam locomotive C57 180 on an SL Banetsu Monogatari working (original livery before refurbishment)
- An SL Banetsu Monogatari service, hauled by C57 180, September 2009
- The Banetsu Monogatari trainset hauled by a DD53 diesel locomotive as a special DD53 Banetsu Monogatari service in November 2006
- C57 180 at the head of a reduced-length 4-car SL Banetsu Monogatari service
Formation
The dedicated trainset consists of seven 12 series passenger coaches converted from regular day coaches.[1] Car number SuRoFu 12 102 is a Green (first class) observation car converted in 2013 from the former SuHaFu 12 102 standard-class seating car. It has 2+1 unidirectional seating and an observation space at the end of the car, and is finished in a new maroon and black livery.[2]
Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Numbering | SuHaFu 12 101 | OHa 12 313 | OHa 12 314 | OHa 12 1701 | OHa 12 316 | OHa 12 315 | SuRoFu 12 102 |
Facilities | Observation car, children's play area, WC | WC | WC | Lounge | Sales counter, WC | WC | Green observation car, WC |
- The Banetsu Monogatari trainset with SuHaFu 12 101 (car 1) observation car and children's saloon nearest the camera, April 2014
- OHa 12 314 (car 3), April 2014
- OHa 12 1701 (car 4), April 2014
- Interior of lounge car OHa 12 1701, October 2012
- Interior of OHa 12 313, April 2013
SuRoFu 12 102 | |
---|---|
In service | 1999– |
Refurbished | 2013 |
Capacity | 30 |
Operators | JR East |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Steel |
Car length | 21,300 mm (69 ft 11 in) |
Width | 2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in) |
Height | 4,079 mm (13 ft 4.6 in) |
Weight | 36.6 t |
Power supply | DM82 generator |
Bogies | TR217D |
Braking system(s) | Air brakes, hand brake |
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
SuRoFu 12 102
The "Green" (first class) observation car SuRoFu 12 102 was rebuilt in 2013 from the original standard class car SuHaFu 12 102.[3] The car was rebuilt with new 2+1 reclining seating with a seating pitch of 1,150 mm (45 in), and observation area at the end of the car, and finished in a new livery of black and sienna.[3] The train end of the car includes a conductor's office and general-purpose room.[3]
- Green class seating inside SuRoFu 12 102, April 2013
History
The Banetsu Monogatari trainset entered service on 29 April 1999, originally painted in a livery of chocolate and cream.[4]
In late 2000, a lounge car with observation windows, OHa 12 1701, converted from SuHaFu 12 160, was inserted into the train, extending it to seven cars.[4]
In 2007, the set was refurbished and repainted in a new blue and cream livery intended to evoke the colour scheme of the Orient Express.[1] A sales counter was also added in car OHa 12 315 at the same time.[1]
From 6 April 2013, SL Banetsu Monogatari services resumed with a new Green (first class) observation car, SuRoFu 12 102, as car 7, modified from the former SuHaFu 12 102.[5]
In 2014, the SL Banetsu Monogatari train set was refurbished, with all cars repainted in the same black and sienna livery as the "Green" car SuRoFu 12 102. Car 1 was rebuilt with observation end windows, and the main saloon area became a children's play area called the "Stoat Room" (オコジョルーム, Okojo Rūmu). The rebuilt train returned to service from 5 April 2014.[6]
See also
References
External links
- SL Banetsu Monogatari (JR East) (in English)
- SLばんえつ物語 (JR East – Niigata Branch) (in Japanese)