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.
 C57 180 on an SL Banetsu Monogatari service in July 2015 | |
| 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 edit
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.
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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 edit
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 |
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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 | |
|---|---|
 SuRoFu 12 102, April 2013 | |
| 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 edit
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]
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Green class seating inside SuRoFu 12 102, April 2013
History edit
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 edit
References edit
- ^ a b c JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. p. 504. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
- ^ 「ＳＬばんえつ物語」にグリーン車新登場！ [New Green car to be introduced on "SL Banetsu Monogatari"] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company Niigata Branch. 24 January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ a b c ""SLばんえつ物語"用グリーン車 スロフ12 102" [SL Banetsu Monogatari Green car SuRoFu 12 102]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 53, no. 626. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2013. pp. 54–55.
- ^ a b JR全車輛ハンドブック2001 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2001]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2001. p. 441. ISBN 4-87366-723-2.
- ^ ""SLばんえつ物語"号，2013年の運転開始" [SL Banetsu Monogatari 2013 operations start]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ 楽しい列車の旅を提供します！ [Offering fun train journeys!] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company Niigata Division. 24 January 2014. pp. 5–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
External links edit
- SL Banetsu Monogatari (JR East) (in English)
- SLばんえつ物語 (JR East – Niigata Branch) (in Japanese)