Banetsu Monogatari
| Banetsu Monogatari | |
|---|---|
 C57 180 hauling an SL Banetsu Monogatari service, June 2012 | |
| Overview | |
| Service type | Joyful Train |
| Locale | Japan |
| First service | 29 April 1999 |
| Current operator(s) | JR East |
| Route | |
| Start | Niigata |
| End | Aizu-Wakamatsu |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | Standard + Green |
| Seating arrangements | 2+2 (standard), 2+1 (Green) |
| Observation facilities | Car 7 |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | 12 series passenger cars |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
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.
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.
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An SL Banetsu Monogatari service, hauled by C57 180, September 2009
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The Banetsu Monogatari trainset hauled by a DD53 diesel locomotive as a special DD53 Banetsu Monogatari service in November 2006
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 | WC | WC | WC | Lounge | Sales counter, WC | WC | Green observation car, WC |
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Lounge car OHa 12 1701 with a Tohoku promotional sticker, July 2011
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Interior of lounge car OHa 12 1701, October 2012
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Interior of OHa 12 313, April 2013
| SuRoFu 12 102 | |
|---|---|
 SuRoFu 12 102, April 2013 | |
| In service | 1999– |
| Refurbishment | 2013 |
| Capacity | 30 |
| Operator | 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]
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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]
Future developments
In 2014, the SL Banetsu Monogatari train set is scheduled to be refurbished, with all cars repainted in the same black and sienna livery as the "Green" car SuRoFu 12 102. Car 1 will rebuilt with observation end windows, and the main saloon area will become a children's play area called the "Stoat Room" (オクジョルーム Okujo Rūm). The rebuilt train will return to service from 5 April 2014.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 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. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 ""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) (Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd.) 53 (626): p.54–55. June 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 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. p. 5-6. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Banetsu Monogatari. |
- SL Banetsu Monogatari (JR East)
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