Are you guys ready for a trip to SCMaglev and Railway park of Nagoya Japan?
Each picture and video below is clickable to open them in an enlarged format to better viewing.
The reason , why I accepted to come here for a Taskforce work even though food was a challenge for me. The Headquarters of JRððŒ
Each picture and video below is clickable to open them in an enlarged format to better viewing.
The reason , why I accepted to come here for a Taskforce work even though food was a challenge for me. The Headquarters of JRððŒ
JR runs across all regions of Japan and Shinkansen being their world famous product.Meitetsu is a company which operates trains in the Aiche Prefecture( Region) and all commuter lines in Nagoya are run by them.
I had read about the SCMaglev and Railway Park as a part of my pre-work before I decided to say yes to this project. Its the National Railway Museum of Japan.To reach this one needs to take a small 20 km section called Aonami Line with around 11 stations to Kunji-foto from Nagoya. Aonami is another private operator in Nagoya and the line is 80% elevated and 20 % on ground level. This is a typical run of 24 min for a good 20 km distance. Surroundings are similar to Harbour Line of Mumbai with logistic parks, godowns and factories on both sides. We can see the docks approaching close to the line too. Last station is Kunji-foto, a fare of Yen 350 one way for adult. Walk able from there is the LegoLand Japan and the SCMaglev And Railway park
A typical Japanese Commuter ticket and receipt.(From Nagoya to Kunji-foto)
Nagoya Station is as crowded as any Indian station but there seems to discipline and direction for everyone.
Dont assume this to be the Bandra-Worli Sealink of Mumbai. Aonami line can be seen on left and The Railway park is on my right.
Steam with a record of 129km in those days, the fastest in Japan
300x series the 3rd Generation of shinkansen after the 0 and 100 series.
Thats the MLX01-1 the Maglev which clocked 1000kmph during trials.
Entry fee is Yen 1000 but its worth that absolutely.You are allowed to board each and every type and experience it hands on.
Side profile of the Maglev
Notice the small wheels on side. This is resting against the wall.
Whoever says train driving is easy, should have a look at the yesteryear steam locos. So many levers and controls.Hats off to the ones who piloted them.
Different shapes and generations of Shinkansen over the generations. Testing through wind tunnels is shown via graphics.
The concept of electricity being supplied to the trains is explained in a lucid manner.
Sleepers used for the tracks and its weight age is depicted for the common man to understand the finer nuances.
A closer look at the Pandrol clips used to secure the rails on the sleepers.
A cross-section of the sleepers is shown above. Steel wires are used in these sleepers to provide strength for the sleepers.
If you have still not traveled on the Shinkansen, you can make yourself comfortable in the dummy simulation setup to get the feel of comfort afforded in the Bullet Train.
The pantographs used in most commuter trains of Japan.
Thats the pantographs used on the shinkansen trains to draw current from the over head wires.
The Catenary or the Over Head Equipments are explained in detail for even the layman to understand the working principles.
When I was young, I had often wondered, how the wires are held in place without disturbing the pantographs while the train is going at high speeds. Here lies the answer to my query.
This place has many principles explained to young kids in a Do It Yourself styled games. Children are provided with varied types of wheels to roll up for themselves and understand what type of wheels are conducive for a railway track. They are also provided building blocks to try and build a tunnel, a truss bridge with their own hands and test its strength.
A panoramic view of the Railcars used by Japan over the generations. The most advanced from left to the oldest on the right.
This one is special. He is called Dr Yellow. This is modeled to work on the Shinkansen line not as a passenger train but as a doctor to investigate the tracks and elctrical equipments overhead. Beauty of this is that unlike other track and maintenance equipment which are rather slow on the tracks, Dr Yellow can run at 210 kmph and still gather all the information. Thus ensuring that the maintenance and fault detection time on a busy Shinkansen track is minimal and optimal.
One of the older generation Shinkansen.
Three generations of the beautiful Shinkansens posing up for me.
Now, let me take you on Double Decker Shinkansen ride. The coach is designed with a 3 X 2 seating on the upper deck and lower deck is the kitchen.
This one isn't going for a war. This type of carriage is used to measure the clearance of the train around itself. Anything coming close by is measured and then attended to.
This is not a Prison Car. Its an old Diesel Car. Exteriors may look intimidating but the interior is much nicer. Have a look.
Let me introduce you to the earliest electric beauties churned out by Japan.
These Diamond Pantographs have disappeared from India. Here is an old Electric Locomotive from JR with both pantographs raised.
A panoramic view of the Electric Locomotives of Japan from the latest to the oldest (Left to Right)
This one is for the kids to understand the nose design of the Shinkansens over the years. A wind tunnel graphic is played alongside to explain the effect of drag and air resistance to the trains at high speeds and why a particular design is chosen.
This museum has so many things for kids in a DIY style that every kid will find it interesting. Above is the picture of tracks and loops to be designed by kids as per their liking. They can test run the small locomotive over the tracks they designed. I am sure, it must be exciting to be a kid in Japan. You are taught so many things hands on.
There is a Shinkansen Simulator in-house. You can vouch to drive it by waiting for a lottery which is held every 30min. If you are lucky, you can drive it for 15 minutes.
Now we enter the SCMaglev section:Super Conducting Magnetic Levitation in which trains travel faster than the bullet trains. The varied attempts of modelling Maglev trains in Japan are shown in the pictures below.
The final outcome was this master piece whose nose is 15 meter long just to reduce the air resistance and drag
If you want to test yourself how the train levitates, then the below experience is for you. You need to move the lever as fast as possible and that will slowly lift the model inside the glass and make it levitated. You would also see the speed on the digital display.
If you would like to learn more about the Magnetic levitation technology then I would recommend you to visit the following website.
The Nagoya Station Area Diorama is supposed to be one of the largest in this part of the world. Here are a few glimpses of the same.
If you want to test yourself how the train levitates, then the below experience is for you. You need to move the lever as fast as possible and that will slowly lift the model inside the glass and make it levitated. You would also see the speed on the digital display.
Below is a typical commuter train ticket vending machine. You can choose between Japanese and English.
The Nagoya Station Area Diorama is supposed to be one of the largest in this part of the world. Here are a few glimpses of the same.
That is all from my side this time. I hope you enjoyed the virtual trip and if you ever get a chance to visit Nagoya, Japan then SCMaglev and Railway Park definitely has to be on your to-do list.
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