The Climate Observation

Hi everyone, Kapinozuka here.
I had to visit Osaka at end of year, and I took some photos of trains while I was there, in the name of Climate Observation.
The images may not be the greatest, but please enjoy.

I've taken them at the Noda Station on the JR Osaka loop line, late morning on the 31st of December 2009. Now, lets see the which trains goes by here, shall we?

★The main train of Osaka loop line, Series 201!

Chuou line? No no, it's the loop line.

The one that's become the main train of Osaka loop line, the series 201.
The car which has been given a JR West's original constitution improvement menu,
and its been reformed so much that its hard to believe it's a series 201 from just looking at the side.
Looks like it will be active for a long while.

- Series 201 Reform Builder Replacement Cooler Car Orange Color (8-Car Set)
- Series 201 Renewal Train Orange Color (8-Car Set)
- JR Series 201 Constitution Improvement Train Orange (4-Car Set)
- JR Series 201 Constitution Improvement Train Orange (Add-on 4-Car Set)

Mean while, one would picture the Chuou line, when hearing the orange series 201 of JR East, but there aren't many left these days, and looks like it will be retiring soon.

- Series 201 Chuo Line (Final Formation) (Basic 6-Car Set)
- Series 201 Chuo Line (Final Formation) (Add-On 4-Car Set)

★A Dramatic Reformation! Series 103 with High Driving Stand

On the JR West, the 103 is still very active!
Here, we have a car known as '40N Constitution Improvement car', that has been reformed. the sides has been greatly reformed, with the interior now almost the same as that of series 207.
You wouldn't think it's a series 103 form the look.

However, if you get on one, it still has the groaning noise that was familiarized in the Kanto region, which is sure to make you realize that its still a series 103.
It was very nostalgic, as they have all retired on the JR East.

- Series 103 JR West Renewal Car Osaka Loop Line Orange Color (8-Car Set)
- JR 103 Series Kansai Type Unit Window Car High Driving Stand Orange Color (4 Cars Set)
- JR Series 103 N40 Orange High Driving Stand (4-Car Set)
- B Train Shorty Series 103 Improved Car, Osaka Loop Line (Orange)

★It's still active! Series 103 with low driving stand

Out of the series 103, the group with low driving stand.
These are also still active on the JR West.
Known as [40N], this also had been largely reformed, and regarding the one in the photo here (Kuha103-44), the door-frame window had been blocked, ventilator had been removed, the front window had been replaced etc., the reformation are kept simple.

- 103 Series (Osaka Loop Line) 8-Car Set
- Series 103 Osaka Loop Line (8-Car Set) (non-reformed car)
- JR 103 Series Kansai Type Unit Window Car Low Driving Stand Orange Color (4 Cars Set)
- JR 103 Series N40 Orange Low Driving Stand (4 Cars Set)
- B Train Shorty Series 103 Improved Car, Osaka Loop Line (Orange)

When seeing the low driving stand series 103, I automatically imagine the Musashino Line... could be because im from Kanto.

★ Yamatoji Rapid Service! Series 221

This is a JR West original electric train.
Debut as the [New Rapid Service], and is now mainly operating as the [Yamatoji Rapid Service].
The coloring used is the Kansai district's traditional [Kansai Express train color], which suites the JR West.

The Osaka loop line has more than just orange trains running on it, it seems, like this Yamatoji line that goes right through.

- Series 221 (Basic 4-Car Set)
- Series 221 (Add-On 2-Car Set)

★Kansai Airport Rapid Service! Series 223

The train that's extended on the previous series is this one, the series 223.
This train passes through Osaka loop line and Hanwa line to link Kansai Airport and Osaka City Center.

...and it was clearly traveling a lot faster than other trains, so I couldn't shoot at the right timing...

- 223series 2500 `Kanku, Kishuji Rapid` (4-Car Set)
- JR Series 223-0 Kansai/Kishu-ji Rapid-service (8 Cars Set)
- JR Series 223-0 O-CAT Luggage Set up Car (8 Cars Set)

and speaking of Kansai Airport...

★Its called "Haruka"! Series 281

The Limited Express "Haruka" is the series 281 train.
Linking Maihara, Kusatsu, and Kyoto Stations with the Kansai Airport, the Airport access express train!

- Series 281 Haruka (6-Car Set)

★Here it comes!! Super Kuroshio

The limited express, [Super Kuroshio] has come!
[Super Kuroshio] and [Kuroshio] is an express that links Kyoto/Osaka and Shirahama/Shingu.

This one is the series 381 express electric train.
The front part is JR West original design.

- J.R. Limited Express Series 381 `Kuroshio` (Basic 6-Car Set)
- J.R. Limited Express Series 381 `Kuroshio` (Add-On 4-Car Set)
- B Train Shorty Series 381 `Kuroshio` (4-Car Set)
- B Train Shorty Series 381 `Super Kuroshio` Old Painting (4-Car Set)

And just when I thought about finishing up...

★The Dolphin came!!


The round face designed with an idea of a dolphin, the series 283.
It's used for the express [Ocean Arrow].

There are only 6~9 of them, so naturally there aren't many of them running.

- Series 283 `Ocean Arrow` Basic A Improved (6-Car Set)
- Series 283 `Ocean Arrow` Add-On C Improved (3-Car Set)
- Series 283 `Ocean Arrow` Add-On B Improved (3-Car Set)


So that was an observation of an hour and a bit,
and it was quite interesting to see the variety of trains that runs here.
As a person from the Kanto region, I thought it was rare to see the series 381, 283, and 223 etc, as there aren't many in the JR East. And there was the nostalgia of seeing the series 103, although it had been reformed.

It may be just another day at the train station,
but I would recommend seeing the variety of trains that goes past the station if you have time.

By Kapinozuka



★Extra! Series 201 Yamatoji Line (Kansai Line)

This was taken on another station, but it's a Yamatoji line (Kansai line)/Osaka East line. The coloring is yellowish green.

- Series 201 Reform Builder Replacement Cooler Car (6-Car Set)
- Series 201 Renewal Train Olive-green Color (6-Car Set)
- JR Series 201 Constitution Improvement Train (4-Car Set)
- JR Series 201 Constitution Improvement Train (2-Car Set)