Japanese Railway Society

The Japanese Railway Society (JRS) was founded in 1991 in London, England, to promote the knowledge of the railways of Japan in England and other non-Japanese-speaking parts of the world. Since 1991, there have been several activities like exhibitions (also of railway models), a TV-show (on Naruhodo The World, Fuji TV), many meetings in England, Germany and the Netherlands, and seven guided tours to Japan (in 1994, in March/April 1996, in October 1997 , in April 1998, in April 2000, in August 2001 and in March/April 2003. The membership is now more than 300 persons in about 10 countries worldwide.

Japan Day in Liverpool on July 19th.

The event will be held in Mountford Hall of Liverpool University, which is the University Guild of Students building at the top of Brownlow Hill, the street to the immediate right of the landmark Adelphi Hotel. It will be opened by the Japanese Ambassador who will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool (and, we hope, the University Vice-Chancellor). The event is being sponsored by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Japan Society, Japan Airlines (JAL) and the Japanese Embassy. JAL are offering a pair of flight tickets as a raffle prize, together with gifts from other participants.

Railworld is home of a more permanent JRS display. A small portocabin houses two small layouts and will be developed into a more representative JRS promotional display, with the possibility to house small club events.

This time we head out into the mountains via the famous Oigawa railway. This line follows the Oi river (Oigawa in japanese) and is made up of two sections. The lower section is built to japanese standards (3'6" track gauge, full railway loading gauge), whilst the upper part is of the same track gauge, but has a much smaller loading gauge. The Oigawa Railway is famous for being a kind of operational railway museum. The company has several steam locos, which operate seasonal tourist trains and the normal services are run by a wide variety of EMUs aquired 2nd hand from various railways across Japan.

C56-44 a 2-6-0 (1C) tender locomotive. This class was built to haul trains on rural lines, hence the nickname 'Highland Pony'.

One of the electric locos that help the narrow trains over a steep section in the upper part of the line (Ikawa line). This line was re-routed because of the construction of a dam in the Oigawa river.

The Oigawa valley is famous for its tea plantations. Here you can see such a plantation, which is very much like a garden.

One of the dams in the Oigawa river. These dams were built to control the water level in the river and also to generate hydro-electric power.

All photos by Eric Binamé, april 2006


INFORMATION News Update General Items JR and Freight Private Railways Steam Operating Museums Photo Gallery Modelling Photo of the Month Archive Links Overseas Report Archive	Welcome to the Japanese Railway Society (JRS) The Japanese Railway Society (JRS) was founded in 1991 in London, England, to promote the knowledge of the railways of Japan in England and other non-Japanese-speaking parts of the world. Since 1991, there have been several activities like exhibitions (also of railway models), a TV-show (on Naruhodo The World, Fuji TV), many meetings in England, Germany and the Netherlands, and seven guided tours to Japan (in 1994, in March/April 1996, in October 1997 , in April 1998, in April 2000, in August 2001 and in March/April 2003. The membership is now more than 300 persons in about 10 countries worldwide. Activities Membership - Interested in joining? Contact the JRS via e-mail What's New ? News Update from 'Bullet-in' #62 April - June 2007 edition By Anthony Robins "What's New" Archive N700 Shinkansen article supplement Extra information on the new N700 Shinkansen train, as featured in Bullet-In #59. Special offer for JRS Members Meet us at the following events: Japan Day in Liverpool on July 19th. The event will be held in Mountford Hall of Liverpool University, which is the University Guild of Students building at the top of Brownlow Hill, the street to the immediate right of the landmark Adelphi Hotel. It will be opened by the Japanese Ambassador who will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool (and, we hope, the University Vice-Chancellor). The event is being sponsored by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Japan Society, Japan Airlines (JAL) and the Japanese Embassy. JAL are offering a pair of flight tickets as a raffle prize, together with gifts from other participants. Railworld is home of a more permanent JRS display. A small portocabin houses two small layouts and will be developed into a more representative JRS promotional display, with the possibility to house small club events.
	Photo of the Month
	This time we head out into the mountains via the famous Oigawa railway. This line follows the Oi river (Oigawa in japanese) and is made up of two sections. The lower section is built to japanese standards (3'6" track gauge, full railway loading gauge), whilst the upper part is of the same track gauge, but has a much smaller loading gauge. The Oigawa Railway is famous for being a kind of operational railway museum. The company has several steam locos, which operate seasonal tourist trains and the normal services are run by a wide variety of EMUs aquired 2nd hand from various railways across Japan. C56-44 a 2-6-0 (1C) tender locomotive. This class was built to haul trains on rural lines, hence the nickname 'Highland Pony'. One of the electric locos that help the narrow trains over a steep section in the upper part of the line (Ikawa line). This line was re-routed because of the construction of a dam in the Oigawa river. The Oigawa valley is famous for its tea plantations. Here you can see such a plantation, which is very much like a garden. One of the dams in the Oigawa river. These dams were built to control the water level in the river and also to generate hydro-electric power. All photos by Eric Binamé, april 2006 Photo of the Month Archive