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DisneySea Electric Railway @ Tokyo DisneySea (+5 pics) (OC) - Lemmy.World
lemmy.world(Sorry, maxso216, but this is truly the shortest functional train line in
Japan.) The DisneySea Electric Railway is a 2-station line coming in at less
than half a kilometer in total length (0.48km). Even at the relaxed 15kph speed
of the trains, it only takes two and a half minutes to traverse the entire line.
The line runs between the American Waterfront and Port Discovery areas of Tokyo
DisneySea. It also has what must be the smallest fleet of rolling stock of any
line in Japan; Four two-car sets, of which only two or three sets are in
operation at any given time. (Fewer sets than even the Tokyo Disney Resort Line
monorail.) Sign over the American Waterfront Station entrance:
A large sign with the station name and a brief description of the train line
hanging over the entrance of American Waterfront Station in Tokyo DisneySea in
Urayasu, Japan.
[https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/6a62dfca-bc6e-4bf0-9b91-b5e0df572e38.jpeg] A
trivial oddity about the trains is their numbering system. Which initially
appears to not be a system at all. All eight cars of the four train sets have a
unique (yet random) car number, and the set pairs are never separated from each
other. The only discernible pattern with the car numbers is that the final digit
in each number seems to represent in which order the sets were commissioned: Set
#1) 5591 & 1111
Set #2) 1022 & 2842
Set #3) 1783 & 5593
Set #4) 0214 & 4824 Set #1 traversing the elevated tracks over American
Waterfront:
A train set on the Tokyo DisneySea Electric Railway passing over the elevated
tracks in American Waterfront while people walk beneath it.
[https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/30b99ee5-7dee-4cc0-999e-e9c5a7a2e3c1.jpeg] The
origin of the train sets are a bit of mystery. Their manufacturer is not known.
Since the beginning of operation in 2001, the DisneySea Electric Railway has
been sponsored by Takara Tomy - A Japanese toy company that makes functioning
toy train sets, including replicas of the trains on the DisneySea Electric
Railway. Set #3 passing another train bound for Port Discovery Station.
A conductor of a train on the Tokyo DisneySea Electric Railway waving to the
camera as his train passes by an opposing train on the way to Port Discovery
Station.
[https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/a5499ce7-5883-4618-a4d9-2a4b365abac7.jpeg] It
is possible that the train sets were designed and built by WED themselves as
simply another park attraction, or possibly by Kyosan Kogyo Co. Ltd. which
manufactured the sets used on the Western River Railroad in Tokyo Disneyland.
The DisneySea Electric Railway sets are modeled to resemble some of the elevated
streetcars used in what became the New York City subway system at the turn of
the 20th century. A preserved Brooklyn Union streetcar on display at the New
York City Transit Museum.
[https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/a32dd2f8-74a8-4fc9-891e-476f705973f8.jpeg]
Preserved Brooklyn Union streetcar at the New York City Transit Museum,
Wikipedia
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vintage_Fleet_BRT_Brooklyn_Union_Elevated_Car_1407.jpg]
All four sets have been in service since Tokyo DisneySea opened on September
4th, 2001. Apart from having air conditioners installed in 2015, there have been
no notable improvements to the trains themselves. Set #3 leaving American
Waterfront Station:
A train set seen from the boarding queue of American Waterfront Station as it
pulls away, bound for Port Discovery Station.
[https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/1b7c9073-02df-43d0-845c-d7fdb71277a1.jpeg] Is
the DisneySea Electric Railway an actual train line? Yes. In addition to having
two stops which allows the line to be used by park guests to easily get from one
side of the park to the other, the line falls under the jurisdiction of Japan’s
transit authority. Despite being on private land and requiring admission to the
park to use, DisneySea Electric Railway must adhere to the same standards as any
other public train line. Set #2 arriving at Port Discovery Station:
A station attendant watching as a train set on the Tokyo DisneySea Electric
Railway pulls into Port Discovery Station.
[https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/4cf66769-3449-4bc0-a69b-4ca239770cc5.jpeg]
When Tokyo Disneyland was built and opened in 1983, the Western River Railroad
was purposefully designed to have only one stop and run in a loop that sent
riders back to where they started to avoid a law that required charging a train
fare and that a departure schedule be posted and followed by the line’s
operators. This decision made it another attraction, rather than a functional
line like the Disneyland Railroad in Anaheim. This particular law was abolished
in 1987, allowing DisneySea Electric Railway to function as an actual line with
destinations without needing to follow those rules. (This is my first attempt at
a long form post here, let me know how I did. All pictures are by me unless
noted.)
Great knowledge by the OP and a commenter!
Thanks!
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