Bullet-In 51 (July - September 2004)

Maglev Sets New World Speed Record (The Japan Times article)

- A Japan Times article describing the achievement of the world speed record by JR Central's experimental maglev train on the Yamanashi test track in December 2003.

News Update (by Anthony Robins)

- A regular round-up of news from Japan over the past three months.

JR Central's Career-track Workplace Training Programme (by Akiko Mochizuki Nakamura)

- A report detailing the 15-month training programme undergone by graduate employees at JR Central.

Tokyo - Nagoya Variations (by Oliver Mayer)

- A comparative look at the variety of ways of travelling between Tokyo and Nagoya.

A Brief History of Limited Express Trains on the Tokaido Main Line (by Hiroshi Naito)

- An historical look at the limited express trains that ran on the Tokaido Main Line in its heyday.

Toyotetsu - The Toyohashi Railway (by Colin Brown)

- The first in a series of articles describing rural private railways looks at the Toyohashi Railway, which runs from Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture to Mikawa-tahara.

90th Anniversary of the Tobu Tojo Line (by Dave Fossett)

- A look back at the history of the Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro in Tokyo to Saitama, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in May.

New JR East Railway Museum (by Tatsuhiko Suga, Director of the Transportation Museum in Tokyo)

- A description of the new JR East Railway Museum due to open in Saitama in 2007, replacing the Transportation Museum in Tokyo.

More About Named Night Trains (by Colin Brown)

- A brief update to an earlier article on the subject by Oliver Mayer in Bullet-In 44.

The Koiwai Farm and its Railway Antecedents (by Professor Rod Smith, JRS President)

- An article revealing the interesting historical railway connection with this famous Japanese dairy company.

A Brief Guide to Classes D51 and DD51 (by Dave Fossett)

- Coinciding with the 51st issue of Bullet-In, this article describes the work-horse D51 steam and DD51 diesel locomotives.

Sandankyo Branch - Onward from the Kabe Line (by Colin Brown)

- As a follow-up to an article about DD51-hauled trains in Kyushu by John Cowburn in Bullet-In 35, Colin describes the final days of the JR Sandankyo Branch in Hiroshima Prefecture before it closed in November 2003.

Sendai Municipal Transportation Museum (by Colin Brown)

- The 18th part of this long-running series introduces the Sendai Municipal Transporatation Museum, near Tomizawa station at the southern end of the Sendai Subway. The museum is home to three vintage tramcars.

Another Sayonara - JRS Trip Report (by Anthony Robins)

- A report on the March 2003 JRS trip, which covered the Meitetsu Mikawa Line shortly before its closure.

The International Railway Society of Japan (by Makoto Ashizawa)

- The first in a new series of articles outlining the history and activities of other railway societies in Japan. The International Railway Society of Japan was formed in 1974, and now has some 350 members.

Book Review (by Colin Brown and Anthony Robins)

- Reviews of three different books related to Japanese railways: "Points and Lines" (Ten to Sen) by Seicho Matsumoto; CAN Books #36 "Tramways Then & Now - Kyushu"; and "Complete History of the National Railways" (Kokutetsu Zenshi).

JRS Shop and Library

- A list of books and videos on Japanese railway subjects which can be ordered directly from the JRS in the UK.

Model-in: 2004 Shizuoka Hobby Show Report (by Dave Fossett)

- A review of the new products announced and demonstrated at the annual Shizuoka Hobby Show held in May this year.

* Final contents are subject to last-minute change.