The Yume Kūkan (夢空間, lit. 'Dream Space') was a set of three luxury railway coaches operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on overnight sleeping car services in Japan between 1989 and 2008.
| Yume Kūkan | |
|---|---|
 Yume Kūkan coaches at the rear of a sleeping car service in October 2007 | |
| In service | 1989 – March 2008 |
| Manufacturer | Fuji Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car |
| Constructed | 1989 |
| Number built | 3 vehicles |
| Number in service | None |
| Number preserved | 3 vehicles |
| Operators | JR East |
| Depots | Oku |
| Specifications | |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
Operations
editThe three coaches were attached to the end of Hokutosei overnight sleeping car services between Ueno and Sapporo during holiday seasons, and branded as Yume Kūkan Hokutosei.[1]
Coach details
editThe Yume Kūkan set was formed of the following three coaches.[2]
- OShi 25 901 dining car
- OHaFu 25 901 lounge car
- ORoNe 25 901 sleeping car
OShi 25 901 dining car
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The OShi 25 901 dining car was built by Tokyu Car Corporation (present-day J-TREC), with the interior designed by Tokyu Department Store.[3]
This coach provided seating for 18 diners in the observation saloon area, and for four diners in the central compartment area.[4]
OHaFu 25 901 lounge car
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The OHaFu 25 901 lounge car was built by Fuji Heavy Industries, with the interior designed by Matsuya.[3]
It features a bar counter, piano, and toilet facilities.[4]
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The interior of OHaFu 25 901 in preservation in May 2010
ORoNe 25 901 sleeping car
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ORoNe 25 901 was a deluxe sleeping car with three compartments accommodating a total of six passengers.[4] One compartment was a suite room consisting of a semi-double bed, a living room and bath/toilet facilities. The two other compartments were designated as "twin rooms" with two single beds and bath/toilet facilities.[4] The suite room also featured a TV with satellite channel and video facilities.[4]
The coach was built by Nippon Sharyo, with the interior designed by Takashimaya.[4]
History
editThe three Yume Kūkan coaches were built in 1989,[4] and were displayed at the "Yokohama Exotic Showcase '89" event before entering service.[5]
Withdrawal and preservation
editFollowing a Sayonara Yume Kukan Hokutosei run between Ueno and Sapporo, the three coaches were taken out of service from March 2008, and stored at Oku Depot in Tokyo.[6]
The OHaFu 25 901 lounge car and OShi 25 901 dining car were sold to Mitsui & Co.,[5] and in May 2009, the two coaches were moved to the Lalaport Shin-Misato shopping mall in Misato, Saitama, next to Shin-Misato Station, where they were used as cafe and rest area facilities when the mall opened in September of that year.[3][7] The two coaches were not officially withdrawn from JR East books until 3 June 2009.[5]
The ORoNe 25 901 sleeping car was moved to Koto, Tokyo in December 2011, and opened in February 2012 providing additional seating accommodation for the French restaurant "A ta Gueule".[8][9][10]
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OShi 25 901 outside the Lalaport Shin-Misato shopping mall in September 2009 -
OHaFu 25 901 outside the Lalaport Shin-Misato shopping mall in September 2009 -
ORoNe 25 901 in Koto, Tokyo in October 2012
See also
edit- Blue Train (Japan), the generic name for sleeping car trains in Japan
- List of named passenger trains of Japan
References
edit- ^ 最新特急大カタログ [Modern Limited Express Catalogue]. Japan: JTB. November 1992. p. 103.
- ^ こだわりの新幹線＆特急列車ガイド [In-depth Shinkansen & Limited Express Guide]. Japan: Ikaros Publishing. August 2000. p. 191. ISBN 4-87149-284-2.
- ^ a b c 夢空間 [Yume Kūkan]. Lalaport Shin-Misato (in Japanese). Japan: LaLaport Management Co., Ltd. 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g JR全車輛ハンドブック1995 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1995]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1995. pp. 431–439.
- ^ a b c 車両のうごき2009-2010 [Rolling Stock Movements 2009-2010]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 50, no. 591. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2010. p. 79.
- ^ "さよなら夢空間北斗星号"，北海道へ [Sayonara Yume Kukan Hokutosei runs to Hokkaido]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ 5/29, 「夢空間」２両が越谷貨物ターミナルへ [29 May: 2 Yume Kukan coaches moved to Koshigaya Freight Terminal]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 49, no. 580. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. August 2009. p. 172.
- ^ もと「夢空間」オロネ25 901が江東区へ [Former Yume Kukan ORoNe 25 901 moved to Koto-ku]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 24 December 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ "A ta Gueule – Orient Express". Tokyo, Japan. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ レイルファンにお薦めの鉄道グルメスポット [Recommended gourmet spots for railfans]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 42, no. 355. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. November 2013. p. 33.
External links
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- Yume Kukan at Lalaport Shin-Misato (in Japanese)