Clubs and Circles : Koganei Railway Research Group

The Koganei Railway Research Group is celebrating its 68th anniversary. The Koganei Railway Study Group is a group of railroad enthusiasts on the Koganei campus.
Even though we are all railroad enthusiasts, we all have different points of interest. Some are interested in the design of the trains and the comfort of the ride, while others are interested in the performance of the trains and the maintenance of the lines* after the trains have finished running, and they spontaneously research these issues. I am amazed at the depth of knowledge each member of the club has," says Mogi. Mogi himself loves to ride and enjoys unknown experiences through trains, saying, "I want to go to places I have never been, ride on trains I have never ridden on, and see scenery I have never seen before.

Each member's love of trains is reflected in the club's annual magazine, "Mylonef," published in conjunction with the university festival. The latest issue, No. 70, has a special feature article on "Train Types" by operation style, such as limited express and rapid train. Mr. Nagashima, the former representative in charge of editing, says, "Once we decide on the theme of the special feature around May each year, we leave the research and writing to each of the members. For example, Mr. Ono discusses a multi-level crossing that will eliminate unopened railroad crossings, and Mr. Mogi writes a feature article summarizing the commuter rapid transit system and a free article on the Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train. Mr. Mogi is proud to say, "This year, it was difficult to find out what people had to say, so the number of articles was smaller than in previous years, but the content was substantial.

One of the attractions of the railroad is that each line running throughout Japan offers a different riding experience. At the summer training camp held jointly with the Ichigaya Railway Study Group, students can enjoy valuable experiences such as visiting a train depot. The club organizes several one-day excursions a year. Ono says, "We want to enjoy experiences that can only be had on local trains, so we spend a lot of time discussing where to go, which trains we want to take, and making plans. Everyone nodded in agreement as he said, "I also want to enjoy a leisurely solo trip using the 'Seishun 18 Ticket.

In the club room, a diorama with an N-gauge train running on it was also created. When the diorama is shown at the university festival, the club makes small improvements to it each year, such as connecting a diesel locomotive controller and gauges so that students can experience driving the locomotive.

Mr. Shiota, the representative of the group, has high hopes for future activities, saying, "As a new experiment, we would like to incorporate some unique Koganei devices in the diorama that apply mechanical and electrical technology. While placing the highest priority on preventing the spread of new coronavirus infection, we would like to devise ways to ensure that our activities do not become a downer," he says cautiously.

*Train maintenance: Work to maintain the tracks. After the trains have finished running, specialized personnel examine changes in track position and rail wear caused by train travel, and make adjustments and construction work to keep the tracks in good condition.

(First published in the March 2021 issue of Hosei, a public relations magazine)

*This interview was conducted online.