Detailed Illustrations of Japanese Maintenance Trains

I’m charmed by these ultra-realistic drawings of Japanese maintenance trains by Masami Onishi.

Japanese trains are renowned for their punctuality, comfort and overall reliability. But part of what makes them so reliable is an “unseen” workforce of overnight trains. These trains will be unfamiliar to the everyday rider because they only show themselves after regular service has ended for the day. Working through the wee hours of night and early morning, they perform maintenance work on tracks and electrical wires that ensures a smooth and uninterrupted ride during the day.

My pal Craig Mod recently spotted a “rare and majestic” inspection Shinkansen called Doctor Yellow.

The inspection vehicle is popular among train enthusiasts as a sighting of the train is said to bring good luck since it is so rarely glimpsed.

Gotta love a place that’s so deservedly proud of and enthusiastic about its rail infrastructure.

Update: Great Britain has a maintenance train called the Yellow Banana. (thx, james)

• art
• Craig Mod
• illustration
• Japan
• Masami Onishi
• trains