9-car 489 series formations operating in later years were typically formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Ueno end.[2]
Car No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Numbering
KuHa 489
MoHa 488
MoHa 489
SaRo 489
MoHa 488
MoHa 489
MoHa 488
MoHa 489
KuHa 489
Accommodation
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Green
Reserved
Non-reserved
Non-reserved
Non-reserved
Non-reserved
History
Soyokaze services were first introduced on 20 July 1968 as seasonal limited express services operating between Tokyo and Naka-Karuizawa to supplement the Asama services which operated between Ueno and Nagano.[1] The services initially used 157 series EMUs, which had been removed from former Hibiki services in September 1964.[1]
From 1969, 181 series EMUs, also used on Asama services were introduced on Soyokaze services.[1]
When first introduced, Soyokaze services featured reserved accommodation only,[1] but from 15 November 1982, non-reserved cars were also included.[3]
From the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 1985, 9-car 489 series EMUs were introduced on Soyokaze services.[3]
From 3 December 1994, Soyokaze was down-graded to become an occasional service run between Ueno and Nagano, and was phased out before the opening of the Nagano Shinkansen.[3]
Special services
Salon Express Soyokaze
Seasonal Salon Express Soyokaze services operated between 28 April 1984 and 5 May 1988 using the Salon Express TokyoJoyful Train locomotive-hauled trainset.[3]
Revival Soyokaze
On 30 and 31 August 2003, JR East operated a special Soyokaze service between Ueno and Yokokawa using 189 series EMUs.[4]
On 15 July 2012, JR East ran a special Soyokaze service between Ueno and Yokokawa using a 185 series EMU in "Amagi"-style JNR era livery.[5]
On 8 September 2012, JR East ran a Soyokaze service between Ueno and Yokokawa using a 185 series EMU in "Amagi"-style JNR era livery. The Shinano Railway also ran a special Soyokaze limited express service between Karuizawa and Ueda on the same day, as part of the 15th anniversary celebrations of the creation of the Shinano Railway.[4]
^ abcdefTeramoto, Mitsuteru (July 2001). 国鉄・JR列車名大辞典 [JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia]. Tokyo, Japan: Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd. pp. 320–321. ISBN4-88732-093-0.
^ ab列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 40.
^ abcdJR特急10年の歩み [10 Years of JR Limited Express Trains]. Japan: Kousai Shuppansha. May 1997. p. 207. ISBN4-330-45697-4.
^ ab"189系特急「そよかぜ」軽井沢~上田間で運転" [189 series "Soyokaze" limited express run between Karuizawa and Ueda]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 41, no. 343. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. November 2012. p. 74.
^"7/15, OM08編成による特急"そよかぜ"運転" [15 July: "Soyokaze" limited express run using set OM08]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 52, no. 618. Japan: Kōyūsha Co., Ltd. October 2012. p. 170.