Mark Prior
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markrprior.mrp.net
Mark Prior
@markrprior.mrp.net
890 followers 480 following 2.3K posts
Network architect and trainer, traveller, and photographer.

Mastodon: @markrprior@ohai.social

Banner: Iguaçu Falls from the Brazilian side.

Pro Cycling tragic, runner of the #CouchPeloton #TrollTips game
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markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and to finally get to Kanazawa is number 28. A series 521-0 Ainokaze Toyama local train.
A JR West 521 series
November 12, 2025 at 3:06 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan number 27 is another Toyama Chihou Railway main line train.
Back to boring stainless steel with stripes for this local service to Dentetsu-Toyama.
November 12, 2025 at 2:53 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and if I’ve gone to Unazuki-Onsen it can only mean that number 26 is the Kurobe Gorge Railway.
Bright orange locos that brought the train to the end of the line have just been disconnected and new ones added to the new front do we can go back down the gorge. The locomotives are very square front on and not very tall as the tunnels aren’t either. The train needs two units coupled together.
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan after a quick Shinkansen shuttle we’re at number 25 with a Toyama Chihou Railway main line service to Unazuki-Onsen.
Some colour on this train! Below the window line it’s green and above it a mustard yellow. At the front the yellow part dips down to largely cover the connecting door.
November 12, 2025 at 2:39 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and as we change from JR East to JR West we lose a car, and change from an EMU to a DMU, a KiHa 120-300. Needless to say the single car was full. This makes it to number 24.
As we all pile in at the terminus station here is our single car, single operator train with orange and red stripes as its JR West.
November 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and because the Azusa doesn’t go to the end of the JR East line I get a sneaky few extra stops on a E127-100 2 car set for number 23.
Shiny stainless steel train with coloured stripes below the window line.
November 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and we are off again with number 22 a JR East E353 Azusa service
Elevated drivers compartment. Front of the train is black with white sides. There is a blue stripe that starts near the coupling and then heads up to near the roof line. Both driver’s and passenger’s doors are open. Driver’s door swings inward while passenger one slides to the right. Change of drivers at the front of the train. Inside car 12 looking forward. Hardly anyone on this car so far into its journey today. It started in Shinjuku, I did not.
November 11, 2025 at 1:54 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#SilentSunday #photography
The Oirase Gorge provides a stunning backdrop for autumnal leaves in Japan. A slow shutter speed turn the turbulent river milky white in contrast to yellows and oranges of the autumn foliage and the green moss covered rocks.
November 9, 2025 at 2:55 PM
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#MarkDoesJapan and number 21 goes to a JR East 211 series local train returning me to Matsumoto
Single track line with a train approaching. Headlights below the front windows Trains don’t have IC card readers or ticket dispensers, these hide on the un staffed stations.
November 9, 2025 at 11:15 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and number 20 goes to the Alpico private railway on the Kamikochi Line. The train has just arrived and the driver has just sprinted up the platform to get to this end of the train. He seems flustered as we are a minute late!
Highland Kamikochi Line train. Drivers window surround is black and under it a white panel with a number of different coloured diagonal stripes.
November 9, 2025 at 2:35 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and the final train of the day, and number nineteen is JR Central’s 383 series Shinano. Sadly it was dark and the Green car was at the wrong end so no before photo and no great view.
The rear end but still displaying the wide panoramic window of the drivers compartment. We’re in JR Central’s territory so the body stripe is orange. Inside is 2x2 seating and the straight down the tracks view would be excellent if it wasn’t dark and we were going in the other direction.
November 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan is on train number eighteen, it’s a JR West W7 series Shinkansen Hakutaka and I’m on my way to Nagano.
My ride arrives in the station Car 12 is at the front. Brown, or is that gold, line beneath the window line and a thinner blue stripe below it. Just checking it’s a JR West one I’m in A but across the aisle is B and C.
November 8, 2025 at 7:03 AM
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#MarkDoesJapan not a new train as I’ve already counted a JR East E5 Shinkansen but I’m doing a longer trip today so …
The Gran Class Japanese meal with a beer. Just a relaxing way to travel even if there are a lot of tunnels so not much to see out of the window.
November 8, 2025 at 4:30 AM
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#MarkDoesJapan is at Aomori station at the correct time to see the luxury Shiki-Shima train turn up. Sadly not travelling on it so it doesn’t count but …
An outrageous looking grey green train with a panoramic window arrangement around the drivers compartment.
November 5, 2025 at 5:58 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan in another museum
November 5, 2025 at 1:58 AM
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#MarkDoesJapan and number seventeen is a JR East 701 series train on the JR Ou Main Line back to Hirosaki.
An unpainted JR train set with a narrow violet stripe over a wider magenta one across the front and down the sides under the windows. Inside we have typical commuter style seating.
November 2, 2025 at 12:56 PM
markrprior.mrp.net
#SilentSunday #photography #aomori #japan
While Aoike might be the most famous of the "Twelve Lakes" (Jūniko Lake) in Aomori prefecture is you walk a little further, in the rain, you reach Wakitsubo no Ike. Even with angry clouds and falling rain the pond still looked a stunning turquoise which complemented the autumnal leaves of the trees surrounding it.
November 2, 2025 at 9:07 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan number sixteen is the Konan Apple Orchard railway which is scheduled to close in 2027.
All metal two car train with some apple motifs down the side Inside the station at the Hirosaki end of the line
November 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and a quick fire number fifteen is a Limited Express Tsugaru service. Decided to do the green car just because.
A train where the dark colour, a burnt orange, is below the window line and the upper part is possibly white or grey. Elevated driver compartment but unlike the JR Hokkaido LE trains there is no connecting door at the front.
October 31, 2025 at 8:20 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and number fourteen is a JR East E5 Shinkansen. I was videoing the arrival so here it is departing.
Bye bye Hayabusa 30, the long sleek nose (or is it tail if it’s leaving) of a E5 Shinkansen. Green on top with a pink stripe below the window line Still time to board carriage 7 via its open door.
October 31, 2025 at 8:14 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
Missed out on Mr Orange on part 2 of the journey too 😢
Another Southern Hokkaido Railway train, this time in a royal blue.
October 31, 2025 at 5:23 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and lucky thirteen sadly isn’t @thatjohn.bsky.social favourite orange one but I’m on the South Hokkaido single carriage train anyway. Down the coast a bit, visit a monastery and then onto the Shinkansen station.
This South Hokkaido train is white with maroon accents, connecting door and a low stripe down the body. Even claims to be South Hokkaido Railway on the side of the carriage. Inside the carriage Bit of a Halloween theme going on inside.
October 31, 2025 at 1:22 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and here is number twelve, a Hakodate Liner Rapid service to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
The front of the train, nice purple stripes And down the side with an added secondary green stripe below it It’s going to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto according to it’s destination display but I’m getting off at the first stop Typical commuter style seats with green fabric on the regular seats and orange in the priority seats.
October 29, 2025 at 10:11 AM
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#MarkDoesJapan does a tram count? Why not! Here’s a Hakodate tram for the eleventh “train”
An articulated tram doing route 2 in Hakodate. I guess it’s a maroon colour with a thin yellow strip around the waistline and is quite boxy looking. Inside and it’s all commuter style seating with a typical blue public transport material and design.
October 29, 2025 at 5:16 AM
markrprior.mrp.net
#MarkDoesJapan and the tenth train is another Limited Express, Hokuto. It started in Sapporo but I caught it in Oshamambe and this is a photo of it at its destination of Hakodate because I wasn’t quick enough in Oshamambe.
Limited Express Hokuto has a mostly white front end with a bright yellow connecting door, which includes its name in a blue panel. There is a purple strip that starts at the bottom of the train under its coupling and then rises up and narrows to run down the train just under the windows.
October 28, 2025 at 10:51 AM