----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1912 May.11 Electric locomotive EC40 introduced between Yokokawa and Karuizawa on Sin'etsu line
$ (The first electric locomotive in Japan)
$ 1912 Jun.15 Limited express train service open with the first and the second classes coaches between Shimbashi and Shimonoseki
$ Additional charge for express train service at the same time
$ (The first limited express train in Japan)
$ (Tokyo - Osaka in 11 hours 54 minutes)
$ 1913 All steam locomotives domestically produced
$ 1914 Dec.20 Opening of Tokyo station(Virtual Tokyo station of VRML)
$ 1917 May.23 Experimental conversion of narrow gauge to broad gauge on Yokohama line
$ 1918 Aug.29 Inauguraion of Ikoma Cable Railway
$ (The first cable car)
$ 1919 Feb.24 Planned switching to the broad gauge abandoned
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1922 Oct.13 Oct.14 designated as Railway Memorial Day
$ 1924 Mar. Adoption of level crossing signal between Mojiko and Moji
$ 1924 Dec.24 The first signal with colored lamps introduced at Tokyo home signal
$ 1925 Jul. 1 Passenger cars fitted with automatic couplers
$ 1925 Nov. 1 Inauguration of Yamanote loop line
$ 1925 Dec.13 Electric traction introduced between Tokyo and Kozu, and between Tokyo and Yokosuka
$ 1926 Apr.24 German automatic ticket vending machines were installed at Tokyo station(4) and Ueno station(2)
$ 1926 Sep.28 Electric car with door engine introduced
$ (Introduction of automatic door)
$ 1927 Dec.30 Inauguration of Tokyo subway between Asakusa and Ueno
$ (The first subway in Japan)
$ 1929 Aug. 1 Adoption of the first diesel locomotives(electric)DC11
$ Import from Germany
$ 1929 Sep.15 Names given to limited express trains operating between Tokyo and Shimonoseki, the first and second trains named "Fuji", and the third and forth trains named "Sakura". $ (The first nickname train)
$ 1930 Oct. 1 Limited express train "Tsubame" introduced on Tokaido line between Tokyo and Kobe
$ (Tokyo - Osaka in 9 hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1932 Completion of Shimizu tunnel (Joetsu line)
$ 1934 Completion of Tanna tunnel (Tokaido line)
$ (Tokyo - Osaka in 8 hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1942 Jun.11 Completion of Kanmon tunnel
$ 1942 Nov.15 Inauguraion of Kanmon tunnel passenger train
$ 1944 Apr. 1 The first class car, sleeping car and buffets abolished under wartime emergency regime
$ All limited express train abolished and express train reduced
$ 1945 Aug.15 The end of Pacific War
$ 1949 Jun. 1 Japanese National Railway organized
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reference
Noda, Masaho; Harada, Katsumasa; Aoki, Eiichi; Oikawa, Yoshinobu. "Japanese railway - the establishment and development" Railway History Series 2(In Japanese). Nihon Keizai Shinbunsha. Tokyo
JNR ed. "Japanese National Railways' history -- by photographes"
