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Two videos by railway consultant, and apparently former Meitetsu employee, Itsuki Nishiue. Detailed looks at the inside and out, useful if you’re modeling either of these types, and I would imagine generally interesting to this audience :). The 273 retains the tilting ability, which I thought would be eliminated. Very appealing design overall. And of course it’s great to have this document of the 381 as presumably none will be preserved :(. If I’m reading correctly, the Kyoto Railway Museum doesn’t have a 381. Hint hint.

JR West announced Feb. 16 that the 381 series currently in use on the Yakumo Ltd. express services between Izumo-shi and Okayama will be replaced starting in spring 2024 by new rolling stock, designated the 273 series. This will utilize a bogie mounted pendulum tilting system rather than the recently more common/favored air bag cushion system, as experience on JR Shikoku lines has shown the limitations of the air bag system on routes with numerous/continuous curves. Likely mechanism will be similar to JR Shikoku's 2700 series, with a carbody based on the 287 series or similar. In addition a single consist of the 381 series will be repainted in JNR ltd. express colors and debut this month (3/19~), to commemorate 50 years of Yakumo service. https://www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/items/220216_03_yakumo.pdf