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Another KIHA40-based (KIHA40 2027) excursion train has emerged from JR West's Matto shop. Called the Belles Montagnes et Mer (Berumonta in Japanese), it will run on the Johana and Himi Lines. Great livery on this one... http://railf.jp/news/2015/09/11/153000.html http://rail.hobidas.com/rmn/archives/2015/09/jr_2024.html No suitable YouTube material yet, there must be a lack of railfans up in Hokuriku.

The Takayama Line's KIHA40 and KIHA48 DMUs saw their last run on June 30th. These were based at Mino-Ota. They'll be replaced by KIHA25s removed from the Taketoyo Line following its electrification. KIHA40s have already been removed from the Taita Line (anyone ever actually ride this? :)) From July 1st, all local service on the Takayama Line between Gifu and Inotani will be operated by KIHA25 and KIHA75 DMUs. The last KIHA40 service was train 1731D which departed Gifu at 7:09 PM for Shimo-asō. JR Central continues to run KIHA40s on the Kise and Sangu lines, but there are already plans to replace them with KIHA25s, and plans to retire all JNR-era DMUs within the year. There will be a public announcement regarding the transfer of retired DMUs to Myanmar. http://railf.jp/news/2015/07/02/100000.html Last run, 1731D at Gifu, by hakase1990: 8-car formation (not in service) moving from Mino-Ota Station to the yard. Apparently these have Cummins engines. By AKE BOVOAKE:

Yet another KIHA40-based joyful train, looks quite good although I think my favorite is still JR Shikoku's Iyonada Monogatari. This is the Hanayome Noren, intended for limited express sightseeing service on the Nanao Line, which will begin October 3rd. The livery is meant to look like the lacquerware from Wajima, a city on the northwest side of the Noto Peninsula. http://railf.jp/news/2015/08/27/100000.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanao_Line http://www.samurai-japan.biz/other/af_wajima/ http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/8898-jr-shikoku-kiro47-iyo-nada-monogatari/ good video of August 23rd open day at Kanazawa Depot, this train is featured at 6:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Ba9NuVj_w

Here's a nice window view video of JR Shikoku's Tokushima Line by YT uploader syaso, gotta love that 4:30AM start. It's especially nice as it doesn't seem there's much coverage of JR Shikoku's network. I really like the onboard annoucements, I think it's a recording but some of it sounds quite funny, if it is a recording I gotta give JR Shikoku credit for choosing that ossan! Maybe the Tokushima branch is pulling a fast one by hiring a guy who's fluent in Awa-ben but has no idea what Tokyo people are saying! :) It's much easier to imagine him as the conductor, but the sound quality is too good, and many but not all of these are driver-only services. syaso includes several on-screen notes, a few that stand out are: - at 1'16" there's the Hinode Honten building, the company is apparently known for its grape monju. The company dates to 1914, and it seems that the building might too, I think they're lucky it's still standing. - at 2'46" the KIHA47s get fired up - at 9'40" the Asan/Sanuki mountain range comes into view. He calls it Asan first, 'A' from Awa, the old name of Tokushima, and 'san' from the first character of Sanuki, the old name of Kagawa, most commonly heard in the context of udon. Wikipedia has it as the Sanuki mountain range, mentioning that only in Tokushima, it's often called Asan. - at 28'40" indicating that Kawashima Caste can be seen in the distance. - at 24'09" there's Gaku station. Gaku is 学, to study/learn, and there's some language trick here, go-nyu-gaku can mean 5 platform tickets for Gaku station, but it can also be the sounds for getting into school (via passing an entrance exam), so buying a set is done for good luck. So, during exam season, the station is staffed (otherwise it's unmanned), and packs of 5 platform tickets are sold, and a "charm bag" (don't know what else to call it) is included for free. - at 58'05" the Akui River is crossed, and we're now in Tokushima City. Looks like a nice regional city, and a great place for DMU fans, no catenary in sight! Links: - English Wikipedia on the Tokushima Line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokushima_Line - English Wikipedia on some stations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabuki_Station http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaku_Station http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awa-Kawashima_Station http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akui_Station http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokushima_Station - English Wikipedia on the Sanuki Mountains: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanuki_Mountains - Hinode Honten's site: http://www.budoumanju.com/ - a few pages on the good luck charms at Gaku Station: http://www.jr-eki.com/service_ticket/htm/shikoku/goukaku.html http://www.jr-shikoku.co.jp/03_news/press/11-12-09/01.html http://mbp-ehime.com/dsk-p/column/2134/ - Google map centered on Kamojima Station, about halfway between Anabuki and Tokushima: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=34.0738,134.3561&ll=34.061477,134.36245&spn=0.245455,0.385551&t=m&z=12