Throwback colors in Chiba

[bikkuri bahn]

One of the many great things about the railway scene in Japan is the monthly parade of new rolling stock being introduced.  However, one of my pet peeves is the current trend of color schemes using pastel colors (e.g. on the E5) and especially, white.  Perhaps this is a cultural thing- white is the most popular color for automobiles in Japan, and it imparts a sense of "seiketsukan”　（清潔感）, or cleanliness.  However, JR East and Keisei Railways have decided to repaint a few examples of their veteran rolling stock in their original colors.  I prefer these "old fashioned" bold colors- they accentuate the shape of the trains, and yes, satisfy nostalgic yearnings.

 

Keisei, to celebrate its 100th anniversary, has repainted a trainset in the old "aoden" colors of dark green and light green.  This color scheme was used up to Showa 55 (1980):

 

http://www.keisei-anniversary100.jp/upload/20096181526460.JPG

 

JR East has repainted a four car 113 set in the famous shonan colors of green and orange, and will also repaint a kiha 30 diesel set used on the Kururi Line in JNR cream and reddish/orange:

 

http://www.jrchiba.jp/news/pdf/20090619shounan.pdf

 

Picture of the 113 set:

 

http://railf.jp/news/2009/06/26/151400.html

[disturbman]

Nice sets, very vibrant.

 

But usually I don't like so much nostalgic yearnings. It just doesn't make so much sense to look so hard to the past. It's even more true for color schemes who are totally subjective. At the end the train is not more true with his orginal painting as with the followings one. But ok, I understand why the dynamic can be stronger in Japan, a quickly ageing society, than in a younger society.

 

Anyway, I like also when there is some a very special reason, like celebration of anniversary, behind this "back to the future" posture. It remind that, this year, Air France repaint it an A320 in the old 50's color scheme this year for exactly that reason.

 

http://www.aerocontact.com/actualite_aeronautique_spatiale/ac-air-france-peint-un-a320-a-ses-anciennes-couleurs~07513.html

[bikkuri bahn]

I like that color scheme- it even makes the A320 look like it could have flown back in the sixties

One thing about this hobby is that it allows one to indulge in a some shameless nostalgia.

[bikkuri bahn]

A kiha 30 railcar has been repainted in the JNR colors, and was photographed on the Tohoku Main Line near Utsunomiya, hauled by an EF65, bound for Kisarazu:

 

http://rail.hobidas.com/rmn/archives/2009/07/jr30_98_1.html