My kind of passenger train

[velotrain]

While I can appreciate the fascination with Shinkansen, I took a TGV (with my bicycle inside the nose cone) from Marseilles to Paris in 1994 and I didn't particularly enjoy it.  I like to examine the landscape I'm passing through in great detail, and suspect I'd really hate looking at a concrete wall for the entire journey - you might as well be flying.

 

I just came across this video, which shows a train that is closer to my speed - I mean, fine scenery and you can even open the window!  I do have to wonder if perhaps the track is in poor condition, as it appears to be going about 50-60 Km per hour.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqwHAzaQXak

[katoftw]

Retro coaches from the SL Yamaguchi.  Yamaguchi Line between Shin-Yamaguchi and Tsuwano.

 

Get yourself a DD51-1000 and the coaches. haha

 

 

You would probably enjoy most of the rural passenger trains in Japan Charles.  The rattle along in old units with big windows.  And they don't travel at a fast pace.  Any of the Joyful trains using the old Kiha 40/47/48s would do the trick.

Edited January 23, 2016 by katoftw

[SuRoNeFu 25-501]

It's like travelling on the local lines back in the 1970s - when JNR still operates local trains with DD51 hauling old-type coaches (旧型客車) like SuHa 43 series (スハ43系客車), 60 series (60系客車), 10 series (10系客車), etc etc 

[serotta1972]

Hello Velotrain, are you a bike tourer? Im a road cyclist but but definitely ride at a pace where I can enjoy the beautiful scenery around me. I hate rides where all I see is the guy's butt in front of me when Im trying to hang on to a group. And yes I agree with you as I too am fascinated by HST, my personal preference would be slower trains so I can take in my beautiful surroundings. I love watching those videos with trains going through green and lush surroundings.

[velotrain]

I used to be, but now I just organize one tour for a group each summer, but am trying some holiday weekend trips of day rides this year.  I really enjoyed loaded touring - but I didn't camp.  That trip I started in Bourdeau, rode along the Dordogne and ended up in Cahor, met a woman friend who was teaching in France that summer, spent a week with her biking and canoeing to Avignon, then rode on to Marseilles through Provence. 

 

If you ride a Serotta, I would have expected you'd like pacelines ;-)

[westfalen]

When I first visited Japan in 1990 there were still plenty of local trains hauled by DD51s and DE10s but I ignored them and concetrated on the Shinkansen and all the other flashy new trains I saw.  I know better now and wish I could go back.

Kochi.

 

Masuda.

 

Nagato.

[SuRoNeFu 25-501]

When I first visited Japan in 1990 there were still plenty of local trains hauled by DD51s and DE10s but I ignored them and concetrated on the Shinkansen and all the other flashy new trains I saw.  I know better now and wish I could go back.

90 Japan441.jpg

Kochi.

 

90 Japan499.jpg

Masuda.

 

90 Japan524.jpg

Nagato.

The days when JR still employed the 50 series coaches on local trains...