More tablet operation

[bikkuri bahn]

This time on the Hakodate Main Line, circa Oct. 1986.  The first scene is at Shioya Station, with the Kiha 80 Ltd. Express "Hokkai" picking up a tablet.  The second scene is at Ranshima Station, with the DD51 hauled Express "Niseko" doing the honors. This shows the station staff setting up the tablet pick-up device.  Alas, this route has been rationalized- once-active stations such as these are now mostly unstaffed halts, the limited expresses and expresses are gone, and tablet operation has been replaced with color light signals and interlocking activated by on-train radio transponders.