Kodama (151 series) WR run- 163km/h

[bikkuri bahn]

July 31, 1959 between Kanaya and Fujieda, Tokaido Line

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlMy_aBpIhM&feature=related

 

Set the then world speed record for narrow gauge railways.  Test results showed no unusual wear on the track or running gear, nor the pantographs or catenary.  Ride comfort was deemed satisfactory.  Set the stage for the development of the shinkansen 0 series trainset.

[stevenh]

Damn that bonnet is beautiful.

[westfalen]

I like the freight train going past at about 5:30, it looks just like my box of Kawai freight cars that arrived this week.

[bikkuri bahn]

I like the freight train going past at about 5:30, it looks just like my box of Kawai freight cars that arrived this week.

 

Yes, I like the string of reefers on the tail end of that freight.

[Martijn Meerts]

Stated to like the older stuff more and more, and this video definitely helps ;)

[bikkuri bahn]

Stated to like the older stuff more and more, and this video definitely helps ;)

 

Glad to hear that.  We can use some more "vintage" railway fans (I define vintage as anything pre-JR, or maybe pre-Tohoku shinkansen) on this forum- modern Japanese railways are truly unequivocally wonderful indeed, but the old stuff is just as good, and the material is already documented, just digging it up is a challenge sometimes (but fun nonetheless).  I'll try to post old films as I find them and deem them adequately illustrative.

[disturbman]

Oh yes, please do! I love those old film/videos. :)

[westfalen]

These documentaries on what was then cutting edge of technology inadvertently show a lot of historical stuff that was still running alongside.

[bikkuri bahn]

These documentaries on what was then cutting edge of technology inadvertently show a lot of historical stuff that was still running alongside.

 

Yes, back then, the Kodama trainset was world class railway technology, but outside of the Tokaido Mainline and the urban electric network (Kokuden), it was essentially still a steam-era railway, with steam-era practices.  DMU's using diesel hydraulic drives were just starting to be used, and ltd. express DMUs were just about to be introduced, otherwise with a few exceptions secondary line passenger services were in the hands of steam.