Raicho last run- 03/11

[bikkuri bahn]

485 series "Raicho" had its last run yesterday.  This is an almost unedited clip of the typical mayhem (those #*$%&! cellphones!) at these types of events.  Osaka Station platform 10/11:

 

 

This is better, taken at an earlier date:

[yakumo381]

Got some pictures of this train going into "out of service" mode at Shin-Osaka this afternoon and also of its successor Series 287 on its first paying passenger runs at same station - will post when I get back to the UK.

[westfalen]

Another one bites the dust.

[Guest ___]

I'm going to miss them, this was the first experience I had with turret-tops six years ago one my first trip to Japan.

[westfalen]

When I first visited Japan in 1990 they were everywhere and we took no notice, in general things were still pretty much JNR with JR decals slapped on. Now the remaining vestiges of the old order are rapidly disappearing.

[bikkuri bahn]

Yes, before the advent of the Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen (pre-early 80's), these types were the backbone of JNR's daytime limited express services (along with their DC only counterparts), covering the whole nation outside of the Tokaido/Sanyo corridor.  It can be said the 1067mm network of tokkyu ressha reached it's peak in the late seventies, when these units were most prevalent.

[scott]

I get the feeling that, if I ever get to Japan, all the JNR-era trains will be gone. :-\

 

its successor Series 287

 

Will the service run with the 287 still be called "Raicho"?

[yakumo381]

"Rachio" replaced by "Kounotori". Pictures are from last Saturday at Shin-Osaka.

[bikkuri bahn]

Hopefully the "Raicho" name will be revived once the Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Kanazawa.