DMH17 on Kominato Railway

[bill937ca]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZxJ9oBlO_Y

 

Some background information on the Kominato Railway.

 

http://www.japaneserailwaysociety.com/jrs/members/kiyohito/kmntrw/kmnt.htm

 

http://www.japaneserailwaysociety.com/jrs/members/kiyohito/kmntrw/kmnttr.gif

[Tenorikuma]

Here's one of the photos I took last week.

[bikkuri bahn]

Many (including yours truly) have sung the praises of this line, and let me repeat here- this is a must see and ride if you should have any time on a visit to the Kanto Area, and especially if you have interest in seeing a rural diesel railcar operation as it would have appeared 40 or 50 years ago (sans aircon and one man crews).  The kiha 200 railcars used exclusively on this line are a variation of the JNR kiha 20 type, which on other lines attract hordes of railfans on weekends, due to their rarity now.  No turbo engines, railbuses stinking of cost cutting in the face of red ink, cutesy mascots, or curtains on the windows- just rural railroading as God intended, with the smell of oil and the burble of an simple, honest DMH...

[Tenorikuma]

Many (including yours truly) have sung the praises of this line, and let me repeat here- this is a must see and ride if you should have any time on a visit to the Kanto Area, and especially if you have interest in seeing a rural diesel railcar operation as it would have appeared 40 or 50 years ago (sans aircon and one man crews).  The kiha 200 railcars used exclusively on this line are a variation of the JNR kiha 20 type, which on other lines attract hordes of railfans on weekends, due to their rarity now.  No turbo engines, railbuses stinking of cost cutting in the face of red ink, cutesy mascots, or curtains on the windows- just rural railroading as God intended, with the smell of oil and the burble of an simple, honest DMH...

 

It's also unique in that most of the engineers and conductors are women.

[westfalen]

I finally rode the line last September after eight visits to Japan over 20 years and I'm kicking myself for not visiting it sooner. If you're in the area the JR Kururi line just down the coast a bit is also worth a visit.

[bikkuri bahn]

I finally rode the line last September after eight visits to Japan over 20 years and I'm kicking myself for not visiting it sooner. If you're in the area the JR Kururi line just down the coast a bit is also worth a visit.

 

Good mentioning the Kururi Line- also a gem with tablet working, and arguably a more appealing terminal at Kazusa Kameyama than the Kominato Line's Kazusa Nakano (the Nakano station "building" is not the original, and is basically a glorified shed).  If you're lucky, you can ride a JNR era kiha 30 type in original colors, which like the kiha 200's are powered by the normally aspirated dmh17 engine.

[miyakoji]

railbuses stinking of cost cutting in the face of red ink

So... you're not into KIHA120s, then?  :grin

[westfalen]

I finally rode the line last September after eight visits to Japan over 20 years and I'm kicking myself for not visiting it sooner. If you're in the area the JR Kururi line just down the coast a bit is also worth a visit.

 

Good mentioning the Kururi Line- also a gem with tablet working, and arguably a more appealing terminal at Kazusa Kameyama than the Kominato Line's Kazusa Nakano (the Nakano station "building" is not the original, and is basically a glorified shed).   If you're lucky, you can ride a JNR era kiha 30 type in original colors, which like the kiha 200's are powered by the normally aspirated dmh17 engine.

I missed out on the Kiha 30's as they were not in service the afternoon I was there, one was sharing the shed with a DE10 and a couple more were parked further down the yard.

 

The drivers on the Kominato line were apparently not happy with us filming them, the initial female driver seemed nervous and her male colleague who took over enroute told us it was ok to photograph out the front of the train but not to film the driver. Maybe a group of 20 camera wielding Australians just got them spooked.

[Tenorikuma]

The drivers on the Kominato line were apparently not happy with us filming them, the initial female driver seemed nervous and her male colleague who took over enroute told us it was ok to photograph out the front of the train but not to film the driver. Maybe a group of 20 camera wielding Australians just got them spooked.

 

That's weird. The railroad is a popular destination for photographers.  I think those particular engineers were just self-conscious about too many people scrutinizing them.

[bikkuri bahn]

I kind of sympathize with the drivers.  Last month on the Mizushima Rinkai Railway, a fellow railfan was taking pictures of the driver, which I thought a bit rude.  I generally avoid taking pictures of the cab when a driver is occupying his position.  If you ask and get an ok, then shoot away.  On the Karasuyama Line last year, the driver was kind enough to pose for my camera when doing the tablet exchange.  I think nowadays, with youtube, people are even more worried that their faces will appear on the internet without their knowledge or approval.  This is especially true in Japan, where people in general are more sensitive to privacy concerns in terms of photography and video.

[bikkuri bahn]

So... you're not into KIHA120s, then?

 

Well, yeah, though I would characterize them as the best of the worst!

 

*my feelings are encapsuled on the current state of services on the Kansai Main Line between Kameyama and Kamo.  You used to be able to ride trains like this:

http://www10.tok2.com/home/jyudan/Story/OmiKohoku/picture/omi03.JPG

And it was an express to boot! (taken at Kameyama station)

Now you have a railbus.  I'll take Kintetsu instead, thank you.

[miyakoji]

I kind of sympathize with the drivers.  Last month on the Mizushima Rinkai Railway, a fellow railfan was taking pictures of the driver, which I thought a bit rude.  I generally avoid taking pictures of the cab when a driver is occupying his position.  If you ask and get an ok, then shoot away.  On the Karasuyama Line last year, the driver was kind enough to pose for my camera when doing the tablet exchange.  I think nowadays, with youtube, people are even more worried that their faces will appear on the internet without their knowledge or approval.  This is especially true in Japan, where people in general are more sensitive to privacy concerns in terms of photography and video.

 

After reading about JRW's discipline policies (following the Fukuchiyama Line derailment), I wondered if any railway employees have gotten in trouble because of a youtube video.  I too avoided taking pictures of them.