dango joutai - piled up at a signal

[miyakoji]

...or wherever.  Bikkuri mentioned the Japanese term dango joutai, written 団子状態 or ダンゴ状態, so I did a quick search.  Came up with this scene

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=661lfL2S-dg

 

A little explanation: September 20, 1991.  A small landslide at Wakabadai Station on Keio's Sagamihara Line forced single-track operation between Wakabadai and Chofu, creating the scene at 3:30.  Looks normal but slow up to that point doesn't it?    This is on the other side of Wakabadai, between there and Inagi.  The backed-up trains are on the inbound track.

 

Also, note Keio's use of 1372mm gauge--horsecar gauge, due apparently to its use on Tokyo's horse-drawn tramway from around 1880 until that system's transformation into an early iteration of Toden around 1911.

[bikkuri bahn]

Yes, the Keio Line is well known for piling them up like dango dumplings in the morning rush (as a result of kamitsu daiya)  Here is a scene (which I think has been posted before):

 

[The_Ghan]

Thanks Bikkuri,

 

That's my favourite clip.

 

Cheers

 

The_Ghan

[bikkuri bahn]

A small landslide at Wakabadai Station on Keio's Sagamihara Line forced single-track operation between Wakabadai and Chofu, creating the scene at 3:30.

 

Weird to see right-hand side operation in Japan. Nice to see some of the old time Keio stock in that footage.