Short trip on the Keihan

[Nick_Burman]

 

Note pilots on cars. It could almost be in the US...

 

 

Cheers NB

[bikkuri bahn]

Right of ways back then weren't as clearly defined as they are now, street running was common, and much more rural areas were run through, so the possibility of collisions was higher.  And certainly a great portion of the design and practice came from US interurban/streetcar operations.  It just later evolved to heavy rail operations.

[Nick_Burman]

Right of ways back then weren't as clearly defined as they are now, street running was common, and much more rural areas were run through, so the possibility of collisions was higher.  And certainly a great portion of the design and practice came from US interurban/streetcar operations.  It just later evolved to heavy rail operations.

 

 

Which leads to a question...how many of the early Japanese interurbans actually ran down the middle of intermediate village and town streets? I read somewhere that when the Hankyu tried to build its Takarazuka line down the middle of the highway (New England style) the authorities presented the company a hefty bill for highway improvements. The company then decided to build using private right-of-ways, setting a precedent for further construction - other interurbans followed suit.

 

 

Cheers NB

[bikkuri bahn]

I believe Keihan had the greatest amount of street or streetside running, in Kyoto.  Also the line to Nara (which original owner I can't recall now).  Not completely a streetcar operation, but portions where there was street running.