days numbered for Keihan's old 3000 series

[miyakoji]

Keihan's old 3000 series, these days renumbered to 8000 series 30 subseries, will be completely withdrawn by spring 2013.  They entered service in 1972.  Not bad!  Fortunately some examples will live on with the Toyama Chitetsu and Oigawa Railway, which I believe are likely to run them forever  .  Keihan's Main Line is a longer route between Kyoto and Osaka versus JRW or Hankyu, but for some reason I really like its approach to both cities.

 

Tetsudou Fan news: http://railf.jp/news/2012/07/30/090000.html

Keihan website: http://www.keihan.co.jp/traffic/railfan/3000/

lengthy photo thread at Ompuchaneru: http://rail-uploader.khz-net.com/index.php?id=1041398

[bikkuri bahn]

I didn't know these were still operational.  What worries me is how much longer the 2600 series will be around, with the new rolling stock deliveries (not my cup of tea, to be honest, including the new color scheme). 

[Mudkip Orange]

Keihan's Main Line is a longer route between Kyoto and Osaka versus JRW or Hankyu, but for some reason I really like its approach to both cities.

 

JR and Hankyu run flat out through fields (or urbanization built over the top of fields). Keihan clings to the bluffs and skirts the riverbottoms, an endless series of s-curves and compound radii. It's simply a more interesting alignment.