TV Wakayama 381 Kuroshio bluray

[miyakoji]

I think some of you may have Japan trips coming up, just in case you're interested, TV Wakayama has made a zenmen tenbou video of a 381 series on Kuroshio service from Shingu to Shin-Osaka.  I thought these were going to be completely off Kuroshio duty this month, but at the moment I can't find anything confirming that.  The link below provides a lot of specifics; the run that was filmed was 62M on March 27th, leaving Shingu at 8:37.  The weather was sunny.  There's no background music or narration, but the motorman and interior announcements can be heard.  245 minutes plus 24 minute special feature.  That's a lot of 381 series. 

 

http://tv-wakayama.co.jp/campaign/kuroshio/index.html

[Guest ___]

Man, did I shoot a lot of the Kuroshio 381's in Wakayama 2 years ago.

[bikkuri bahn]

AFAIK, the 381's were off Kuroshio services as of June 1st, replaced by 287 series.  If you're in Kansai, you can still see a few 381's based out of Fukuchiyama, as well as the Yakumo services in Okayama. The Fukuchiyama based units are in the JNR colors (the best IMO).

 

*Correction, there seem to be 381's on Kuroshio services still, in the "Panorama Green configuration" (one end has the panorama rather than monitor end).  The trains are Kuroshio #'s 2, 3, 6, 13, 16, 17, 21, 26, 27, 32.  This according to the JR West website.

 

http://www.jr-odekake.net/train/kuroshio_381/index.html

[Sacto1985]

I believe that the JNR 381 Series trains are still on the Okayama-Izumoshi Yakumo express train for some time, mostly because they're using the 381 trainsets that were among the most recently rebuilt (the last rebuilt trainset were put back into service only a year ago). In short, don't expect the 287 Series trainsets to show up on the Yakumo trains for at least 5-7 years, in my humble opinion!

[miyakoji]

AFAIK, the 381's were off Kuroshio services as of June 1st, replaced by 287 series.  If you're in Kansai, you can still see a few 381's based out of Fukuchiyama, as well as the Yakumo services in Okayama. The Fukuchiyama based units are in the JNR colors (the best IMO).

 

*Correction, there seem to be 381's on Kuroshio services still, in the "Panorama Green configuration" (one end has the panorama rather than monitor end).  The trains are Kuroshio #'s 2, 3, 6, 13, 16, 17, 21, 26, 27, 32.  This according to the JR West website.

 

http://www.jr-odekake.net/train/kuroshio_381/index.html

 

The Fukuchiyama 381s are a recent development, as I understand it.  A few months ago, two news items appeared on Tetsudou Fan news about them:

 

http://railf.jp/news/2012/06/02/060000.html

http://railf.jp/news/2012/07/15/230000.html

 

So, these were reallocated to Fukuchiyama Depot from Hineno.  Is the JNR livery a recent paint job?  I thought the Hineno 381s in JNR colors were used for the Hanwa Liner service, and I think nimo5 had some videos of those being driven to Gotoh near Yonago to get scrapped.  The better condition Hineno 381s were on Kuroshio service and had that aqua livery, and these are getting reallocated.  Also, some are in Okayama now, I assume that's permanent.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree about the best 381 livery 

[miyakoji]

Well, here's more Tetsudou Fan news that clouds my understanding of how many 381s are still out there and where they're based.  Looks like JNR-liveried 381s are still at Hineno, like this one, HD305.  All of the Fukuchiyama 381s seem to be designated FE.  The Japanese wiki page on the 381s says that Fukuchiyama's 183 "B" consists, 6 6-car sets and 1 4-car set, will be replaced by 381s if I'm reading it correctly.  Maybe it's just that not many were scrapped.

 

The link is about the "Natsukashii Yakumo" special service, part of a promotion, "San'in Destination Campaign" by Nippon Travel Agency.  It was one-way apparently, from Osaka to Matsue.

 

http://railf.jp/news/2012/10/07/140300.html

[Sacto1985]

The link is about the "Natsukashii Yakumo" special service, part of a promotion, "San'in Destination Campaign" by Nippon Travel Agency.  It was one-way apparently, from Osaka to Matsue.

 

http://railf.jp/news/2012/10/07/140300.html

 

Gawd, I hate to imagine how long it would take for a 381 Series trainset from Osaka (Umeda) Station all the way to Matsue! My gues: 5.5 hours (Osaka to Kurashiki on the San'yō Main Line, Kurashiki to Hōki-Daisen on the Hakubi Line, Hōki-Daisen to Matsue on the San'in Main Line).