Progression of Keio rolling stock

[Nick_Burman]

From the Keio HP:

 

http://www.keio.co.jp/train/museum/history/prewar.html

 

How really interurban these lines were in the past. Had that 23 series car in the picture been painted blue and white I would have sworn it ran on the Dutch NZH system!

 

 

Cheers NB

Edited June 25, 2013 by Nick_Burman

[miyakoji]

I guess that's also where their 1372mm gauge comes from.

[Nick_Burman]

I guess that's also where their 1372mm gauge comes from.

 

No, in the case of the NZH the system was part Meter gauge, part 1435mm. Keio adopted 1372mm gauge because it was the same gauge as the Tokyo tramway system even though they never ran through AFAIK (unlike Keikyu in its early days, which did). Since in that period the Japanese had no technical precedents of their own when setting up transport systems, they just went along and copied the most successful imported installation. In this case, it was the Tokyo trolley cars, right down to the gauge and power system. As for the gauge, 1372mm equals 4'6", which was the gauge of many early Scottish industrial and mainline railways; if the Japanese employed Scottish yatoi (consultants - and I bet they did), the gauge must have come through this connection.

 

Cheers NB

Edited June 27, 2013 by Nick_Burman

[Guest keio6000]

Thanks for the link!

 

Keio 5000 has to be up near the top of "private railway trains not yet released by MicroAce but soon will be", and as much as I personally like the 6000, the 5000 should be considered a design classic.

 

Or, at least one would hope that MA would get the hint.  The old Endou 5000 goes for crazy money in Japan, their 6000s and 7000s were sellouts despite their very high price point, and we're seeing signs of the 8000s and 9000s having very high demand in pre-order.   Even the Tesudo Collection 2700s are selling (not just listed, but actually selling) for three times their retail price of just a few short months ago.  In fact, the only keio trains that you can get even somewhat reasonably are the pre-renewal new inokashira 1000s, and that's because both they overproduced the mould and because the mould is no longer current due to a change to the sign on the front. 

 

I'm fortunate to have two nice 5000s made by professional modellers from GM, but a MA one would still be nice.  I also have the Testudou Collection Fujikyu blue version.

 

I was climbing Fuji earler this year (130km/h winds at the top- yay--yes of course we are experienced mountaineers with full equipment) and so got a chance to see the FujiKyu Kieo 5000 with the retro Keio livery.  A thing of beauty, I tells ya.

 

This is my photo, so it isnt as good as that of the japanese camera pros.  There's a nice video about the launch ceremony for this livery on youtube.

 

 

 

Keio is one of those railroads that I understand doesnt appeal to too many western enthusiasts who havent had personal connection to it because compared to its neighbors it doesnt have the flashy trainsets of its Odakyu and to a lesser extent Seibu neighbours and from a railroad perspective, other than the scale perhaps its most interesting feature is the point mechanism at Chofu or the menagerie of cobbled together maintenance vehicles at takahatafudou.  But, that's the thing about having a favorite - you don't have to justify it :)

Edited June 27, 2013 by keio6000

[ToniBabelony]

I liked Keiō when they still hadn't converted all trains to stainless steel with this horrible pink-purple stripe combination. The problem with Keiō is that their gauge (1,372mm) breaks compatibility with even fictional inter-connecting networks. You know, an excuse to run other trains then Keiō and Shinjuku-line trains on your layout etc.

 

Okay, an exception is the Inokashira-line (running at the standard 1,067mm gauge), which I really like! The charming short trains, densely packed buildings along the tracks, and multi-coloured rolling stock make it a delight for railway fans. Especially the crossing station with Odakyū in Shimokitazawa is a very interesting location to inspect from time to time. Also, I love the horn of the trains on the Inokashira line. It's like someone is just hitting a chord on a cheap synthesiser.

 

[Nick_Burman]

I liked Keiō when they still hadn't converted all trains to stainless steel with this horrible pink-purple stripe combination. The problem with Keiō is that their gauge (1,372mm) breaks compatibility with even fictional inter-connecting networks. You know, an excuse to run other trains then Keiō and Shinjuku-line trains on your layout etc.

 

Okay, an exception is the Inokashira-line (running at the standard 1,067mm gauge), which I really like! The charming short trains, densely packed buildings along the tracks, and multi-coloured rolling stock make it a delight for railway fans. Especially the crossing station with Odakyū in Shimokitazawa is a very interesting location to inspect from time to time. Also, I love the horn of the trains on the Inokashira line. It's like someone is just hitting a chord on a cheap synthesiser.

 

 

A note on the Inokashira Line...a few days ago I watched a zenmen tenbou film of the line and noticed that Keio has switched off completely the trackside signals - all trains are now being guided by ATC cab signals. You can hear the "dings" from the signalling system emanating from the cab during the ride.

 

Cheers NB

Edited June 29, 2013 by Nick_Burman

[Nick_Burman]

I liked Keiō when they still hadn't converted all trains to stainless steel with this horrible pink-purple stripe combination. The problem with Keiō is that their gauge (1,372mm) breaks compatibility with even fictional inter-connecting networks. You know, an excuse to run other trains then Keiō and Shinjuku-line trains on your layout etc.

 

Mind you, you could create your own alternative reality...what if the Keisei had been routed through the Shinjuku line into the Keio system, rather than into the Asakusa line, for example? Remember, Keisei was also 1372mm gauge...

 

 

Cheers NB

[ToniBabelony]

Mind you, you could create your own alternative reality...what if the Keisei had been routed through the Shinjuku line into the Keio system, rather than into the Asakusa line, for example? Remember, Keisei was also 1372mm gauge...

 

I've been thinking about this and it's a really tempting thought, though I've come to realise that the pal I'm starting a large project with collects Keikyū trains, so that might be a bit difficult to combine. Also, Keiō is using 20m trains, whereas Keisei and Keikyū use 18m (19m for the Skyliner) trains.