Nick_Burman Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 (edited) Hi all, By and large the image of Japanese rails is that one of efficiency, punctuality, tip-top maintenance and discipline in operations. However, I would like to know if there were any railways in Japan which, conversely to the standard image, were rather wayward and casual (sort of Colonel Stephens-like but within Japanese standards) in their approach to running trains. Two which would fit the bill for starters would be the Choshi Dentetsu and the (now long closed) Funaki Tetsudo. The second one appeared in J. Wally Higgins' "Showa 30" book and by the time he was there the line had reached a Stephens-like level of decrepitude...one station looked like as if you'd better not sneeze too hard while inside... Any other candidates, past or present? Cheers NB Edited July 2, 2013 by Nick_Burman Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Kishu Railway in Wakayama Prefecture. Especially Nishi Gobou Station, with a vending machine perched on its front steps and a johnny on the spot just on the platform edge. Alas, the kiha 603 has been retired, and services are now run with railbuses (yecch!) 1 Link to comment
ToniBabelony Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 (edited) Well, the real culprits are quickly being killed off nowadays. There is the Kashima RR and Hitachi RR that have kicked the bucket recently. One good live example is the Gakunan RR, which has only four passenger trains (three single-car and one double-car) on its line and some freight operation as well. It's somewhat a private railway version of the Tsurumi-line. With less money to spend. Also, let's not forget about the Kumamoto RR with its strange street-running section and its comical ex-Tōkyū 5000 type single cars. Edited July 3, 2013 by Toni Babelony Link to comment
Nick_Burman Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 (edited) Kishu Railway in Wakayama Prefecture. Especially Nishi Gobou Station, with a vending machine perched on its front steps and a johnny on the spot just on the platform edge. Alas, the kiha 603 has been retired, and services are now run with railbuses (yecch!) Thanks BB. Oh yes, this is very Stephens-like...station made of corrugated steel board... Cheers NB Edited July 3, 2013 by Nick_Burman Link to comment
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