Electric car Izu-Hakone KoDe 165 stands on the siding near Daiyuzan Station
In Japan, many railway companies have their own construction vehicles. The mission of these vehicles is to transport railway employees and materials. They also pull the trains, which head to the inspection yard. In many cases, the construction vehicles are ex-passenger cars, which have been retired from commercial operations. In other words, they are the remaining survivors which have escaped from being scrapped. So, the construction vehicles are rare and very popular among rail fans.
KoDe 165 is no exception. It is a construction vehicle on the Daiyuzan Line of Izu-Hakone Railway. It has a long history on the tracks. The KoDe was manufactured in 1928 as MoHa 30166 passenger electric car on the Japanese Government Railways (present JR Group). In 1960, it was moved to Sagami Railway, and used as a passenger car known as KuHa 2510. In 1976, it was transferred again to Izu-Hakone Railway, and used as a passenger car with a name change to MoHa 165. Eventually, it was modified to a construction vehicle known as KoDe 165 in 1997. For your information, "KoDe" stands for a "construction electric car" in Japanese.
The KoDe is usually asleep on the siding near Daiyuzan Station. It is easy to take a picture of the KoDe from the railroad crossing or the platform. The nostalgic body design with its vivid yellow color is my favorite. The problem is that we seldom see the "moving" KoDe.
To shoot the moving KoDe will be my next project.
KoDe 165 is no exception. It is a construction vehicle on the Daiyuzan Line of Izu-Hakone Railway. It has a long history on the tracks. The KoDe was manufactured in 1928 as MoHa 30166 passenger electric car on the Japanese Government Railways (present JR Group). In 1960, it was moved to Sagami Railway, and used as a passenger car known as KuHa 2510. In 1976, it was transferred again to Izu-Hakone Railway, and used as a passenger car with a name change to MoHa 165. Eventually, it was modified to a construction vehicle known as KoDe 165 in 1997. For your information, "KoDe" stands for a "construction electric car" in Japanese.
The KoDe is usually asleep on the siding near Daiyuzan Station. It is easy to take a picture of the KoDe from the railroad crossing or the platform. The nostalgic body design with its vivid yellow color is my favorite. The problem is that we seldom see the "moving" KoDe.
To shoot the moving KoDe will be my next project.
Electric car KoDe 165 (left) and EMU 5000 series (right) on the Dayuzan Line
More information about the electriccar and the EMU on the Dayuzan Line (in Japanese):