Wednesday 25 July 2018

Ex-Keio Trains in Choshi City

EMU Choden 3000 series (ex-Keio 5000 series) stands at Nakanocho rail yard

I recently visited Choshi Electric Railway (hereafter Choden) for the first time in five years. What was new with this local private railway?

I firstly stopped by Nakanocho rail yard. I was fortunate enough to see the EMU 3000 series (DeHa3001 + KuHa3501) on the storage track. The 3000 series was originally operated on the Keio line under the name of the EMU 5000 series (DeHa5103 + KuHa5854). They were built by Nippon Sharyo in 1963. After retirement from the Keio line, they moved to Iyo Railway in 1988, and were renamed the EMU 700 series (MoHa713 + KuHa763). These cars then moved to Choden in 2016. The car numbers were changed again as above. It was repainted to light and blue colors with a white stripe in the past five years - very beautiful and my cup of tea.

Secondly, I got off at Inubo station by another train. It was the EMU 2000 series (KuHa2501 + DeHa2001). The 2000 series was also originally operated on the Keio line under the name of 2010 series. After retirement from the Keio line, they moved to Iyo Railway in 1984. These cars then moved to Choden in 2009. The "face" of the KuHa2501 was remodeled from a middle car in the days of Iyo Railway. KuHa2501 was repainted from green color to two tones of light and dark blues in the past five years. The new color is definitely my favorite.

I fully enjoyed the ex-Keio trains in Choshi City.

EMU Choden 2000 series (ex-Keio 2010 series) leaves Inubo station

Official information about the trains of Choshi Electric Railway (in Japanese):