Kantetsu KiHa 5010 series (left), KiHa 310 series (center) and KiHa 2100 series (right)
Autumn is the season of railways in Japan. It originated from the inauguration of Japan's first railway that was completed on October 14th in 1872. In commemoration of this special day, the Japanese government designated October 14 as Railway Day in 1994. Since then, many railway companies have started to hold special public events in October and November such as rail yard tours and/or special memorial train operations.
Kanto Railway (Kantetsu), which is a local railway in Ibaraki Prefecture, is no exception. They held a rail yard tour in Mitsukaido Rail Yard on November 3rd this year. It was a bright and clear day. I saw many families with small children, young couples and rail fans in the yard. Kentetsu exhibited their diesel rail cars, the KiHa 5010 series, the KiHa 310 series and the KiHa 2100 series in the center of the rail yard.
The KiHa 5010 series is a new model on the Kantetsu Joso line. It was launched in 2017 to replace the old diesel rail car, KiHa 100 series. A total of two units (KiHa 5011 and 5012) were built by Niigata Transys. The color design of the KiHa 5010 series is different from the other diesel rail cars. It is white with yellow and blue stripes. The technical specifications are similar with those of the KiHa 5000 series, but the KiHa 5010 series has a new engine named SA6D125-HE2 manufactured by Komatsu Ltd. Its capacity is 355 PS.
To be continued...
Kanto Railway (Kantetsu), which is a local railway in Ibaraki Prefecture, is no exception. They held a rail yard tour in Mitsukaido Rail Yard on November 3rd this year. It was a bright and clear day. I saw many families with small children, young couples and rail fans in the yard. Kentetsu exhibited their diesel rail cars, the KiHa 5010 series, the KiHa 310 series and the KiHa 2100 series in the center of the rail yard.
The KiHa 5010 series is a new model on the Kantetsu Joso line. It was launched in 2017 to replace the old diesel rail car, KiHa 100 series. A total of two units (KiHa 5011 and 5012) were built by Niigata Transys. The color design of the KiHa 5010 series is different from the other diesel rail cars. It is white with yellow and blue stripes. The technical specifications are similar with those of the KiHa 5000 series, but the KiHa 5010 series has a new engine named SA6D125-HE2 manufactured by Komatsu Ltd. Its capacity is 355 PS.
To be continued...
Diesel rail car number 5011 of the Kantetsu 5010 series is exhibited in Mitsukaido Rail Yard
Official information about the trains of Kanto Railway (in Japanese):