Japan's population has entered into a decreasing phase, but Nagareyama City in Chiba Prefecture is known as a city with a rapidly growing population. Today, we can see the newly constructed residential quarters, shopping malls, schools, childcare facilities, parks and so on in the city. Local people keep their eyes on the development of Nagareyama City, but they don't neglect the preservation of historically valuable items as well. Please look at the top photo. That's an old passenger car, KiHa31, once operated on the Nagareyama Railway (present Ryutetsu). KiHa31 was built in 1933 by Kisha-seizo Company. It was originally a gasoline-fueled car with a Ford's type-BB engine. Regarding the technical specifications, it's a two-axle car with a semi-steel body, 9.2 meters long, and weighs 8,200 kilograms. The engine output is 34.5 kW.
KiHa31 was a precious gasoline-fueled car, but it had to be pulled by a steam locomotive during WWII. Needless to say, it was because of the fuel shortage. Another bit of bad luck for KiHa31 was the electrification of the Nagareyama Railway in 1949. The engine was removed at that timing and it was modified to a trailer pulled by electric cars. After operating for 30 years, it was eventually retired from the track in 1963. KiHa31 is currently preserved in Nagareyama Sports Park. It's maintained in very good condition by a local volunteers' group named the Preservation Society of D5114 and KiHa31. I would like to thank everyone involved in preserving KiHa31 in Nagareyama City.
