I'm glad to visit Fukushima City again. I didn't expect to be able to come again this month to Fukushima city, 270 kilometers away from Tokyo. What's new with this northern city?
Please look at the photo below. The Azumayama mountain range could be seen clearly from the urban area this time. It was still covered by the snow, but vivid under the strong sunlight. Spring has come! For your information, the Azumayama mountain range consists of volcanic groups, and extends about 25 kilometers from east to west. In recent years, it erupted in 1893 and 1977. The main and highest peak is 2,035 meters above sea level.
I can't be written off here as this is a railway blog. Let's head to the main topic. On April 13th, Fukushima Kotsu Company celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Iizaka line. This route was constructed to transport holidaymakers to the Iizaka hot spring resort. Currently, the passengers are not only holidaymakers, but also local commuters and students going to the urban area of Fukushima City. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary, Fukushima Kotsu launched a special revival-colored train on the line. The revival-colored train is composed of two cars, Set 1107 of the EMU 1000 series (the ex-Tokyu 1000 series). It has been changed to a two-toned of dark rose and beige colors. This color design was used from the 1940s to 1991. It's very nostalgic, and fits into the scenery on the line. Congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the Iizaka line!
