Wednesday 4 November 2015

Classic Train on the Gakunan Railway

Electric car 7003 of the 7000 series travels on the Gakunan Railway
 
It was my first visit to Gakunan Railway in three years. The last time, my encounter with the ex-Keio train, EMU 8000 series, was very impressive. I also stopped by a park featuring Japanese mysterious legend, Taketori Monogatari (the tale of the bamboo cutter), near Hina Station. This time, I embarked on another type of electric car, the 7000 series, and headed to Gakunan-Fujioka Station, where the depot of the railway is located.

Gakunan is a small private company based in Fuji City, about 140 km west of Tokyo. Connecting Yoshihara on the Tokaido Main Line and Gakunan-Enoo, its operating length is 9.2 km. The track is single and the gauge size is 1,067 mm. The electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead. Ex-Keio stainless-steel cars, called 7000 and 8000 series, are operated every 30 minutes on average.

Different from the 8000 series, the 7000 series is operated as a single car. It has two driving cabs on both sides of the car. The color of the "face" is also different. The 7000 series has a vermilion colored "face", meanwhile the 8000 series is painted with a green color. The 7000 series was launched in 1996 to replace the old model, the 5000 series. A total of three units, namely DeHa 3101, 3102 and 3103, have been moved from Keio to Gakunan Railway.

After twelve minutes' riding, I got off the 7000 series at Gakunan-Fujioka Station. The purpose of my visit to this station was to see an old electric locomotive.

To be continued...

 
Electric car 7002 of the Gakunan 7000 series arrives at Yoshihara Station