Saturday 17 March 2018

Nostalgic Diesel Rail-car on the Tenryu-Hamanako Line

Diesel rail-car, TH3501, travels on the Tenryu-Hamanako Line

As I posted before, Tenryu-Hamanako Railway is a local company in Shizuoka Prefecture, about 270 km west of Tokyo. It is the former Futamata Line of Japanese National Railways (JNR), and was spun off from JNR and privatized in 1986. Connecting Kakegawa and Shinjohara on the JR Central Tokaido Main Line, the route length is 67.7 km. The track is single and non-electrified. The gauge size is 1,067 mm. A lovely diesel rail-car is operated every half an hour on average.

Along with the TH2100 series, which I introduced before, a diesel rail-car, TH3000 series, plays an important role on the Tenryu-Hamanako Line. The TH3000 was launched in 1995 to increase transportation capacity of the line. A total of two units were built by Fuji Heavy Industries (present Subaru). One unit, named TH3502, was scrapped in 2010; therefore, only one unit, named TH3501, is operated as an active member. The TH3000 series has an 18 meter-long steel body and a diesel engine, which was made by Cummins Inc., with 257 kW output. The transmission system is hydraulic.

Currently, TH3501 is operated as a "Slow Life Train". Its concept is enjoying what the Japanese landscape used to be. Riding the slow train, passengers can enjoy the nostalgic landscape in the countryside. For that purpose, beautiful window curtains and headrests are equipped as train interior decorations. They are made by Finnish fabric brand, Marimekko.

Riding the TH3000 series diesel rail-car, I enjoyed the slow life on the Tenryu-Hamanoko Line with my family.

Diesel rail-car, TH 2100 series (left) and TH3500 series (right)

Official information about Tenryu Hamanako Railway:
https://www.tenhama.co.jp/english/
Official information about Slow Life Train (in Japanese):
Official information about the trains on the Tenryu-Hamanako Line (in Japanese):