Trainspotters on the Hankyu Kyoto Line...
Posted: 21 Jan 2011 05:13
It seems that every time I take the Hankyu train to Osaka, almost every station has a spotter on the edge, armed with a whopping big camera and tripod (like a typical Japanese tourist in Europe). I can imagine that Britain would be a lovely place to take pictures - lots of different liveries, different classes of trains, different train companies, sometimes the odd freight, etc. The JR lines would also have a nice mix. But on most private lines in Japan (such as the Hankyu line), only one or two classes of train operates, or they look all the bloody same (Kintetsu gets a nice mix, but then it's the biggest private railway in the country and the only one to operate a non-commuter orientated service). For the man standing on the edge of the platform at Katsura station, these are the types of trains he would have been able to see:
Limited Express
Local
And while they use very slightly different fronts and interiors, in my opinion, you see one Hankyu train, you've seen them all! Everything from the side looks identical - maroon with a 3-door configuration. The interiors differ but only between the Limited Express and everything else. I suppose it's like trainspotting at Old Hill during the daytime: 150, 150, 150, 150, 150, 150, wait what's this... oh wait, a 150. At least you get to see different liveries!
I suppose there's one redeeming factor of the Hankyu railway for trainspotters. Every 10 minutes, trains on all three main lines of the network leave Osaka Umeda terminal at exactly the same time, usually all of them calling first stop Juso. Whilst it's fun to be on one of these trains, it's always a mystery as to which one wins. Here, the Kobe train brings up the rear with the Kyoto train in first place.
Limited Express
Local
And while they use very slightly different fronts and interiors, in my opinion, you see one Hankyu train, you've seen them all! Everything from the side looks identical - maroon with a 3-door configuration. The interiors differ but only between the Limited Express and everything else. I suppose it's like trainspotting at Old Hill during the daytime: 150, 150, 150, 150, 150, 150, wait what's this... oh wait, a 150. At least you get to see different liveries!
I suppose there's one redeeming factor of the Hankyu railway for trainspotters. Every 10 minutes, trains on all three main lines of the network leave Osaka Umeda terminal at exactly the same time, usually all of them calling first stop Juso. Whilst it's fun to be on one of these trains, it's always a mystery as to which one wins. Here, the Kobe train brings up the rear with the Kyoto train in first place.
