2008: goodbye 0-series Shinkansen

[railsquid]

Not long after I started living in Japan in 2008, the 0-series Shinkansen was scheduled for retirement, one Friday night after work I more-or-less spontaneously took a Hikari to Osaka, found a hotel close to Shin-Osaka station, and got up very early the next day to catch a train. I went as far as Himeji, where the timetable indicated I could probably see an 0-series going the other direction, which I did, also some 100 and 300 series, "did" Himeji Castle as I was there, trundled back to Maibara on conventional lines with a quick stop in Otstu to photograph a Keihan 800 on the street, then back to Tokyo where I managed to snap the interior of a 201 series on the Chuo Line for posterity.

 

album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/129145651@N06/sets/72157673218675946

 

P1010417 by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

P1010459 by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

P1010478 by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

P1010479 by Rail Squid, on Flickr

[1954G]

Very much enjoyed the album, especially the interior shots of the 0 series' phone booth and seats. The usual strict maintenance regimen and at least one refurbishment allowed this set to age gracefully. I'm also glad that JR West repainted this set from Fresh Green to the original livery before it was retired.

 

The latter part of the last decade must have been a fun time for Japanese railfans, what with how diverse the shinkansen fleets still were.

[Densha]

Really nice! It was a bit frustrating to see the 100, 200, 300, 400, E1 and E3-0 series Shinkansen retire just through the last six years since I got into Japanese trains, while not having been able to see or ride any of them. I hope to catch some of the older running Shinkansen types during my stay in Japan soon.

[JR 500系]

Thank you for sharing! These beauties will be missed, especially the 300 series for me... That one scream 'speed' when it debut a max speed of 270, but was soon overtaken by the slick 500...  Those Kodama coloured trains are nice too, and too bad we don't see them now...

[serotta1972]

Nice pics and thank you for sharing! Waiting for the 300 and I think I'm done with Shinkansens until they make a new one that I like.