さよなら/Sayonara KIHA 8500 Series Aizu Mount Express

[Kabutoni]

I'm kind of shocked and angry as I heard the news today. The KIHA 8500 Series from the Aizu RR is going to finish it's services on the Aizu Mount Express. I was planning to go to Japan in the very near future and ride this train, but unfortunately this isn't going to happen.

 

From the website of the Aizu RR company:

http://www.aizutetsudo.jp/info/?p=367

 

The KIHA 8500 Series is a former Meitsetsu train that replaced the KIHA 8000 Series on the 'Kita Alps' service there in 1991. After the abolishment of this service it was sold to the Aizu RR where it started to run the 'Aizu Mount Express' in 2001. Now, as of the 21th of May to the 29th it will run the 'Sayonara Aizu Mount Express'. It will then be replaced by the 'Shin-Aizu Mount Express' ran by an AT600 (?) Type. A rather anonymous type IMO, though in an attractive red 'Akabei'-style livery: http://www.aizutetsudo.jp/info/?p=140

 

It's a shame the relatively big variety of the Aizu RR rolling stock is declining due to the loss of the KIHA 8500 Series...

 

Goodbye 8500! A great train with an interesting history, but wasn't interesting enough to be made a mainstream model...

[Kabutoni]

Another picture from the 2nd-train website on the KIHA 8500: http://2nd-train.net/2-topic/201005/610.html

[bikkuri bahn]

The 8500 is approaching 20 years of age, it probably is wearing out and parts are hard to source, like the JR West kiha 181.  The paint job is certainly showing its age:

 

http://www.exblog.jp/blog_logo.asp?slt=1&imgsrc=201003/28/03/c0155803_1772340.jpg

[Kabutoni]

The 8500 is approaching 20 years of age, it probably is wearing out and parts are hard to source, like the JR West kiha 181.  The paint job is certainly showing its age:

 

http://www.exblog.jp/blog_logo.asp?slt=1&imgsrc=201003/28/03/c0155803_1772340.jpg

 

That's true, but still. It's a very unique train, not only in its history, but also as a DMU that was owned by private companies that ran shared express services on both JR and private lines. Not many of those examples exist. Well, I recall the KIHA 58 (correct me if I'm wrong here) from Fujikyuu that ran together with JNR KIHA 55's to Shinjuku... IMO these trains are in the same league as the Tango expresses in the Kinki-area. The last of the remaining shared JR/private diesel express services IIRC.

[Kabutoni]

あばよ！Farewell 8500.

 

http://2nd-train.net/z-topic/201005/ph3010.html