＊ I’m still recovering, so please allow me to share a short article this time.
In 1980 — forty‑six years ago — this was the appearance of a commuter train running in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Although the area was part of the greater Tokyo region and had seen considerable development, it also bordered a coastal industrial zone, slightly removed from the large residential districts.
In other words, this railway line functioned mainly as a commuter route, carrying workers from their homes to factories and offices.
During the morning and evening rush hours the trains were busy, but outside those periods the number of passengers dropped sharply.
1980
2023
Perhaps for that reason, even in the urban Japan of the 1980s, rolling stock more than 30 years old continued to operate on this line.
The train type was the Kumoha 12 series, which remained in service until its retirement in 1996 — a remarkable half‑century of running, loved by the people of the town.
After its retirement, the train was not scrapped.
Today, it rests peacefully in static preservation at the Tokyo General Rolling Stock Center, where it continues to be appreciated by railway fans and visitors alike…
Vehicles currently in service