Keisei Line

Here's a picture I took last week. Edera had to go to a lecture in Yuukarigaoka and that gave me the opportunity for a bit of 'gricing' along the Keisei line tracks through the town.

It's a great place for photos too - trackside access along a lane might almost have been designed to give photogenic angles. Some kind resident has even planted a few flowers by the lineside.

The Keisei Line is one of several private railways in the 'Greater Tokyo' area. This is it's main lne from Tsudanuma out to Narita but there is also a branch to Chiba. Keisei made a lot of money over the years developing real etate near its stations and the trains are heavily used by commuters.

As you can see the trains are 'standard' 4' 8 1/2" gauge (1475 mm). The main JR system is the old British 'colonial' 3'6" (1076 mm) gauge for reasons we'll look at later.

This is a Keisei 'all stations' train from Narita to Ueno - the terminus just to the north of central Tokyo. It's a really typical Japanese design and the roof - if you could see it - is loaded down with air conditioning to keep travellers cool in summer.