Keisei 'buff'

I see all the 'danger signs' here of me being in the process of becoming a bit of a 'Keisei Railway' buff. Last month I had to make several trips along their main Narita line and enjoyed myself like a kid. Since then I've come across two new books on the Keisei that I just couldn't resist buying.

I've mentioned the Keisei Railway here before - as Keisei Dententsu Kaisha it was one of Tokyo's first private railway systems and their 'main lines' stretch far into Chiba Prefecture. Until about 1960 it was what Americans would consider a classic 'inter-urban' along 'Pacific Electric' lines and I've got some lovely plans of their early cars that would make your mouth water. But unlike PE the system has actually been modernised and extended into a very 'state of the art' railway now although some of the gradients and curves on the Narita line are clearly from the former tramway days.

Here is Keisei's crack express - the 'Skyliner' - that offers the fastest service between Narita Airport and central Tokyo humming along near Yachiyodai.

Watch this space for more on the Keisei Line!