Kuroshio 381 Express to Retire October 30 from JR West

Here's a bit local episode but worth recording for history's sake - about a local line "Kisei Line" down south in the vicinity of Ise Shrine.
The JR Kisei Line is known for snaky tracks that bend left to right throughout the line. So snaky that a special body-tilting control is employed to keep the balance while speeding.

Kuroshio Express 381 is one of those trains that have run for 40 years without accident and many railway fans are going to miss them. Takao Nakamura, 55, a veteran motorman of West Japan Railways reminiscences in Sankei Shimbun:

"No accident, no trouble of any kind. 381 is a super coach I'm sure people will miss after it's gone out of service".

Nakamura joined the National Railways Corporation the year 381 started operating in 1978. He was apprenticing at the diesel division when the Kisei Line was electrified and 381 introduced there. His senior motormen rumored about "a fabulous engine" just installed. So often told, he soon began hankering after the "fabulous engine".

In 1983, right after he was appointed motorman he was lucky enough to drive 381. He was often told that 381 accelerates a lot faster than a diesel, and now he had a chance to find that out himself. Recalling those days, Nakamura says:

"The motorman's seat is a step higher with a broader view ahead. I used to love those children at every station pointing their cameras at me, waving their hands..."

381s have the body-tilting control installed to maintain the speed between curves and could run 20km faster than regular cars.

"Kisei Line has more curves, so the body-tilting control really came in handy to maintain running speed while minimizing speed loss", comments Takao Nakamura.

Nakamura nicknames 381s "Monster Serpent" - a great snake smoothly tilting its body left and right at a fair speed.

At its last run October 30, lucky passengers will receive gift tickets for a ride between Gobo and Kii Tanabe.