Hi, again! This is Kapi-no-Tsuka.
Last time, I talked about the school excursion trains.
Just after uploading the article,
I got a news from MICRO ACE that they will release
JNR Series 159 Shonan Color (8-Car Set) and
JNR Series 167 School Excursion Train Color Renewal w/Cooler (8-Car Set).
What a coincidence!
These models represent the style of the time when the trains were turned
into ordinary express or special express.
I'll tell you what it is.
In the late 1970s, "school travelers" switched from conventional lines to Shinkansen,
and after baby-boom generation graduated, there was no need for school excursion trains.
Also, due to the revision of the rules concerning train coating,
the "school excursion color" (orange and yellow) was abolished and
the school excursion trains were repainted in orange and green, so called "Shonan Color"
JNR Series 159 Shonan Color (8-Car Set)
Series 159 started a new life as special express or group tour train,
but its life was short and it was abolished in 1980 (19 years after the production).
This model set represents its late-seventies-style.
JNR Series 167 School Excursion Train Color Renewal w/Cooler (8-Car Set)
After the "retirement" from school excursion trains,
Series 167 got to help ordinary express trains.
Accordingly, it was converted into air-conditioned in 1978 and repainted in 1979.
This model set represents the mixture of styles from 1978 to 1981.
In this sense, It's quite a rare model.
Since Series 167 was completely abolished, you can't see the real Series 167.
But you can see a mock-up first car of Series 167 at The Railway Museum
in Saitama prefecture.
I have sat in the seat and still remember the feeling... a bit constrained.
Today I visited a distributor and asked a staff member there:
"What did you take on your school excursion?"
"Oh, we took the "Komadori" Shonan Color and went to Nikko."
"Really? We took Shinkansen!"
Well, I think everybody has something to say about the memory of school excursion and trains.
I believe, model trains do have the power to remind you of such wonderful memories.