Kisei Main Line Retrospective
This month’s photos of the month comes at the end of the JRS Kisei Main Line Tour. A number of JRS members travelled the long way round from Nagoya to Ōsaka taking the scenic JR Kisei Main Line which travels round the Kii Peninsular. The line is operated by JR Tōkai from Kameyama to Shingū, and JR West between Shingū and Wakayama. These photos show the contrast in trains used between May 2012 and March 2024.
The JR Tōkai section of the Kisei Main Line is unelectrified and for local trains the KiHa25 is the unit used for all services. Back in 2012, JR Tokai was still using Ki Ha 40s for local services. Ki Ha 40-814 is seen here at Shingū before starting its journey to Taki.
Photo: Tomoki Fujikake, taken 6th May 2012.
Ki Ha 25-1501 was seen at Taki, the junction between Kisei Main Line and the Sangū Line to Toba. The train is ready to depart for the 3 hour journey to Shingū.
Photo: Stephen Turner, taken 30th March 2024.
The JR West section of the Kisei Main Line is electrified. Back in May 2012, local trains operated by JR West on the Kisei Main Line used JNR 105 series EMUs. This one is also at Shingū waiting to depart for Kii Tanabe.
Photo: Tomoki Fujikake, taken 6th May 2012.
Here is an evening shot of a JR West 227-1000 which were newly introduced on Wakayama area services in March 2023. It is seen here at Shingu, waiting to depart for the almost 3 hour journey to Kii Tanabe.
Photo: Stephen Turner, taken 30th March 2024.
Photo of the Month Archive
