Kiha 58 and Kiha 47 Meeting at Okoba Station

According to most sources, there used to be both local and express traffic on the Hisatsu Line. The local traffic is still carried by KIHA 47s and KIHA 140s (the famous Isaburou-Shinpei trainset), and the express traffic used to be represented by the Ebino express, i.e. KIHA 58 in white with blue stripe ("Kyushu") or special blue livery. It is also clear that since the express service through the Hisatsu Line became discontinued, the train meets at the picturesque Okoba station do not happen any more. To my surprise, however, the video hereunder is dated November 2008 and proves that the train meet at Okoba still happens, at least from time to time.

The video shows KIHA 58 at the upper portion of the loop, at the switchback, meeting with KIHA 47, and finally leaving the scene via the lower station exit.

Rolling Stock

Currently JR Kyushu operates a number of DMUs on the Hisatsu Line. These include the following:

KIHA 31
Operated in 1 or 2-car consists, as well as coupled to other DMUs. So far no information about a model is available.

KIHA 47

A more common type of DMUs used. Made by Kato and Microace (left, photo by HobbyWorld, look for Microace A0707), very decent in red, but there's no white-and-blue-stripe livery.




To be continued. Prototype photos from the Kyushu Railway Cars page.