ＪＲ西現存最古老特急車退役

Recently the Mainichi News reported the following:

ＪＲ西日本で現存する特急車両で最も古く、大阪と鳥取を結ぶ特急「はまかぜ」で使われていたディーゼル車の１８１系が６日、定期便として最後の運行を終えた。大阪駅に集まった約８００人のファンがラストランに出た列車の雄姿をカメラで撮影し、別れを惜しんだ。

　同社によると、１８１系は車体の天井にエンジンの冷却装置が付いた珍しいタイプで、１９６８～７２年に製造。長野－名古屋間の特急「しなの」や岡山－出雲市間の特急「やくも」でも使用された。

　鉄道ファンの仲間と列車に乗り込んだ高松市の会社員、窪田雄一さん（３３）は「１８１系はかつて四国でも走っていて力強いエンジン音が好きだった。最後なので奮発してグリーン車です」と話した。

(試譯文)

Being the oldest special express vehicle in existence in West JR of Japan, on the 6th, the 181 series of the diesel-powered vehicle used by special express "Makaze" that connected Osaka with Tottori finished the last operation as a regular flight. The fans of about 800 people gathered in Osaka Station using cameras to take pictures of the imposing figure of the train that left for the Last Run, and parted with it reluctantly.

According to the same company, the carriage body of the 181 series had attached to its ceiling an unusual type cooling engine that was manufactured in 1968-72. The special express "Shinano" that traveled between Nagano and Nagoya, and also in the special express "Yakumo" that traveled between Okayama and Izumo City had the same engine used.

Company employee Yuichi Kubota (33) of Takamatsu City who boarded the train with the companion of other railway fans said ｢As for the 181 series, I liked the powerful engine sound as it ran in Shikoku before. It is the last time for the green carriage to make strenuous efforts. ｣

Many people love seeing trains in Japan. These special express carriages have completed their historical mission and it is time for them to retire, it is a regrettable but unavoidable moment.