Above: The two-car "experimental yellow & orange" 8000 Series set at Hikifune Station on the Tobu Kameido Line in 2019. All 8000 Series sets operating on the Kameido Line feature the updated facades and LED lights & signboards.
The 8000 Series was introduced by Tobu Railway for service on their lines in 1963. Between 1963 and 1983, Tobu built 712 sets. Despite being a smaller train operator, this is the largest number of any single model of train ever put into operation in Japan by a private company. The 8000 Series saw service on many different lines in the northern Kanto region. From the 2000s, many 8000 Series train sets began to get replaced by never models. In 2024, over 100 sets are still in operation, and six sets have already been preserved.
At its height, the 8000 Series was either the exclusive or the primary model on 10 different lines. All ten lines continue to operate some of the remaining 8000 Series sets, with some lines operating 800 & 850 Series sets which are modified 8000 Series sets.
The green & "jasmine white" set at Hikifune Station on the Kameido Line in 2019. This livery pays homage to a 7860 Series train set given the same livery as an experiment in the 1950s.The katakana on the left signboard (ワンマン) says "wanman" or One-Man, indicating that the train is operated by a single conductor. Almost all 8000 Series train sets were eventually modified to allow for a single person to drive the train.
Starting in 2012, Tobu began painting random 8000 Series sets with custom liveries as a way to reinvigorate interest in the trains.
One set in particular, 8111, is a fully-preserved 8000 Series set kept in running order by the Tobu Museum. It features no modifications from the original design apart from safety improvements and some LED signal lights. It was repainted multiple times over the course of 15 years before being returned to regular service on the Urban Park (Noda) Line in 2023.
Set 8111, featuring the original "royal beige" & "international orange" livery, going out of service at Kasukabe Station on the Urban Park Line before preparing to "turn around" and return to Omiya Station in 2024.
All pictures taken by me in 2019 & 2024. Part of my Rolling Stock series of posts.
Previous Rolling Stock posts:
- Joyful Train "Resort Yamadori" (repurposed JNR 485 Series)
- JNR 183/189/381 Series Limited Express
- JR East 253-1000 Series Express Train
- Izukyu 2100 Series "The Black Ship Train (Kurofune)" Resort Liner
- Toei 6000 Series Streetcar
- JR East E491 "East iE" Track Inspector
- JR E351 "Azusa" Express Liner
- JR East 185 Series Limited Express Liner
- Sotetsu 20000 Series
- JNR 9600 Class Steam Locomotive
- Tobu 100 Series "Spacia" Strawberry Edition
