RM Library No. 238 Private Railway Acquisitions National Railways [30% OFF]

From 1936 to 1944, the Ministry of Railways, under government policy before and during the war, compulsorily acquired 14 private railway companies nationwide, for reasons such as securing important port transportation, routes for transporting raw materials, and securing means of transportation for the military. At that time, along with the railway lines, the 337 Type 85 electric railcars used on those lines were also subject to acquisition.

These purchased vehicles had different standards and performance from the original Ministry of Railways vehicles, such as smaller bodies, so while some were updated with Ministry of Railways standard equipment and continued to be used, others were quickly phased out due to maintenance and management issues, and some were sold to private railways and continued to be used.

This book introduces the state of these "private railway acquisition national railways" through numerous photographs, both during their national railway days and after they were sold off to local governments.