RM Library No. 239 Keikyu 230 Series (Top) [30% OFF]

The 230 series, famous as Keikyu's "pre-war classics," originated from 25 De1 series cars prepared when Shonan Electric Railway, one of the predecessors of Keikyu Electric Railway, opened new lines between Kogane-cho and Uraga and between Kanazawa-Hakkei and Shonan-Zushi in 1930. A total of 55 cars of the same type appeared, including those on Keihin Electric Railway, and eight three-door De101 series cars for branch lines were also produced. The cars were made of semi-steel with large windows, and the body specifications were designed to allow for access to the Tokyo Underground Railway. In 1943, during the war, Shonan Electric Railway and Keihin Electric Railway were merged into Tokyu Electric Railway, and the two-door cars were renumbered as Deha 5230 series and the three-door cars were renumbered as Deha 5170 series. Eleven of these cars were destroyed in the war, and some of the restored cars were used exclusively by the Allied forces.

This book introduces the history of the Deha 230 series and its related Saha 280 series over the past half century in three volumes. The first volume covers the period from their introduction to the postwar reconstruction period.