[Bonus: Special postcard included] RM Re-Library 13: Setagaya and Kawasaki trams

RM Re-Library is a series of reprints of two or three volumes of past masterpieces from the long history of RM LIBRARY, which has already exceeded 270 issues. The 13th volume of the series covers the Tamaden (Tokyu Tamagawa Line) and the Kawasaki City Tram, medium-sized streetcars found in the west of the capital. It first appeared in volumes 15 and 43 of the RM Library , and was written by the famous duo of Katsutaka Sekita and Michikazu Miyata. 

Tamagawa was a streetcar that once ran between Shibuya and Futako Tamagawa, and also had branch lines such as the Shimotakaido Line (now the Setagaya Line) which ran between Sangenjaya and Shimotakaido, and the Kinuta Line which ran between Futako Tamagawa and Kinutamotomura. The Tamagawa Line runs almost parallel to National Route 246, and overlaps with the same section of the current Denentoshi Line (which was also called the Shin-Tamagawa Line until recently). In this book, you can enjoy the scenery along the line, which still retains a suburban atmosphere, which is hard to imagine from the current section. It also includes explanations of the unique vehicles and valuable records of facilities such as stations and factories. 

The Kawasaki City Tram was one of the later tramways in Japan, opening during World War II with the aim of providing transportation for factory workers. Like many other trams after the war, the advent of motorization meant that the tram ceased to function after only 25 years. Due to its origins, it only ran through the downtown area around Kawasaki Station , and the rest of the line was in an industrial area. We were also able to see a section with three rails that connected to the JNR freight line. This book covers the surprisingly complex route and changes in stations over its short history, as well as explanations of the tram's vehicles.  

Coincidentally, both railways were abolished in 1969, so be sure to add this book to your bookshelf.