The 3000 series was the first Keio rolling stock to use completely stainless steel body construction. A total of 29 5-car sets were built from 1962 by Tokyu Car, and in 1963, the design was the recipient of the third Laurel Prize presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club. Each trainset featured a livery in one of the seven pastel hues corresponding to a train configuration, a unique feature found only on the Inokashira line. A number of trains were later resold to operate on other lines throughout Japan.
Formation
The five-car trains were formed of three motored intermediate cars and two non-powered driving trailer cars as shown below with car 1 at the end.
Car No.
1
2
3
4
5
Designation
Tc1
M1
M2
M
Tc2
Numbering
3700
3000
3050
3100
3750
Each of the motored cars had a single-arm pantograph.
Car 3 was designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
History
The first trains entered service on the Inokashira Line in 1962. The fleet underwent refurbishment from 1996, with the original fibre-reinforced plastic cab ends replaced by new steel cab ends with panoramic windscreens and front skirts.
Withdrawal and resale
Withdrawal of the 3000 series fleet began in 1996 following the introduction of new 1000 series sets. The last remaining sets were withdrawn by the end of 2011. The withdrawal dates for the later, refurbished sets were as shown below.
Two early, narrow-body 3000 series sets were resold to the Hokuriku Railroad in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, where they became two-car 8800 series sets 8801 to 8802. Later, wide-body sets were also resold to become two-car 7700 series set 7701 and 8900 series sets 8901 to 8903.
Jomo Electric Railway
Eight 3000 series sets were resold to the Jomo Electric Railway in Gunma Prefecture, where they became two car 700 series sets 711 to 718.
Gakunan Railway
Five former 3000 series cars were resold to the Gakunan Railway in Fuji, Shizuoka, where they became two-car 8000 series set 8001 and three single-car 7000 series units, 7001 to 7003.
Matsumoto Electric Railway (Alpico Kotsu)
Four former 3000 series sets were resold to the Matsumoto Electric Railway in Nagano Prefecture, where they became two-car 3000 series sets 3001 to 3007.
Iyo Railway
Ten sets, 3720 to 3729, were resold to the Iyo Railway in Matsuyama, Ehime, where they became three-car 3000 series sets 3301 to 3310.
