The Hiroshima Electric Railway 1000 Series Train. A streetcar that has been operating since 2013 and the modern version of its predecessor, the Hiroshima Gas Electric Railway C Train (which was renamed the 1000 type, the D was renamed 1010-1016 type and F type was renamed to 1020-1024 type) that had been ongoing since 1922.
While the PICCOLO (no. 1001) and the PICCOLA (no. 1002) began testing in 2012, it was finalized that these street cars would be the 1000 series in February 2013. The first two are known as the “Hiroshima Electric Railway 100th Anniversary Commemorative Vehicles” in grape red.
The Green Mover LEX (which derives from Light Execursion) was unveled in November 2013 and won the special prize of the 13th Hiroshima Good Design Award. These trains are essentiallhy white with black around the front and side of the windows and a green band around the lower part of the car body and driver’s cab.
And has received various wrappings to change the look for a specific campaign. And since 2019, the 1001st car “PICCOLO” would feature a new color. One side with standard white/green/black, the other side and the front in Hiroden olive green/white colors.
Photo by HK7022. Source: Wikipedia
I personally love riding on the Green Mover LEX and find it convenient especially if you are heading back to Hiroshima Station.
And so, when it was announced that the KATO 14-804-1 Hiroshima Railway 1000 Type (Green Mover LEX) would be released! I couldn’t wait!
It’s interesting because in a way, it’s like getting the best of both worlds. One side looking very retro ’60s or ’70s and the other side of today’s modern.
As I have mentioned on my site, trams/streetcars especially for the pocketline or Unitram line can go up in price.
But what makes this version different from other KATO Releases is that this features LED front and rear lamps and there is also a slot to insert KATO LED lighting to provide interior lighting for the tram. This tram also features a new powerunit, in this case, the newly developed combino type power unit. And how it reproduces LRV driving scenes with articulated structure.
The detail of this tram is wonderful. Just look from the overhead roof. Also, each of the tree parts of the tram car is moveable but KATO does say that the minimum passing curve radius is R90 and it is compatible with Unitrack Compact and Unitram.
And KATO includes destination display stickers which contains various systems.
But the overall look of this streetcar with its two different sides is very cool to see!
Overall, this is a very cool release of the 1001 (PICCOLO), but it’s important to note that a flowery version of the 1002 (PICCOLA) streetcar dubbed the “Flower Train” was released the following month.
TomyTec has released a Hiroshima Electric Railway Type 1000 (1017) which was inspired by the anime series “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” and another the Chuggington and as cool as the wrapping is for that tram, because it’s a TomyTec release (and not TOMIX), it’s pretty much a collectible toy and not a full on train. If you want to make it powerized, you would need to invest in a power unit.
If you don’t want the special wrapping, then you can go for the 2020 releases of the Green Mover LEX or the PICCOLO/PICOLLA (two-set pack).
But if anything, this is such a cool streetcar! My favorite Japanese streetcar release from KATO so far and I do recommend it! But remember that any tram/streetcar release, you will want to pick it up soon or else it will sell out and you’ll be spending almost double.
The KATO 14-804-1 Hiroshima Railway 1000 Type (Green Mover LEX) is highly recommended!
