Keio 5000 series (1963)

The Keio 5000 series is a Japanese city commuter electric multiple unit operated by the Keio Corporation from August 1963 to December 1996.
==History==
The 5000 series sets were introduced as a new and modern train for the Keio network in the 1960s. The appearance of the sets was created through a poll conducted by Keio employees regarding their views on the Keio Corporation around that time; unfortunately for Keio management more negative responses were garnered than good, so a new train had to be designed to improve the image of the Keio Corporation.
Between 1963 and 1969, 155 cars were produced; these were formed into 23 4-car sets, 12 2-car sets and 13 3-car sets, and were Keio's flagship trains for a time, used on commercials and photo shoots. The sets began being relegated to other services in 1972 with the introduction of the 6000 series sets. In 1979, KuHa 5871 was destroyed in an accident with a level crossing and scrapped the next year; the remaining cars in the set were relegated for use in other sets. Retirements began in 1987 with the introduction of the 7000 and 8000 series sets, with all sets retired by 1 December 1996 with a special final run.
After their careers on the Keio network, some cars were converted for maintenance-of-way use, while many other cars were sold for use on other private railroads, where they gained a mass following due to their optimizations for use on rural lines (three doors per side, simple to operate, 18m car length); some of the cars were also regauged for use on these railroads, although they have been scrapped since 2015 due to a lack of spare parts and rapid deterioration of car bodies. The Iyo Railway, Fuji Kyuko, Ichibata Electric Railway, Choshi Electric Railway and Gakunan Railway all received 5000 series cars, while the Watarase Keikoku Railway received two cars which they later converted into open-air passenger cars. One car, KuHa 5723, is preserved; it is located in front of Tama-dōbutsukōen Station in Tokyo, Japan.
A train with the same designation was introduced in 2017; apart from their names both trains are unrelated.
==Design==
The 5000 series cars feature a flat with top-mounted circular headlight casings; the sets are painted in a cream livery with red accents.
==Specifications==
Construction of the cars is of steel. The sets use resistor-controlled traction systems and feature either cardan shaft driveshafts or nose suspension driveshafts.
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:Keio trains
Category:Hitachi locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives
Category:Tokyu Car locomotives