Day 6 2'6" in Japan

Leaving my bags at the hotel I head north for about an hour on a local service with the odd run through. Arriving at Yokkaichi, I follow the signs down to the Yokkaichi - Asunaro Railway station. I buy an all day ticket and have a chat to the friendly station master who lets me photograph the control panel through the window. After a chat he runs into the office and brings back some fridge magnets for me. He seems excited to be talking to another railway man and wishes me a good day.

Control panel for the Y.A.R.

The Y.A.R. is a 2'6" network that has a single station branch and a mainline with a depot/workshop at the terminus. I ride the first train to the end of the branch and return before riding the length of the mainline. After a lunch break I make my way back o the station and the SM tells me the new train will dock in for the following service so I wait around for that. The time is getting away from me so I ride the new set back to Yokkaichi and say goodbye to this little railway.

One of the 3 car sets.

Drivers controls

Single seat layout

Longitudinal seating arrangement

At the branch terminal

A drivers view of the junction station

The refurbished set

Interior layout of the refurbished set. Improvements include air conditioning and wheelchair accessability

I head north again to Kuwana in order to travel on the Sangi Railway, Hokusei Line. This is another 2'6" line and the station is off to the side of the large Kintetsu station. Soon a bright yellow four car set arrives and I board for the journey up the valley to Ageki. This line is a little longer with the trip taking about an hour. It also gets out of the suburbs and passes through some rural areas.

 

Heading up the valley on the Hokusei line

A stabled set

A static preservation at Ageki

Once I arrived at the terminus Ageki, I decided to take the short taxi trip across to the other side of the valley and ride Sangi's other line back down the valley. This is Sangi's original railway and is 3'6". It was built to serve a cement quarry / works but now carries passengers as well. I arrived at Ise-Hatta station and have difficulty explaining my plans to the SM. I don't think he understands why I want to go to the terminus before heading back towards Tomida. I end up on the right train and make my way to the terminus for a quick look around. Sangi appear to have an historically sympathetic vein as there is a diesel shunter and small steam loco "preserved" at the terminus. There is also a rollingstock museum enroute but failing light prevented a good look. We passed an empty cement train on our return and were able to see the cement works as we passed. The quarry for the raw product is an imposing feature from the valley and appears to be consuming a mountain slowly.

A decorated Sangi set at Ise-Hatta station

The set that I rode on the Sangi Railway

A cement wagon which is the other traffic on the line.

Two electric locos shunting at Higashi-Fujiwara

The cement plant at Higashi-Fujiwara

 It is dark by the time I arrive back at Tomida, which is the junction with the Kintetsu Railway. I still have to make my way back to Matsusaka ,collect my bags and travel to my next hotel at Nara. A long night of travel on local trains sees me arrive at Nara close to 10pm. I have now travelled on all the 2"6" lines in Japan. The other is the Kurobe Gorge Railway which is fascinating but was on a previous trip.