Yonesaka – sen (Part II)

Part II: From Sakamachi to Utsu Tunnel  (18 March 2019)

  • 1 Echigo Ôshima　越後大島
  • 2 Echigo Shimoseki　越後下関
  • 3 Echigo Katakai　越後片貝
  • 4 Echigo Kanamaru　越後金丸
  • 5 Oguni　小国
  • 6 Uzen Matsuoka　羽前松岡
  • 7 Isaryô　伊佐領
  • 8 Uzen Numazawa　羽前沼沢
  • 9 Tenoko　手の子
  • 10 Uzen Tsubaki　羽前椿
  • 11 Hagyû　萩生
  • 12 Imaizumi　今泉
  • 13 Inukawa　犬川
  • 14 Uzen Komatsu　羽前小松
  • 15 Chûgun　中郡
  • 16 Narushima　成島
  • 17 Nishi Yonezawa　西米沢
  • 18 Minami Yonezawa　南米沢

Two more stations were laten given up:  Hanadate 花立, between Sakamachi and Echigo Ôshima, and Tamagawaguchi 玉川口, just across the prefectural border into Yamagata Prefecture, between Echigo Kanamaru and Oguni.

6981 At Sakamachi one of the large snow-clearing locomotives ENR-1000 is standing ready. (2019)

6978 Sakamachi, with a Yonesaka-sen train (KIHA E120-8 and KIHA 110-213) at the platform. (2019)

6973 In the plain between Sakamachi and Echigo Ôshima: A little shrine in the field. (2019)

6963 Full view of the mountains in the south-east. Near Echigo Ôshima. (2019) (Probably Iide-san)

6956 The mountains in the north-east of the line. (2019)

6943 Graveyards in the field, and in the background probably Iide-san (Mount Iide). (2019)

6932 Echigo Shimoseki station. (2019)

6924 Continuing towards Echigo Katakai. (2019)

6920 Crossing the Ôishigawa. (2019)

6917 Tackling the incline up to Echigo Katakai. (2019)

6915 Crossing the Numakawa. The yellow plate indicates the approach to the next station, Echigo Katakai. (2019)

6914 Echigo Katakai. (2019)

6910 Echigo Katakai, with KIHA 110-213 in the mirror. (2019)

6903 Passing Iwafune Dam. (2019)

6900 Along the Arakawa river. (2019)

6895 Crossing the Arakawa river. (2019)

6892 After crossing Kanamaru Ôhashi bridge the train is back on the left side of the Arakawa river. (2019)

6888 Coming out into the Kanamaru plateau, the last community in Niigata Prefecture. (2019)

6884 Echigo Kanamaru halt. (2019)

6881 Echigo Kanamaru was once noted for mining, where Tungsten, Pegmatit and other minerals were found. (2019)

6878 The train has crossed the border into Yamagata Prefecture and is heading for Oguni, the first community in Yamagata reached. (2019)

6873 On the incline along the Arakawa river. (2019)

6870 The yellow No.4 Arakawa Bridge. (2019)

6867 Climbing up to the Oguni plateau. (2019)

6864 Crossing the Arakawa river for the last time. (2019)

6861 Arrival on the Oguni plateau. (2019)

6860 Approaching Oguni, the main intermediate station on the climb up to Utsu Tunnel. (2019)

6857 Two snow clearing locomotives are standing in the Oguni siding. (2019)

6845 View of Mount Iide from Oguni. (2019)

6840 Arriving at Matsuoka. (2019)

6839 Matsuoka halt, with a train (KIHA 110-213 + KIHA E120-8) in the mirror. (2019)

6833 Passing over Matsuoka bridge. The train will now be continuously crossing the river, back and forth. (2019)

6829 The upper houses of Matsuoka. (2019)

6828 From Matsuoka to Isaryô (I). (2019)

6824 From Matsuoka to Isaryô (II). (2019)

6819 From Matsuoka to Isaryô (III). (2019)

6816 Arriving at Isaryô. (2019)

6810 From Isaryô to Uzen Numazawa (I). (2019)

6807 From Isaryô to Uzen Numazawa (II). (2019)

6805 From Isaryô to Uzen Numazawa (III). (2019)

6803 From Isaryô to Uzen Numazawa (IV). (2019)

6795 From Isaryô to Uzen Numazawa (V). (2019)

6792 From Isaryô to Uzen Numazawa (VI). (2019)

6789 The train has arrived at Uzen Numazawa, the last station before the summit tunnel (Utsu Tunnel). In the mirror is KIHA 110-213. From here up to the tunnel the train tackles severe gradients. (2019)

6787 Climbing up through Uzen Numazawa village. (2019)

6786 Through Uzen Numazawa village. (2019)

6784 The last houses of Uzen Numazawa. (2019)

6782 Up towards Utsu Tunnel (I). (2019)

6780 Up towards Utsu Tunnel (II). (2019)

6778 Up towards Utsu Tunnel (III). (2019)

6775 Up towards Utsu Tunnel (IV). (2019)

6774 Up towards Utsu Tunnel (V). (2019)

6771 As the train heads through Utsu Tunnel from the east side (the Yonezawa side) there is a short interruption of the tunnel on the way. (2019)

6772 On a train coming from Yonezawa heading for Sakamachi. Emerging into the sunlight after passing through Utsu Tunnel. (2019)