[Fukushima Prefecture] Introducing the express train “Inawashiro” that had three destinations, a difficult train that even the staff are confused about
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In modern railways, the destinations of trains that run medium to long distances are often simple.
I'm not saying it never happens, but it's rare that a train ride takes you somewhere you never expected. In addition, trains that may take passengers to unintended stations, such as the Shinkansen `` Hayabusa '' and `` Komachi '' or ``Yamabiko'' and `` Tsubasa do not allow passengers to be taken to stations or inside the train. It is common for passengers to be provided with adequate guidance.
, until about 40 years ago, there was a train that had three destinations even though it was only one train in name
That is the express " Inawashiro " that we will be introducing this time.
Birth of express train “Inawashiro”
The predecessor of the express ``Inawashiro'' Aizu '', which was established in 1959.
From Sendai Station, the train ran south on the Tohoku Main Line, passing through Fukushima Station and Koriyama Station, then joining the Ban'etsu West Line, passing through Aizuwakamatsu Station, and ending at Kitakata Station.
Since 1965, in addition to ``① trains connecting Sendai Station and Kitakata Station'', ``② trains connecting Sendai Station and Aizu-Kawaguchi Station or Tadami Station (both currently stations on the JR Tadami Line)'' and ``③ trains connecting Sendai Station and A train connecting Aizu-Tajima Station (currently a station on the Aizu Railway Aizu Line) was also set up, three trains running in tandem between Sendai Station and Aizu-Wakamatsu Station .
In addition, we introduce the Tadami Line in this article, so please take a look.
In 1966, Aizu was upgraded from a semi-express train to an express train, and in 1968 it was renamed Inawashiro. The name is thought to be derived from the name of a place along the Ban'etsu West Line, which is known for Lake Inawashiro.
Depending on the time of year, the trains connecting Sendai Station and Kitakata Station were not connected, and instead the express train ``Agano'' was connected to the ``Inawashiro'' between Sendai Station and Niigata Station.
It was a train with a really complicated operation system.
Operation form of express “Inawashiro”
Now, based on the timetable from the October 1978 timetable revision, I would like to once again introduce the operating format of "Inawashiro" and related trains.
Let's take the Inawashiro 4 train as an example, which departs from Sendai Station at 4:15 p.m.
First, let me show you the diagram: This is the route of the express train ``Inawashiro'' and the train connected to it, the express ``Iwaki.''
At the time of departure from Sendai Station Inawashiro No. 4 is connected to a vehicle bound for Kitakata, a vehicle bound for Tadami, and a vehicle bound for Aizutajima
(the green car is connected only to a vehicle bound for Kitakata).
People who want to go to a station farther back than Aizu-Wakamatsu Station must get on the correct train, or they will be taken to a station they did not intend to go to.
And the story doesn't end here.
``Inawashiro 4'' is also connected to the ``Iwaki 6,'' an express train that goes to a completely different destination. Iwaki No. 6 is a train that runs from Sendai Station to Koriyama Station, enters the Banetsu Higashi Line, passes through Taira (currently Iwaki) Station, and heads south on the Joban Line to Mito Station in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Therefore , at the time of departure from Sendai Station, "Inawashiro 4 + Iwaki 6" has four destinations in one train: Kitakata, Tadami, Aizutajima, and Mito .
"Inawashiro No. 4" and "Iwaki No. 6" run south on the Tohoku Main Line from Sendai Station to Fukushima Station as a local train (as it passes through some stations, it is a rapid train in the current image) rather than an express train. , when arriving at Fukushima Station at 17:50, green cars etc. will be added to Iwaki No. 6.
Going further south and arriving at Koriyama Station at 18:42, "Iwaki No. 6" is separated from "Inawashiro No. 4" and enters the Ban'etsu Higashi Line and heads for Mito Station (arriving at Mito Station at 22:52) ).
Inawashiro No. 4 departs from Koriyama Station at 7:15 p.m., travels west on the Ban'etsu West Line, and arrives at Aizuwakamatsu Station at 8:33 p.m.
At this point, the formation of ``Inawashiro 4'' is divided into three parts, with the first formation bound for Kitakata departing at 8:39 p.m., and arriving at the terminal station, Kitakata Station, at 8:54 p.m.
The next train bound for Tadami left Aizuwakamatsu Station at 21:08 and arrived at Tadami Station at 23:23.
The train bound for Aizu-Tajima departs from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station at 21:16 and arrives at Aizu-Tajima Station at 22:20.
The operation of Inawashiro 1 bound for Sendai is generally the reverse of this procedure.
The train that departed from Tadami Station at 5:13 and the train that departed from Aizu-Tajima Station at 6:20 will connect at Nishi-Wakamatsu Station, depart at 7:28, and arrive at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station at 7:35. Arrive.
The train that departed from Kitakata Station at 7:25 also arrived at Aizuwakamatsu Station at 7:35, connecting with trains starting from Tadami Station and Aizu-Tajima Station.
After leaving Aizuwakamatsu Station at 7:45, we headed east on the Ban'etsu West Line, arriving at Koriyama Station at 9:04.
Iwaki No. 1, which came from Mito, will arrive at Koriyama Station at 9:08 a.m., connect with Inawashiro No. 1, and both will head towards Fukushima and Sendai.
When the train arrives at Fukushima Station at 10:04, some of the vehicles, including the green car of Iwaki No. 1, are separated and continue north as a local train, arriving at Sendai Station at 11:54.
Up to this point, I have explained "Inawashiro 4 and 1" as an example, but "Inawashiro 2 and 3" have a different operation mode.
"Inawashiro No. 2" consists only of vehicles departing from Fukushima and bound for Aizu Kawaguchi, and from Fukushima Station to Aizuwakamatsu Station it is operated in conjunction with "Agano No. 4" departing from Sendai and bound for Niigata. I was there.
The same was true for Inawashiro No. 3, which departed from Aizu Kawaguchi and bound for Fukushima, and the line from Aizuwakamatsu Station to Fukushima Station was connected to Agano No. 1, which departed from Niigata and bound for Sendai.
This diagram is only as of October 1978, and depending on the time of year, three types of trains, ``Inawashiro'', ``Agano'', and ``Iwaki'', are operated in conjunction north of Koriyama Station (on the Tohoku Main Line). Sometimes .
``Inawashiro'' is a train that has multiple destinations mixed in one train, and also connects with ``Iwaki'' and ``Agano'', and some of the trains are closed at Fukushima Station. As the ships were being connected and disconnected, it was extremely difficult to provide guidance to passengers .
Even the passengers were said to have felt anxious about whether or not the car they were riding would reach its destination.
In the era of Japanese National Railways, there were other trains that had complicated routes and had many connections.
Please also check out this article.
Vehicles used on the express “Inawashiro”
The trains that depart from and arrive at Kitakata Station on the ``Inawashiro'' express train use diesel cars for express and semi-express trains of Japan National Railways (the predecessor of JR), such as the Kiha 58 and Kiha 55 types, and also include green cars. I did.
Author: Mitsuki-2368 – Author's own work, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0, by https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3365513
On the other hand, trains departing from and arriving at Aizu-Tajima Station, Tadami Station, or Aizu-Kawaguchi Station are connected to each other only one car at a time, and express diesel cars are not suitable for single-car operation, so they are also suitable for local trains. A diesel train called the Kiha 52 type was used.
Express trains that run with only one car are rare even in Japan, and were sometimes prized by railway fans, but on the other hand, even though they were also used for local trains, you had to pay an express fare to ride them, so they were inferior. ) It seems that it was sometimes called an express.
Author: spaceaero2 – Author's own work Kubokawa Station, CC Attribution 3.0, by https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12836220
Furthermore, all the vehicles used on the express ``Inawashiro'' were diesel cars that ran on diesel fuel.
On the other hand, electrification (installation of equipment to supply electricity to rolling stock) on the Banetsu West Line between Koriyama Station and Kitakata Station was completed in 1967. Therefore, even though the entire service section between Sendai Station and Kitakata Station is electrified, the vehicles arriving and departing from Kitakata were running on diesel oil, which was a bit of a waste.
Abolition of “Inawashiro” and its aftermath
It is said that the express ``Inawashiro'' was a very useful train at the time when it was difficult to remove snow from the roads in the winter.
However, with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen in 1982, the express trains in the Tohoku region were reorganized, and the express train ``Inawashiro'' was abolished due to the timetable revision in November 1982.
A successor rapid train was set up between Sendai Station and Kitakata Station, but this seems to have been abolished soon, and by the time of the timetable revision in March 1985, there was already a rapid train running between Sendai Station and Fukushima Station. There are no longer any trains that run directly to the Nishi Line, and there are no trains in existence that can be called a direct successor to the express Inawashiro.
As of 2024, in the Aizu area, there are trains such as the rapid train "Aizu" that connects Koriyama Station and Aizuwakamatsu Station, the tourist train "Aizu SATONO" that connects Koriyama Station and Kitakata Station, and the Tobu Railway in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. Rapid trains such as the ``AIZU Mount Express,'' which connect Kinugawa Onsen Station, Aizuwakamatsu Station, and Kitakata Station via the Aizu Railway Aizu Line, play a role in connecting Aizu with other areas.
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