[Akita Prefecture] The trajectory of the express train “Oga”, which connected Ueno and Akita and was in strong demand

When traveling by train from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Akita Station in Akita Prefecture, most people will take
Komachi If there was no Shinkansen, people would have used limited express trains on conventional lines, but the limited express trains up until the 1970s were truly special, and anyone could easily use them. It was not a train that could do that.
The express train ``Oga'', which we will introduce here, was one of the access trains to Akita at a time when limited express trains were not common.

Birth of express train “Oga”

Oga express was first set up in October 1961.
This is a night local train that used to connect Ueno Station and Akita Station via the Tohoku Main Line and Ou Main Line (passing through stations such as Omiya, Utsunomiya, Fukushima, and Yamagata), but was upgraded to an express train.
It is said that the purpose was to relieve congestion on Tsugaru the Oga complement Tsugaru , which connects Ueno Station and Aomori Station on the Tohoku Main Line and Ou Main Line

In October 1963, the name was changed from ``Oga'' to
Oga Also, at this time, one round trip of the night local train was further upgraded to the night express ``Oga'', making the number of ``Oga'' two round trips per day.

However, just two years later, in October 1965, the one round-trip operation section of Oga was extended between Ueno Station and Aomori Station and incorporated into Tsugaru.
``Oga'' has returned to one round trip per day.

The Ou Main Line, which was the route of Oga, has several stations with unusual names and stations that are difficult to read.
See this article for more details.

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

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[Fukushima/Yamagata/Akita] For some reason there are many unusual names? Ou Main Line station name

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The Ou Main Line is a JR East line that runs from Fukushima Station to Aomori Station via Yamagata Station and Akita Station. It is one of the main lines that runs through the Tohoku region in a north-south direction, and limited express trains were once in operation that covered the entire section. Today, some sections are still used as routes for trains such as the Yamagata Shinkansen's Tsubasa, the Akita Shinkansen's Komachi, and the limited express Tsugaru. For some reason, stations with unusual names stand out on the Ou Main Line, so this time we will introduce some of them. The Ou Main Line is a major trunk line in the Tohoku region, and runs from Fukushima Station in Fukushima Prefecture, via Yamagata Station in Yamagata Prefecture, Akita Station in Akita Prefecture, and on to Aomori Station in Aomori Prefecture.

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The peak of “Oga”

With the famous timetable revision in October 1968 (Yong San Too revision), major changes occurred in the operation system of "Oga".
Two more round trips were added, resulting in three round trips per day.

Until now, all Oga trains were night trains that were pulled by a locomotive that packed together passenger cars such as sleeping cars, seat cars, and luggage cars . It was a daytime train using diesel cars.
As someone of a generation who did not know about those days, it is difficult to understand that night trains and daytime trains are given the same nickname even though they are express trains that operate on the same section, but have completely different vehicle equipment and user needs. There is no place.

In addition, the additional round trip was a night train, extending its service section to Odate Station on the Ou Main Line in northern Akita Prefecture.

Even the night trains that had been in operation before the timetable revision were running for extended periods for limited periods of time, extending their journey to Oga Station on the Oga Line, which runs through the Oga Peninsula.
You have finally set foot on the Oga Peninsula, the origin of the train's name.

The timetable for Oga in October 1968, when it was at its peak, is as follows (station departure times are listed only for major stations).

In addition to the fact that ``Oga'' alone had three round trips, the night express ``Tsugaru'' that connects Ueno Station and Aomori Station could also be used to access Akita. The limited express train ``Tsubasa'' was also running.
There was also an express train called Chokai that connected Ueno Station and Akita Station via the Sea of ​​Japan coast (this train also had daytime and nighttime trains). The daytime limited express ``Inaho'' will also begin operating.
Currently, the only train to access Akita from the Tokyo metropolitan area is the Akita Shinkansen ``Komachi'', but back then there were many different options.

“Oga” continues to be at the mercy of other trains

In 1970, the sleeper express ``Akebono'', which connects Ueno Station and Akita Station via the same Ou Main Line as ``Oga'', was created as a special train, and soon after became a regular train that operated between Ueno Station and Aomori Station. I did.
The regular night train ``Oga'' will disappear when it is promoted to ``Akebono,'' and the system will be changed to one round trip of the regular daytime train and one round trip of the seasonal night train.
Also, according to the timetables from around this time, it can be seen that it was common for night trains to run extended hours to Oga Station.

We also have articles featuring night trains that connect Ueno Station and Aomori Station, such as the Tsugaru express and the Akebono sleeper express, so be sure to check them out as well.

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

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[Aomori Prefecture] Lyrics were written a long time ago...Night trains from Ueno to Aomori

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I think many of you are familiar with the opening line of Sayuri Ishikawa's single ``Tsugaru Kaikyo Winter View'' released in 1977. Although it is a famous song that includes scenes of travel in its short lyrics, there is no longer a ``night train from Ueno to Aomori'' like the one that appears in this song. The service ended earlier than the night train to Aomori. This time, we will focus on what kind of train the ``night train from Ueno bound for Aomori'' was. The role of the night train from Ueno to Aomori The sleeper express ``Akebono'' connecting Ueno and Aomori...

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In October 1975, electrification of the Ou Main Line (installation of equipment to supply electricity to trains) was completed (*), so it was possible to change the daytime diesel train's "Oga" cars to electric trains. , continued to be operated by diesel cars.
It is thought that there was a shortage of trains that could be used for express trains, but whatever the reason, diesel cars were running under overhead wires (electric wires) throughout the entire section from Ueno Station to Akita Station. This running mode of operation will continue until the daytime ``Oga'' service is discontinued.

*Some sections of the Ou Main Line have been suspended due to damage caused by heavy rains in July 2024, and when the affected sections are restored, electrified equipment will be removed, and the line will no longer be fully electrified.

In October 1980, when the schedule was revised, the night train "Oga" passenger cars, which also had sleeping cars, were changed to 14-series passenger cars, and there were no sleeping cars.

With the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen and Joetsu Shinkansen in 1982, a large-scale reorganization of limited express and express trains running on conventional lines in the Tohoku region was carried out.
Due to the timetable revision on November 15th due to the full-scale opening of the Shinkansen, the daytime train ``Oga'' was abolished.
It operated for a short period of 14 years after it was established in 1968, and it was operated by diesel cars until the end.
At its peak, Oga operated three round trips a day, but only one seasonal night train remains.

The remaining seasonal night trains had their passenger cars replaced with 20 series passenger cars in July 1983, and sleepers were restored.
However, on March 14, 1985, when the Tohoku Shinkansen line was extended to Ueno Station, the train schedule was revised, and the train was downgraded to a special train, meaning its operating days were significantly reduced.
However, it seems that it was operated quite frequently as a special train.

Strong demand even after the introduction of special trains

Even after the division and privatization of JNR in 1987, the special night express ``Oga'' continued to operate for a while.
In 1991, construction work was carried out to allow Yamagata Shinkansen trains to pass through some sections of the Ou Main Line, making it impossible for existing vehicles to pass, so the Oga service route was changed to the Tohoku Main Line/Kitakami Line ( The route was changed to the route connecting Kitakami Station in Iwate Prefecture and Yokote Station in Akita Prefecture) and the Ou Main Line, but it can be said that there was enough demand to continue operating the route.
It seems that it was in operation until around the beginning of 1995, but since then it has not been operated at all as a special train connecting Ueno Station and Akita Station.

Please see this article for information on how the Yamagata Shinkansen was born.

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

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In 2013, a special group train called the Sleeper Express ``Oga'' was operated as a night train from Yokohama Station in Kanagawa Prefecture to Akita Station.

In addition, a revival operation of "Oga" was carried out in the spring of 2018.
The operation was very different from the "Oga" that used to be operated, with 12 series passenger cars pulled by diesel locomotives making one round trip during the day from Yuzawa Station on the Ou Main Line to Oga Station on the Oga Line. Many railway fans enjoyed riding and taking pictures of the nostalgic train.

``Oga'' was a train that continued to run while being greatly influenced by other trains such as ``Tsugaru'', ``Akebono'', and the Tohoku Shinkansen, but even after regular operation ended, it remained as a seasonal or special train. This shows that there was strong demand as an access train to Akita.

Since it has been revived several times, it can be said that it was a train that left a lasting impression on railway fans.
I may be able to drive it again on some occasion in the future.