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This is a local train from Asahikawa to Wakkanai. C55 50 (Asahi) covers the entire line in about 8 hours. Recorded in August 1974 in the lead SuHaFu 32 272 (Asahi Asa). C55 pulls 4 cars, 2 cars of local cars (32 series), SuUni (Asahi Asa), and Mani 36 (Kita Sumi) for "Northeast bound" service from Tokyo (Sumida River) to Wakkanai. However, this 321 train is short in formation, so it also covers Shiokari Pass without a helper engine. At Asahikawa Station, I recorded it from the point where C55 was coupled. This is the audio from Asahikawa to Shin-Asahikawa, Ranru, Shiokari, Otoineppu, Oshima, Yuchi, Nukai, Minami-Wakkanai. C55 struggles at Shiokari Pass, Nukai at about 0:45, and then from about 0:53, the engineer drives slowly to watch the sunset and Rishiri Fuji from Nukai sand dunes. Although it is a black and white photo, I have included a still image of the scene at that time. Before arriving at Minami-Wakkanai, the train blows a long whistle. It is as if it is saying hello to the train after a long journey to a northern town. Passenger trains that pass through this area continued to blow their whistle even after they were replaced by DD51s. Visibility from this area is not particularly poor, and there were no whistle signs on the tracks, so I think it was just the engineer's custom, but I am not sure of the exact reason.