At Shimoimaichi Station in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, the Tobu Kinugawa Line branches off from the Tobu Nikko Line. Although the Tobu Kinugawa Line is a single track, it is connected to the Yagan Railway, Aizu Railway, and even JR Nishi-Wakamatsu Station and Aizu-Wakamatsu Station. Shimoimaichi Station is a branch station with a grade crossing, but its biggest feature is that it has an active engine shed and turntable. In 2017, the "SL Taiki" began operation, and an engine shed and turntable were built. Limited express trains run from Asakusa Station to Tobu Nikko Station, Kinugawa Onsen Station, and Aizu-Tajima Station. (JR Shinjuku Station also runs the "Spacia Nikko" and "Kinugawa" trains.) It directly connects the tourist destinations of Nikko and Kinugawa Onsen with Tokyo. There are many limited express trains running on both the up and down lines, and there is a wide variety of train types, so it is a station that you will never get bored of seeing. At Shimoimaichi Station, the Liberty Kegon and Liberty Aizu trains are also coupled and uncoupled. Shimoimaichi Station only has 2 platforms and 4 tracks for passenger use. Trains heading in three directions, Tobu Nikko, Kinugawa Onsen, and Asakusa, are handled on 2 platforms and 4 tracks plus a siding. Although Shimoimaichi Station is a compact station, it is a station that performs various roles such as turning around and switching local trains, storing local and express trains, coupling and uncoupling Liberty Kegon and Liberty Aizu, and turning and switching steam locomotives. If the "SL Daiki" and local trains are not turned around immediately, they are switched to free up the platform. Switching and turning around are also performed using the main line. The tracks of the Tobu Kinugawa Line continue to Nishiwakamatsu and Aizuwakamatsu (Fukushima Prefecture). Although there is a fair amount of tourism demand in the Aizu region, there is little daily passenger and student demand across the prefectural border. Most local trains are divided into different operating lines at Shin-Fujiwara Station. The SL Taiki terminates at Shimo-imaichi Station and turns around, so the steam locomotive uses a turntable to turn around. The turntable at Shimo-imaichi Station was acquired from JR West, and was used at Nagato City Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. There is also a viewing space on the turntable. ・C11 325 Steam Locomotive Manufactured in 1946, it was originally used at the JNR Chigasaki Locomotive Depot. It was restored to working order in 1998 and operated on the Moka Railway. It was purchased (bid) by Tobu Railway in 2020 and is currently in service at the Shimo-imaichi Locomotive Depot. It is used to pull the SL Taiki and SL Taiki Futara trains. [Playback time index] 00:00 Introductory explanation 0:08 Wiring diagram at Shimoimaichi Station 0:40 Spacia X bound for Asakusa 2:07 Shunting of C11 + passenger cars 3:33 Shunting using the main line (SL Daiki No. 5) 6:51 Shunting of the arriving SL Daiki No. 4 8:49 Pushing in 12:38 Shunting of the caboose and C11 14:21 From the siding to the turntable 16:10 The caboose and C11 change direction 19:47 The caboose and C11 temporarily enter the roundhouse 22:17 "Spacia Kinugawa" departs Kinugawa Onsen bound for Shinjuku 25:24 Spacia X (departing Asakusa for Kinugawa Onsen) departs 27:06 Kegon (departing Tobu Nikko for Asakusa) arrives 29:05 "Liberty Aizu" departs Aizu-Tajima A train bound for Asakusa arrives29:47 A local train entering platform 1Bound for Tobu Nikko30:44 Liberty Kegon + Liberty AizuBound for Asakusa33:02 Kinugawa (departing Shinjuku for Kinugawa Onsen)35:11 SL Daiki No. 7 (bound for Kinugawa Onsen) enters the station37:25 SL Daiki No. 7 and Kegon39:45 A local train bound for Minami-Kurihashi and Spacia X (departing Asakusa for Kinugawa Onsen)41:03 Shunting using the main line43:06 Kegon (departing Tobu Nikko for Asakusa) arrives44:01 Liberty Aizu + Liberty Kegon44:57 A forwarding train (Tobu 100 series)46:39 Shunting work begins for the arriving SL Daiki50:54 Liberty Kegon + Liberty Aizu Departing for Asakusa 52:33 Shunting for C11 54:35 Shunting on the main line, Spacia X (Asakusa to Nikko) 55:04 Coupled with passenger cars DE10 diesel locomotive Related videos etc. [Passing line on the outside] Tobu Isesaki Line Soka Station [Siding line on the inside] • [Passing line on the outside] Quadruple track! 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[Kurihashi Station] Connecting line and switch point between Tobu Nikko Line and JR Tohoku Main Line • [Kurihashi Station] Connecting line and switch point between Tobu Nikko Line and JR Tohoku Main Line Railroad... [Membership] / @shio_vanilla I took a picture of this video nearby Shimo-Imaichi station in the city of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. (Private railway operator Tobu Railway) The Tobu Kinugawa Line is separated from the Tobu Nikko Line at Shimo-Imaichi station. Shimo-Imaichi station is served by commuter trains, express trains and steam locomotives. This station has a locomotive turntable and roundhouse. Steam locomotives run on holidays and weekdays. #Level crossing #Tobu Nikko Line #Steam locomotive