How does JRF get Freight to Nagano?

[ote-m]

As I understand it, the Shin-etsu main line was constructed as a, well, main line. Double-tracked, and mostly for carrying passengers. However, as I (also) understand, JNR also pushed freight through the Usui Pass. After it was closed, I'm wondering what line JRF uses to bring freight in and out of Nagano. There's the Koumi Line, which is single track and doesn't look fit for heavy freight. There's also the Shinonoi Line. Also single track for much of its journey, and not looking suitable for heavy freight. 

 

So here are my questions:

 

If JRF has operations in Nagano, how do they move freight in and out of the region? On a side note, why did JR close the Usui Pass? 

[railsquid]

As I understand it, the Shin-etsu main line was constructed as a, well, main line. Double-tracked, and mostly for carrying passengers. However, as I (also) understand, JNR also pushed freight through the Usui Pass. After it was closed, I'm wondering what line JRF uses to bring freight in and out of Nagano. There's the Koumi Line, which is single track and doesn't look fit for heavy freight. There's also the Shinonoi Line. Also single track for much of its journey, and not looking suitable for heavy freight. 

 

So here are my questions:

 

If JRF has operations in Nagano, how do they move freight in and out of the region?

 

Here's a train of tank wagons traversing a switchback on the Shinonoi Line:

 

On a side note, why did JR close the Usui Pass?

 

Too expensive to maintain after the Nagano Shinkansen was opened.

[bikkuri bahn]

The Chuo Line and Shinonoi Line freight services are one the few entities that are helping to keep non-container freight trains alive in Japan. Nagano and Matsumoto are relatively rare large cities far from the coast. Otherwise, things like petrol products would come by ship.

Edited September 1, 2015 by bikkuri bahn

[Mudkip Orange]

Here's a train of tank wagons traversing a switchback on the Shinonoi Line:

 

Nice video of Obasute station. I note that the 383 series passing by is only running six cars. This is probably because the coupling between the main 6-car consist and the 2-car addon set tends to derail on R315 and below. So, very realistic video.

[railsquid]

And if you look carefully you can see someone disposing of an unwanted grandmother.

[miyakoji]

And if you look carefully you can see someone disposing of an unwanted grandmother.

 

Yeah, fairly shocking.  But it looks like Obasute is the name of the surrounding neighborhood, Japanese wiki says the station's address is 千曲市大字八幡姨捨4947. So there are questions to be asked, just not of JRE :).

[kvp]

From wikipedia:

 

Ubasute-yama (姨捨山?) is the common name of Kamuriki-yama (冠着山?), a mountain in Chikuma, Nagano, Japan.

 

 

Obasute Station (姨捨駅 Obasute-eki?) is a railway station of Shinonoi Line located in the city of Chikuma, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

[stevenh]

I understand the Hakone switchbacks... they are reversing stations as well... but with this switchback, the train eventually continues in the direction it was heading... couldn't it just continue forward in the first place?

Are these switchbacks to prevent roll-aways?

[Sacto1985]

Or in short, the main freight line to Nagano (and Matsumoto along the way) from the Tokyo area is west on the Chūō Main Line, then up the Shinonoi Line to the Nagano area. Which explains why you see a lot of video and pictures of freight trains at Kōfu and Matsumoto, and the freight yard near Shinonoi Station is still very active.

[Nick_Burman]

I understand the Hakone switchbacks... they are reversing stations as well... but with this switchback, the train eventually continues in the direction it was heading... couldn't it just continue forward in the first place?

Are these switchbacks to prevent roll-aways?

 

Steve,

 

These switchbacks date from the days when freight trains had few or no continuous braking and passenger trains were vacuum-braked. The arrangement gave a flat location where a downhill train could stop and cool its brakes safely (also the locomotive could take on water if needed) while waiting for an uphill train to pass. On the uphill direction, it gave a flat place where trains could start and overcome inertia before hitting the grade after a stop. With the advent of more modern motive power, continuous brakes and MU trains these arrangements have become redundant to a large extent.

 

Cheers NB

[Mudkip Orange]

Obasute also has an active passenger station, and generally it's not good form to locate those on steep grades. Notice how the trackage levels out in advance of Kamuriki Station, a few miles down the line.

[Claude_Dreyfus]

Obasute station is currently the top of the list for potential new layouts - unusual track layout, interesting operations, plus using stock I already have (big plus!).

 

And if you look carefully you can see someone disposing of an unwanted grandmother.

 

 

Which very much leads me to perhaps base the layout on Obasute - with a name change!

 

When we were in Japan last year, we passed through the station - the view from the window is pretty impressive.

 

 

[kvp]

I checked trivial alternative names like Chikuma and Kamuriki, but they turn out to be real neighbouring stations with less interesting layouts. What is strange is that i've found 2 other switchbacks on both sides of Obasute, but without buildings. Then i found a video of another stationless one and they are actually in use. I don't know who tought that switchbacks are a good way for trains to cross, but they do keep the gradient of the main tracks constant while providing level tracks for stopping. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv_-zoFJQys

 

They seems to be good for small loop layouts, as the turnouts can be placed on the only straight sections, with long tracks and platforms in the curves. I've drawn a possible version based on the video above. A station platform could be on the inner switchback track. (it's also possible to add a 2nd station track there)

 

 

[railsquid]

When we were in Japan last year, we passed through the station - the view from the window is pretty impressive.

 

Window.jpg

 

That it is. I think I remember seeing adverts for an excursion train from Nagano to there to view the (summertime?) fireworks display further down the valley in Nagano.

[westfalen]

Spent two or three hours at Obasute in 2012 enroute from Toyohashi to Nagano.