JNR memories (Takasaki Joetsu Line)

[scott]

I just tripped over this video of 70s-era JNR footage while looking for something else. I can't understand the narration, and the music is in the easy-listening corporate promotion style, but the video is fun. 

 

[bikkuri bahn]

Ah, the Takasaki and Joetsu Lines before the shinkansen, very nice indeed.  I deem this period the "golden era" of the JNR limited expresses, plus you still have a good number of express trains to choose from.  Interesting that even today at Takasaki Station you can still catch a 115 series as the one depicted at 1:30, sans the big "bugeye" headlights.  Also a gem of scene at Nagaoka (3:56), with a 70 series in the "Niigata" colors- this is a livery I would like to see again.

 

Niigata color 70 series at Niigata Station (May, 1979):

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ye8n-nsmr/sonotakyuukoku/DCN72F0.jpg

 

*the snippet at the beginning about 0:15~0:20, pure JNR traction sound- classic!

[Martijn Meerts]

The bit starting around 2:30 looks so much like it could be a model layout (track plan wise), it's incredible :)

[keitaro]

where is that anyone know? @2:30 ish

[bikkuri bahn]

It's the Yubiso Loop on the Joetsu Line, up the line from Minakami.  The lower tunnel is the #1 Yubiso Tunnel.  Here is a map of the general area around the loop:

 

http://www.d4.dion.ne.jp/~m_mori/switch/jouetuyubisoloop.html

 

The filming may have been done from the up platform of the Yubiso Station.

[keitaro]

thanks mate.

 

I'll have to see if i can find some pics of it now maybe be worth adding to my list for my next holiday next year.

 

taking the little one with me. We are going for a 5 day trip and the e5 will be on the list for first class travel to shin aomori 

 

currently compiling a list of all lines I want to go on and which are possible in the direction i'll be heading to.

 

so many places so little time 

 

but that really does look like a great line back then. I wonder if it's cluttered with buildings everywhere now. I like the scenic routes.

[westfalen]

I've tried to work it into a few of my trips but unfortunately not many trains run on that section these days, I think only about five regular locals plus a couple of conditional runs per day on the section past Minakami where the spirals are.

[bikkuri bahn]

On the topic of the Takasaki and Joetsu Line, the crown jewel of the train services on this line was the limited express "Toki".  From the same series as the above video, here is a nice little segment about this train:

 

Utilizing the 181/183 series, this service offered 14 daily round trips between Ueno and Niigata, a frequency that the narration claims made it the "yokozuna" of JNR's L Tokkyu* fleet.

 

*the L tokkyu was an appellation JNR created in 1972 for limited express services running on a frequent clockface schedule with a high number of unreserved seating, which made ltd. express travel more convenient and less expensive for the common traveler, especially if they purchased discounted ticket booklets (kaisuken), for example, of 10 roundtrips.

[westfalen]

I'd love to take that Toki to Niigata instead of the present day Shinkansen version. Who's in that much of a hurry?