JR West Tsuyama Line - Okayama to Tsuyama

[miyakoji]

More front-view video from marineliner26.  One thing that stands out here and on the Geibi Line is the length of the platforms.  Google Maps doesn't have very high resolution arial images for these rural locations to show for sure, but these platforms might fit a 6-car train.  I don't know the history of the communities that these lines connect, maybe the populations once supported such rail service.  In the case of this line, it did have express service from Okayama to Tottori prior the opening of the Chizu Kyuko Line.  The Kibi and Kishin Lines, for example, did not have such services to my knowledge but they also have fairly long platforms.  I'm not sure, though, and sadly there are no videos of those lines on YT, so I've got no reference.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-mRo6vzCKQ

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajuS_4QwlhQ

[bikkuri bahn]

The long platforms are a legacy of time when people had fewer personal automobiles, and were more dependent on railways for basic transport.  Some of the local trains were steam-hauled, and in the case of the am services, may have had four or five cars to haul students (more children back then), and possibly an express/mail car.  Even after the end of steam, dmu trains may have had a express/mail dmu unit in its consist.  Even on main lines, such as Hakodate Main Line between Iwamizawa and Fukagawa, you will see the remnants of very long platforms that could handle ten car lengths at stations that are now unstaffed and are host to two or three car locals.

 

Another possible reason is that trains originally may have been fewer in number, but longer.  With motorization, railways had to compete, so they increased the frequency but shortened the consists.  Increasing frequency compensated somewhat for the elimination of express and run-through services which was a by-product of both motorization and the centering of services around shinkansen trunk lines.

[bikkuri bahn]

Express Misasa/Mimasaka on the Kishin Line. Note consist length, could be longer (7+ cars) when traffic demands warranted.

 

http://rail.hobidas.com/kokutetsu2/archives/2011/05/post-26.html

[miyakoji]

Express Misasa/Mimasaka on the Kishin Line. Note consist length, could be longer (7+ cars) when traffic demands warranted.

 

http://rail.hobidas.com/kokutetsu2/archives/2011/05/post-26.html

 

After I posted that I realized that the east end of the Kishin terminates at Himeji, and there could be longer trains (like more than 2 cars) for AM/PM commutes or to get Tsuyama residents down to Himeji and points east (I'd go to Okayama, but, whatever).  However, I believe that the western Kishin Line, between Tsuyama and Niimi, also has long platforms, and that area is and has always been true middle-of-nowhere, on par with any other Chugoku region non-electrified line.  You have a point with loco-hauled passenger cars and baggage/mail cars, I think.  Was it always that the platforms were long enough to hold the whole train including the loco?  For some reason I don't think the Japanese would like the loco sticking out beyond the station, not sure why 

 

Also, did you notice the error on that hobidas.com page?  In the text they call the express services the Misasa and Mimasaka, but in the title they miswrote Misasa as Misaki.  Looking at the Japanese Wikipedia page on the Kishin Line, it appears that Misasa is correct.  The second car in the consist appears to be a green car, I guess a KIRO28.  In the link below there are some photos, KIRO28-112 is at Ueno, and KIRO28-132 is at Uguisudani.  It's strange to think of these old DMUs in Tokyo.

 

http://www.jnr-photo.com/DC58/kiro28/kiro28.htm