JR West Hakubi Line Yuttari Yakumo - full ride, Okayama to Izumo-shi

[miyakoji]

A great series by YT contributor JRwtrains.  The Yakumo service started in March 1972 when the Sanyo Shinkansen came to Okayama.  Until July 1982, KIHA181s in consists as long as 11 cars were used, but with full electrification of the Hakubi Line and this service's portion of the San-in Main Line, the 381s took over.  This was the third region to see the 381 series, having been introduced in 1972 on the Shinano service between Nagoya and Nagano, and in 1978 on the Kuroshio service between Tennoji and Shingu.  By 2011, JR West completed refurbishment of all 381 series cars on Yakumo service, phasing out the former green/grey livery and the so-called Super Yakumo's purple livery.

 

The southern terminus of JR West's Hakubi Line is officially Kurashiki Station, and at the northern end, Houki Daisen Station.  Neither station is a terminus for anything running on the line (or maybe anything at all).  Operationally the line is divided roughly in half for local services.  Locals on the southern half reach as far north as Bitchu-Takahashi or Niimi, and southbound go to Okayama or beyond to various destinations including Banshu-Ako, Wake, Aioi, and Osafune.  On the northern half of the line, trains start at Niimi, Shoyama, or Neu and go up to Yonago, Izumo-shi, or Nishi-Izumo.  There is one full-distance southbound and two full-distance northbound locals per day between Okayama and Yonago.  Great for the seishun 18 ticket, but taking about 5 hours 20 minutes, bad for your rear.

 

This view is from the front of 381 series car KURO 380-6, built by Kawasaki in 1982.  As it turns out, this was originally an intermediate car, "end-car-ized" by JR West from SARO 381-26.  A total of 7 KURO 380s were built from SARO 381s; post-modification numbers -6 and -7 at the Gotoh facility in Yonago, Tottori in 1994, cars -1 through -5 at the shops in Suita, Osaka in 1989.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r8vb9xXvEg

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOSvzFk5gK0

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np7ifJbDvKg

[cteno4]

Miyakoji,  thanks great vids. These are pushing me more and more to work on a set of single track modules with the variety of scenes like this.

 

Cheers,

 

Jeff