Freight or Track maintenance cars at Annaka Station?

[gmat]

BikkuriBahn said that these sounded like track maintenance cars, when I mentioned it to him. Here are some photos taken when I passed by returning back to Takasaki station from Yokokawa, on Mar. 1, 2012. Taken on a

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken on the way to Yokokawa Station, the Yashiro Line and on to Yudanaka Station. Annaka Station again. That's the Toho Zinc Factory in the distance. Mar. 26, 2012.

 

 

 

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[westfalen]

My guess is they are carrying zinc, I'm sure I've seen that switching loco in a recent Japan Railfan Magazine.

[gmat]

Thank you, westfalen,

 

I googled Toho Zinc Company Ltd and found the kanji characters match those on the diesel.

 

http://www.toho-zinc.co.jp/

 

I need to come again and wait for the freight to run.

 

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

In action at Annaka Station.  "Annaka" can be also be read as "annchu", which is the nickname for these zinc freights.

[gmat]

Thanks, bikkuri bahn.

I was hoping you could add some more.

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[westfalen]

A fellow Brisbane train driver and I are planning an 8 day trip to Japan in November, we might have to look into this as we are both freight fans. We are already looking at a couple of things out that way.

[bikkuri bahn]

A fellow Brisbane train driver and I are planning an 8 day trip to Japan in November, we might have to look into this as we are both freight fans. We are already looking at a couple of things out that way.

 

With a JRF timetable you could fashion a pretty action-packed 8 day itinerary based around watching freights.  A trip to Annaka could be combined with a trip on the Chichibu Rlwy with its cement trains hauled by electric locos.  Gmat and I went to the Chichibu last month, and were able to see one freight in its entirety during our brief visit (it was mid/late afternoon, maybe other times have more freights).  I recommend a return to the Tokyo area via the Seibu Chichibu Line, the Seibu station at Chicihibu has an interesting and unique for Japan double slip switch throat track layout, and the line through the mountains is single track, including a passing siding inside a tunnel.

 

*also, if freight is the focus, I also recommend Nagoya/Yokkaichi, but you already know the possibilities there, I reckon.

[westfalen]

A fellow Brisbane train driver and I are planning an 8 day trip to Japan in November, we might have to look into this as we are both freight fans. We are already looking at a couple of things out that way.

 

With a JRF timetable you could fashion a pretty action-packed 8 day itinerary based around watching freights.  A trip to Annaka could be combined with a trip on the Chichibu Rlwy with its cement trains hauled by electric locos.  Gmat and I went to the Chichibu last month, and were able to see one freight in its entirety during our brief visit (it was mid/late afternoon, maybe other times have more freights).  I recommend a return to the Tokyo area via the Seibu Chichibu Line, the Seibu station at Chicihibu has an interesting and unique for Japan double slip switch throat track layout, and the line through the mountains is single track, including a passing siding inside a tunnel.

 

*also, if freight is the focus, I also recommend Nagoya/Yokkaichi, but you already know the possibilities there, I reckon.

We both have JRF timetables and the Chichibu is in our sights, steam and freight, you can't go wrong.