Picture perfect for modeling - Amanohashidate railroad station

[Mauka]

Photo showing a view of the Amanohashidate railroad station at the village of Monju, south side of Amanohashidate.

 

Got this image from the DPLA (Digital Public Library of America, there are more, many taken from inside the train, and many photos of US Railroads.

 

I saw this photo and thought it was perfect for modeling. Those are hotels in the background.  Couldn't find a date.

 

Does anyone know if the water in the foreground, against the siding, is agriculture?

 

Edited April 19, 2014 by Mauka

[miyakoji]

In the satellite image, it looks like it's in someone's back yard: http://goo.gl/maps/l0nKY

 

It's difficult to see the train.  JNR-era DMUs for sure, in a long formation with mixed types and liveries, that could be useful for narrowing it down.  Maybe...

 

Second picture on this page is from April 1968: http://www2.u-netsurf.ne.jp/~tetumiya/kidousyakyuko.htm

but then this photo is from the '80s: http://ktr-tetsudo.jp/railroad/exhibition/search/train/kiha2858/20120927000071/photo.html

these pictures are from early May 1994: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/ymfpm554/35195172.html

 

[Mauka]

Aloha Miyakoji,

 

Thanks for linking those photos and maps.  On the Google map, if you following the rail line to the left, the rail and highway curve around a point.

 

Looks like a sharp curve that can be modeled and there's a short tunnel with two houses on the shoreline, and some large building between the rail and road.

 

Edited April 19, 2014 by Mauka

[kvp]

The picture of the staton could be taken between the 60ies and early 80ies. The area is a famous tourist destination and one of the train cruise videos visits it (Train Cruise Episode 4 - A Fall Trip from Kyoto to the Japan Sea). There are some tourist trains that run on this line. (it looks like they are actually rebuilds and repaints of the old dmu-s on the picture) Modelling this area is imho a very good idea for a small scenic layout.

 

http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/8278-nhk-world-running-a-show-called-train-cruise/

[marknewton]

A track diagram and some photos can be seen here:

 

http://senrohaisenzu.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/07/1979824_b791.html

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[bikkuri bahn]

The body of water (pond) is connected with the ocean by a canal.  As kvp stated, the rolling stock is consistent with JNR of a period of 1960's to beginning of the 1980's.  Some pictures at Amanohashidate in 1980, dmu formations of the "dog's breakfast" variety almost identical to the picture:

 

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/constimasahikos/24491597.html

 

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/namoamidabutsu18/51838287.html

[Davo Dentetsu]

It looks amazing, nothing a few Unitrack sets couldn't handle.  I'm so nearly tempted to go for it had my larger trains not been here.