Mooka Line
{{Short description|Railway line in Ibaraki & Tochigi Prefectures, Japan}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Mooka Line
真岡線
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Mashiko Station.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Mooka 14 DMU at Mashiko Station, April 2006
| type = Heavy rail
| system =
| status =
| locale = Ibaraki, Tochigi prefectures
| start = {{STN|Shimodate|x}}
| end = {{STN|Motegi|x}}
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| website = https://www.moka-railway.co.jp/
| open = 1912
| close =
| owner = Mooka Railway
| operator =
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|41.9|km|mi|2|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks =
| gauge = {{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on}}
| electrification = None
| speed =
| elevation =
| map =
| map_state =
}}
The {{nihongo|Mooka Line|真岡線|Mo-oka-sen}} is a Japanese railway line connecting Shimodate Station, in Chikusei, Ibaraki and Motegi Station in Motegi, Tochigi. It is the only railway line operated by the {{nihongo|Mooka Railway|真岡鐵道|Mooka Tetsudō}}. The third-sector company took over the former JR East line in 1988. In addition to regular diesel local trains, the line also operates the SL Mooka steam service for tourists using a C12 class steam locomotive.
History
- 1 April 1912: 16.5 km {{Nihongo|Mooka Light Railway|真岡軽便線}} line opens between Shimodate and Mooka.
- 15 December 1920: Entire line opened to Motegi (route length of 42.0 km). The proposed extension to Nagakura was not constructed.
- 2 September 1922: Line renamed Mooka Line.
- 1 November 1982: Freight services discontinued.
- 11 September 1984: Line closure approved.
- 11 April 1988: JR line closes and becomes Mooka Railway Mooka Line. Route length is reduced to 41.9 km.
- 27 March 1994: SL Mooka steam train operation starts.
- 30 July 2020: JNR Class C11 steam locomotive #325 moved to Tobu Railway. {{Cite news |date=July 30, 2020 |title=真岡鐵道で運行していたSL(C11形325号機)を2020年7月30日に譲受します! |pages=1 |work=Tobu News Release |url=https://www.tobu.co.jp/cms-pdf/releases/20200720120934fYUWPllo2KeWvQVUiEdU5g.pdf |access-date=October 17, 2022}}
Rolling stock
- Mooka 14 diesel railcars x9
- DE10 Class diesel locomotive #1535"全国の現役機関車をめぐって" Japan Railfan Magazine, October 2008 issue, p.133
- JNR Class C12 steam locomotive #66
- OHa & OHaFu coaches x3
Stations
- The SL Mooka stops at stations marked with "●" and passes stations marked "｜".
- To take the SL Mooka, passengers must purchase the SL ticket (500 yen) via [https://www.moka-railway.co.jp/sl-guide/ Mooka Railways SL Guide] and [https://www.moka-railway.co.jp/sl-yoyaku/?ym=2020-7 reserve their seats] at least a day in advance.
- There is "SL・DL Rapid" service only on days SL Mooka is operated. And, boarding on this service costs only fares.[https://www.moka-railway.co.jp/stations/shimodate-station/ Holidays timetable from/to Shimodate Station around 15 p.m. and 16 p.m.]
| class="wikitable" rules="all" |
| Station
!Japanese !style="width:2.5em;"|Distance (km) !SL Mooka !SL・DL Rapid !Transfers !colspan="2"|Location |
|---|
| {{STN|Shimodate|x}}
|下館 |style="text-align:right"|0.0 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"|● |East Japan Railway Company (JR East): Mito Line |rowspan="4"|Chikusei |rowspan="4"|Ibaraki |
| {{STN|Shimodate-Nikōmae|x}}
|下館二高前 |style="text-align:right"|2.2 |style="text-align:center"|｜ |style="text-align:center"|↓ | |
| {{STN|Orimoto|x}}
|折本 |style="text-align:right"|4.6 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"|● | |
| {{STN|Higuchi|x|Ibaraki}}
|ひぐち |style="text-align:right"|6.5 |style="text-align:center"|｜ |style="text-align:center"|↓ | |
| {{STN|Kugeta|x}}
|久下田 |style="text-align:right"|8.5 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"|● | |rowspan="6"|Mooka |rowspan="13" style="width:1.5em;"|Tochigi |
| {{STN|Terauchi|x}}
|寺内 |style="text-align:right"|12.6 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"|↓ | |
| {{STN|Mooka|x}}
|真岡 |style="text-align:right"|16.4 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"|● | |
| {{STN|Kita-Mooka|x}}
|北真岡 |style="text-align:right"|18.0 |style="text-align:center"|｜ |style="text-align:center"| | |
| {{STN|Nishidai|x|Tochigi}}
|西田井 |style="text-align:right"|21.2 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"| | |
| {{STN|Kitayama|x|Tochigi}}
|北山 |style="text-align:right"|22.9 |style="text-align:center"|｜ |style="text-align:center"| | |
| {{STN|Mashiko|x}}
|益子 |style="text-align:right"|25.1 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"| | |rowspan="2"|Mashiko, Haga District |
| {{STN|Nanai|x}}
|七井 |style="text-align:right"|28.4 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"| | |
| {{STN|Tatara|x|Tochigi}}
|多田羅 |style="text-align:right"|31.2 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"| | |rowspan="3"|Ichikai, Haga District |
| {{STN|Ichihana|x}}
|市塙 |style="text-align:right"|34.3 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"| | |
| {{STN|Sasaharada|x}}
|笹原田 |style="text-align:right"|38.1 |style="text-align:center"|｜ |style="text-align:center"| | |
| {{STN|Ten'yaba|x}}
|天矢場 |style="text-align:right"|39.2 |style="text-align:center"|｜ |style="text-align:center"| | |rowspan="2"|Motegi, Haga District |
| {{STN|Motegi|x}}
|茂木 |style="text-align:right"|41.9 |style="text-align:center"|● |style="text-align:center"| | |
See also
References
This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia
{{Reflist}}
{{Specified local lines|state=collapsed}}
Category:Railway lines in Japan
Category:Rail transport in Tochigi Prefecture
Category:Rail transport in Ibaraki Prefecture
Category:Railway lines opened in 1912
Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan
Category:1912 establishments in Japan