On November 2nd and 3rd, I went travelling with 2 local trains in Gumma Prefecture, Watarase Keikoku Railway and Jomo Electric Railway. I heard it was autumn leaves season along Watarase Keikoku Railway, but...
At first, I want to write about on 2nd, mainly Watarase Keikoku Railway.
In the early morning, I came to the platform of limited express at Kita-senju Station on Tobu Isesaki Line, where I hadn't been, to wait for "Ryomo" express. It was also my first travel on "Ryomo" by 200 Series, which reuses machinery and bogies of 1720 Series DRC, the old carriage for the limited express train for Tobu-nikko Station and Kinugawa-onsen [Kinugawa Hot Springs] Station before 100 Series "SPACIA" debuted. I wanted to travel on one of the sets which also reuses the seatings of 1720 Series (203F, 204F, 205F, and 206F sets) to feel the graceful atmosphere of 1720 Series. However, 250 Series 251F set, whose machinery and bogies were newly-made and the same as those of 30000 Series, came. I wouldn't be upset because only one set 250 Series is in service.
Arriving at Aioi Station, I transferred to Watarase Keikoku Railway Watarase Keikoku Line. The first train I travelled on was Wa 89-101 diesel carriage. It has a longitudinal seatings. On that day, the train was crowded by the passengers for watching the autumn leaves view. After leaving Omama Station, the train ran along Watarase River. The most trees in the mountains didn't turn into red or green; they were still almost green. The attendant lady gave out the timetable. Though I'd planned, I got it, too.
First, I got off at Godo and visited Tomihiro Hoshino Museum, standing beside Lake Kusaki, by bus. Tomihiro Hoshino, born in Azuma Village, Gumma Prefecture, and having a leg and arm handicap, drew pictures of flowers and plants, holding the brush in his mouth, and the pictures in his soft touch were exhibited. My most favourite was the shepherd's-purse and Lilium maculatum.
The water of Lake Kusaki and scenery was beautiful. However, I couldn't see a Watarase Keikoku Line train because of a long tunnel between Godo Station and Sori Station.
maitakemushroom tempura and feeling the atmosphere of DRC. The outside of the restaurant was painted blue, but in 2011 the original DRC colour came back. I also could see the service counter in the reserved tables, laid out the other side of the normal ones.
After eating lunch, I restarted travelling. The train from Godo Station was Wa 89-300 Series Wa 89-302 and 312. The two have the transverse seatings. I got off the next station, Sori Station, to photograph the trains against the beautiful scenery, mountains and Watarase River. The train I wanted to shoot best was a special sightseeing train at 2:54 PM.
Before that, Wa 89-302 and 312 came back from Mato Station. Watching the photo, I changed my standing place because of the length of the train.
At 2:50 PM, the train came on time. Just after photographing and the train passing the crossing, I hurried to come back to the station because the next train for Mato would come at the same time as the sightseeing train would leave.
As I came back to Sori Station it had several minutes to the arrival of the train for Mato Station and I also photographed the special train waiting for its departure. Then the train for Mato came to me and it was Wa 89-101, the one rode from Aioi, again. it went over the prefectural border; to Ashio town, Tochigi Prefecture.
Then, my train reached Mato terminal.
I retravelled the same carriage again to go the other side terminal, Kiryu. On my way, the attendant lady came to the passengers and sold the train goods, but I didn't buy any ones. As my train stopping at Shimo-shinden Station, I could watch JR East 209 Series on Keihin-tohoku Line, which was shortened to 6-carriage set, stopping on the side track near the station. I was a little happy to see the retired train during travel. Arriving at Kiryu Station, I went to the hotel and walked around the station. The first day was finished.