On November 3rd, the 2nd day of my travel in Gumma Prefecture, I visited Jomo Electric Railway.
Nishi-kiryu Station, the start station of Jomo Line, stands about 300-metre north of Kiryu Station on JR and Watarase Keikoku Railway.
On that day, I used a special one-day ticket, available on holidays until November 27th, celebrating the Railway's Day in Japan. Besides, a stamp rally event collecting stamps in the trains, the train shed, and the shuttle bus was holding. I hadn't heard the first time and tried while I was travelling.
In the train, several youngsters and their bicycles were travelling. On Jomo Line, the passengers could carry (after 8:17 on weekdays and all ones on Saturdays and holidays) their bicycles in the train. I felt it was a good service to be more useful for local passengers.
The first station I got off was Zen Station. Walking toward Kasukawa for about 5 minutes, there was a photo spot against Mount Akagi. Waiting for several minutes, a train from Chuo-Maebashi by phoenix-red-coloured 713 set.
Going back to the station, I also shot a photo of the platform because of the quiet and nostalgic atmosphere. The next train toward Chuo-maebashi was royal-blue-coloured 712 set. it resembled light blue on Inokashira Line.
I watched the scenery from the window to find another photo spot during the travel to the last stop. Then I found a curve between Akasaka and Kamiizumi. Around there, the railway was higher, not elevated, than the road in parallel. I went back to Akasaka Station.
From Akasaka Station, it took 5 minutes to the curve where I found on foot. Unlike Zen, There was nothing beautiful nature, but the train was a nice angle and composition.
From Akasaka, I once travelled on a train toward Nishi-kiryu, to the neighbour station, Shinzo-kekkan-centre [Cardiovascular Centre] Station, where the trains from both directions waiting for each other to open their way. From the opposite track, fiord-green-coloured 711F set came and transfer to it to get a stamp. I got off at Mitsumata, two stations before the last stop, and waited for the next train toward Nishi-kiryu. Mitsumata also has two tracks, but the trains didn't wait for each other on daytime.
Standing on an opening crossing, I waited for the next train coming. The train I travelled on next was 713 set. After stamping, I went to Akagi Station to enjoy the bicycle travel.
Going over the crossing of Watarase Keikoku Railway Watarase Keikoku Line before Omama station, I went to Nagame Park and Takatsudo Gorge along Watarase River. On that day, the chrysanthemum festival was held and many pot plant works were displayed.
Walking just a couple of minutes from the park, I came to Takatsudo Gorge. I enjoy watching the nature of the river and green from the esplanade and on the big rock. I could see the scenery from the different angle from the day before.
Backing the park to take the bicycle I went for lunch on the way to the station. Reaching the station, I returned the bicycle and went up to the platform. At the neighbour track, "Ryomo" limited express on Tobu Kiryu Line was stopping. It was 251F, the same one as I travelled on the day before from Kita-senju.
Several minutes later, 712F set for Chuo-maebashi came to me. Next, I went to Ogo to see train shed and stamp there.
The time we could stamp was after 1:00 PM, so it was the best timing. Getting of Ogo Station, I stood at the end of the platform and photographed the shed with the train gone.
Exiting the gate and Going to the shed.
I asked to staff to stamp and went into the shed. I found 2 stamps of the shed and 716F set, the train under maintenance in the office. Then I came close to and photographed a classical carriage, Deha 100 Series Deha 101.
I thanked the staff and he asked me where I came from. As I answered I did from Tokyo, he opened the door of the classical train because of me coming from far place. Though I couldn't enter it, I felt the atmosphere created by the wooden floor and seat frame.
The staff told me Deha 101 could be chartered 90,000 yen one day, as well as running on the event. Recently, I heard a couple had a wedding ceremony on the train. Then I found an electric locomotive staying near the entrance with the letter "Nagatsuta factory". Asking the staff, the locomotive came from Tokyu Corporation and was named Class Deki 3021. I was very happy to meet the old locomotive of Tokyu.
Continuing the talk, He showed me the factory. There, I saw Deha 104 and 716. Deha 104 was the same type as Deha 101, but it was used for only at the shed.
Experiencing an important time, I went to Chuo-maebashi terminal and had the station staff's check to join the campaign to get the special goods.