On May 5th, I went travelling to Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway Minato Line, which was damaged by the March 11th earthquake on 2011, but completely restored the whole line on July, for supporting the railway and the towns along with it.
At 9:17, a Joban Line train operated by E531 Series arrived at Katsuta Station, the start station of Minato Line. Led by station staff, I went to track 1 for Minato Line without going out of JR gate. There, Kiha 2004 was stopping. I bought a one-day ticket with the coupon for entering Hitachi Kaihin Park.
Where I got off first was Nakaminato Station, at which the railyard and train shed were also located and waiting and passing the opposite direction train was available. There Kiha 20 5 was waited and coupled with the train.
At the station or in the yard, colourful diesel carriages stayed, such as Miki 300 103, which came from Miki Railway closed in 2008 and the same type was also in service on Tarumi Line in Gifu Prefecture and Hojo Line in Hyogo Prefecture, Kiha 2005, coming from Rumoi Railway in Hokkaido with beige and red colour looking like Kiha 58 Series, and Kiha 22 2, coming from Haboro Tanko Railway in Hokkaido and painted by one of the "JNR standard diesel train colours", cream and navy looking like old Yokosuka Line train.
Going out of the station, I walked to Nakaminato Fish Market, one of the famous sightseeing spot along Minato Line and where I want to go the most. There I ate lunch and chose a bowl of rice topped with many kinds ofSashimisliced fish.
Walking around, I went back to the station. Then I saw a black cat named Osamu living in the station. It was my first time to meet a "station cat".
A few minutes later, Kiha 2004 and Kiha 20 5 came. Next, I got off at Nakane to take photos of trains. Nakane is known as a photo spot of Minato Line train among the railway photographers and on that day many photographers stood and waited for the trains.
I photographed Kiha 20 5 and Kiha 2004 coming back from Katsuta and running along with rice fields. Kiha 20 5 was the train I took a photo best and the rare one painted by cream and orange, together with Kiha 52 125 on Isumi Railway Isumi Line in Chiba Prefecture.
Next Kiha 3710 02 and Kiha 37100 03 came from Nakaminato.
A cherry tree planted at the platform of Nakane to restore from the March 11 earthquake. Though it was little now, many beautiful blossoms will bloom a few years later.
Finishing photographing I started to travel on Kiha 3710 02 and Kiha 37100 to Ajigaura terminal.
From Ajigaura Station, I went to Hitachi Kaihin Park by bus to see nemophila flowers. Entering the park using the coupon, I walked in the park to where the flowers blooming over the expressway.
The Nemophila hill was very crowded. I photographed the park at a spring holiday featuring the flowers and the Ferris wheel.
Under the hill, rape flower also bloomed. The contrast of the flowers was beautiful.
Walking on a different way to the gate, I went to the circuit of the park.
Going back to Ajigaura Station, The train going back to Katsuta Station was also Kiha 2004 and Kiha 20 5.