Railway_Digest__February_2018

The Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari train ride
‘Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari’ translates to ‘Tale of
1,000 years across the middle of Shikoku’ – a rather long name
for a train! The train operates between Tadotsu and Oboke over
the Dosan line, a total distance of 66 kilometres. The diesel tilt
express train takes about 50-54 minutes versus this train which
takes 2 hours 54 minutes! Tickets are available one month before
departure but are sold out very quickly. I had to get a friend in
Japan to buy a ticket on my behalf. A ticket costs roughly $60
Australian including the meal, which is quite inexpensive. The train
enters Tadotsu station just 10 minutes before departure. Onboard
staff efficiently roll out a red carpet and show passengers to their
table. The train comprises a three-car set. The first carriage is
painted in green with green dining seats, which represent spring
season, the second carriage representing summer by the river with
blue-coloured seats and the third carriage is an orange colour with
orange dining seats representing autumn leaves. The first stop is
Kotohira where there is a 30-minute stop for patrons to inspect the
fully timber-built station building, listed as an example of industrial
modernisation heritage. There is a lounge in the station for patrons
to sample local seafood chowder and inspect local arts and school
sporting achievements.
The journey then continues into the mountainous part of Shikoku
with the railcar providing good front and rear views, the slower journey
enabling the conductor to point out waterfalls along the way. The
driver slows or stops the train to allow passengers to photograph the
wateralls and cascades. The express tilt train would have passed this
scenery at 130 km/h! The train then follows the mountainous, scenic
and historic Yoshino river valley with the railway line meandering
around the narrow river valleys and passing a number of nameless
waterfalls and cascades. We even saw wild deer by the lineside and
stopped by an unusual ‘switch back station’ for other express trains
to overtake us! The train offers large panoramic windows for viewing
both sides plus it has a camera on both ends. For passengers sitting in
the intermediate car, the front and end-view camera is linked to wi-fi
so that passengers can see the view ahead and behind through their
smartphones. Local retirees and school children gather at various
stations to wave at the train and promote friendly tourism!
Above: The interior of a carriage of the
Shikoku Man Naka Sennen Monogatari,
refurbished in light green colour based
on a ‘spring buds’ theme. Seen on
Friday 6 October 2017 at Awa-Ikeda
station.
Left: On the Dosan line the train
travels along the scenic Yoshino River
valley, and the train slows down at
various scenic spots for viewing, such
as this location near Koboke station.
Preservation & Tourist
FEBRUARY 2018
51