Japanese Train Stations-Utsube Line Hinaga Station

Traveling south from Nagoya on the Kintetsu (also known as the Kinki Nippon Railway) on a Nagoya Line Limited Express, the second stop is Kintetsu Yokkaichi station. Connecting with the Nagoya Line st Yokkaichi station is 762mm Utsube Line also operated by Kintetsu. Two stations west on the Utsube line will bring you to Hinaga Station and the junction with the Kintetsu Hachoji Line, a one-station branch line.

This is a small Japanese style station that would be easy to model. The Utsube Line is one of four remaining 762mm gauge (30 inch gauge) lines in Japan. The rolling stock was upgraded in the 1980s, but retains old components so the relatively modern looking cars make traditional growling sounds associated with old time traction.

Heading from Yokkaichi this Japanese Wikipedia photo illustrates how Hinaga station appears as the train approaches the station. LIke most Japanese train lines, the passing sidings are in the stations. Hachoji line trains take the line to the extreme right. Hinaga line trains have opposite platforms either side of the track level passenger crossing.

Features typical of Japanese train stations include floor level platforms required by law in Japan, the yellow platform edge markings, the track level passenger crossing with black and yellow crossing gates, and vending machines on the platform.

Another Japanese Wikipedia photo gives a closer look at platforms 1 and 2 with a Hachoji line train in the background. The track level crossing is in the foreground and these are common on many Japanese train lines. There are black and yellow crossing gates at track level. In the background the Utsube line returns to single track and continues on to Utsube station 5.7 km or 3.5 miles from the Yokkaichi terminal at the Kintetsu Nagoya line.

Here is a closer look at Kintetsu 263 in Hinaga Station enroute to Yokkaichi station.

Traffic is rather light on the Utsube line and Hinaga Station was used by 908 people a day in 2005.