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00:00In Japan, there are many railways that are not accessible to the general public.
00:11And those are...
00:18the working trains.
00:20Today, we're going to take a look at the Rinkai Railway, a famous freight train that is popular with railway fans.
00:40Now, let's go on a journey on a railway we've never seen before.
00:51Let's take a ride on a railroad we've never seen before.
01:01Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture.
01:06Onahama District, the largest industrial area in the Tohoku region, is located in the southeast.
01:13There are factories that process coal and metal, and the trains are transported from here to various parts of Japan.
01:25The Fukushima Rinkai Railway is the only railroad that can transport such a large number of trains.
01:32This is the Fukushima Rinkai Railway.
01:41The Fukushima Rinkai Railway, which is operated by the Fukushima Rinkai Railway,
01:46is a 4.8km long line that connects Izumi Station on the JR Joban Line to Onahama Station in the industrial area.
01:55Its history goes back to the Meiji Period.
01:58In order to transport water products from Onahama, a horse-drawn carriage was introduced.
02:07In the past, people used to go on excursions on the railroad.
02:14This is the main character of today's story.
02:19This is the diesel locomotive DD562.
02:29Actually, this is a new locomotive that was introduced in 2023.
02:37This is its characteristic feature.
02:41This is its characteristic feature.
02:46It's a patrol lamp.
02:48It can be used when running a dedicated line.
02:54And the biggest attraction is its power.
02:59It can transport more than 1,000 tons of goods.
03:02It can transport more than 1,000 tons of goods.
03:06It can transport more than 1,000 tons of goods.
03:13It can transport more than 1,000 tons of goods.
03:19It can also operate the handbrake that was manually operated until now.
03:27The driver of this DD562 is...
03:35Mr. Yudai Toyoda, who has 4 years of driving experience.
03:42I'm going to do a training inspection.
03:45Are you alone?
03:46Yes, I'm alone today.
03:48I'm alone today.
03:52At 5 a.m., Mr. Toyoda's day starts with a training inspection.
03:58The door is heavy.
04:19It's heavy.
04:27It's heavy.
04:30What's inside?
04:32This is the distance I've run since I started running this locomotive.
04:37This is the distance I've run since I started running this locomotive.
04:41It's 12,532 km.
04:44It's 12,532 km.
04:48It's 12,532 km.
04:53Start the engine.
05:03Good speed.
05:04Good speed.
05:05Good speed.
05:06Good speed.
05:07Good speed.
05:18The train is leaving.
05:28Are you ready for the morning?
05:30Yes.
05:31I'm waiting for the train to leave.
05:34What are you going to do from now on?
05:36I'm going to have breakfast.
05:43Mr. Toyoda takes a break from breakfast to leave the train for lunch.
05:54I'm going to have breakfast.
05:56I want to eat something like this on a cold day.
06:00It's cold today.
06:02Yes, it's cold.
06:05After breakfast, he's ready to go.
06:17Start the engine.
06:27Please pull up the pull-up line.
06:30Pull up the pull-up line.
06:32Pull up the pull-up line.
06:34Pull up the pull-up line.
06:48First, he goes to Izumi station in JR by DD562.
07:03He arrives at Izumi station in JR in an hour.
07:09One hour later.
07:22The locomotive takes the carriage to Onahama station.
07:32Onahama station
07:36Behind the locomotive is a 12-car red and brown tank car.
07:51Onahama station
07:54It's a 12-car red and brown tank car.
07:57It's 11 meters long.
07:59It can carry up to 40 tons of coal.
08:11In fact, this is a special tank car made to carry coal from a factory in Onahama district.
08:24This tank car is connected to the so-called Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo.
08:33It is a popular freight train that is still loved by many railway fans because it is a tank car made only to carry coal.
08:46The Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo will be completed by the end of March this year, when the factory in Toho Aen will be shut down.
09:01I'm a little sad that I can't carry the Annaka Kamotsu anymore.
09:11Onahama station
09:14The mission this time is to head to Toho Aen Onahama refinery from Onahama station.
09:20After loading the coal, it will pass through Onahama station again and pass the tank car at Izumi station, which is 4.8 kilometers away.
09:32Toho Aen
09:34Toho Aen, roger.
09:36Toho Aen, roger.
09:45Now, let's go on a 4.8-kilometer journey on the Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo.
09:55Let's go!
10:06Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
10:36Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
10:45The first destination is Onahama refinery in Toho Aen.
10:49There, load the coal into the tank car.
11:06Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
11:11It's heavy to pull the Annaka Kamotsu, so it's difficult to brake.
11:20I'm careful not to go too fast because it's heavy.
11:26The weight of the 12-car tank car is about 192 tons.
11:32If you load the coal here, it weighs 480 tons.
11:41The driving after loading the cargo requires delicate technology.
11:46Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
11:48Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
11:50Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
11:52Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
11:54Three minutes after leaving Onahama station, we can see the first obstacle.
12:03There is no stopwatch, no alarm, and no traffic lights.
12:09Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:14How do I cross?
12:16Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:19Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:22Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:25Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:28Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:31The guide in front of the vehicle checks the vehicle by sight and warns by radio.
12:37After checking the safety, he carefully crosses the crossing.
12:43Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:46Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:49Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:51Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:54Annaka Kamotsu Tohougo
12:57The first obstacle is a high car.
13:31The ship has successfully passed the harbour.
13:51It takes 5 minutes to leave and 5 minutes to get to the port.
14:01We're going to enter the Onahama Refining Facility in Aen-machi.
14:15The white building on the right is the Aen-machi Refining Facility.
14:1950 meters to go.
14:30Our first destination is the Aen-machi Refining Facility.
14:34We've arrived.
14:43Once we've arrived, we have to load the Aen.
14:46We have to separate 12 tanks into 4.
14:50We're going to load the Aen.
15:01In Toho, there are a lot of replacements.
15:05That's what I'm most concerned about.
15:202 hours later
15:37After 2 hours, we've loaded about 290 tons of Aen.
15:42We've arrived.
15:47From here, we'll go through Onahama Station and deliver the tanks to Izumi Station.
16:12Onahama Station
16:24Once we've returned to Onahama Station,
16:33we have to separate the tanks again.
16:36To change the direction of travel, we have to connect the locomotives on the other side.
17:01Launch!
17:06From here, we'll head to Izumi Station in JR.
17:36Izumi Station
17:47Many fans of the railroad are on the tracks.
17:51We're going to capture the last moments of Toho, which will complete its mission this month.
18:07Izumi Station
18:15It's a view from the top of Fujiwara River.
18:19The river looks beautiful from up there.
18:22There are also residential areas and mountains.
18:27It's a great view.
18:31Now, let's take a look at Toho.
18:43Toho
18:50We're going to take 12 tanks to Izumi Station.
18:56When we cross Fujiwara River, we'll be able to see a view that Mr. Toyoda recommended.
19:03Izumi Station
19:08Izumi Station
19:28This is the view that you won't be able to see soon.
19:38Izumi Station
19:58Izumi Station
20:08Izumi Station
20:13There's one more thing that Mr. Toyoda has to be careful of.
20:19The place I'm most careful of is the waterway.
20:26There's a possibility that cars will cross the waterway without any barriers.
20:33I'm careful of that, too.
20:36Waterway crossing
20:41The waterway crossing is not a barrier.
20:45Unlike the previous crossing, the section to Izumi Station has no switch to the destination.
20:51So, the guide can't go outside.
20:55On top of that, the weight of the carrying load is about 480 tons.
21:02We have to pass the crossing while making sure that no cars or pedestrians enter the waterway.
21:13Mr. Toyoda is nervous.
21:18Toho, a cargo ship running on the Fukushima Rinkai Railway Main Line.
21:25Mr. Toyoda, the driver, goes to the crossing without a switch.
21:55Toho, a cargo ship running on the Fukushima Rinkai Railway Main Line
22:06No cars or pedestrians entering the waterway.
22:11Mr. Toyoda is holding up his thoughts to the truck.
22:16Mr. Toyoda will continually confirm the presence of people on board to make sure that drivers are safe.
22:21After crossing the crossing, the goal is just around the corner.
22:42The final stop of the Fukushima Linkai Railway Main Line, Izumi Station, can be seen.
22:51The station is located in Izumi Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
23:04The station is located in Izumi Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
23:11It's one minute early.
23:27After arriving, the tanker will be transported to the electric vehicle with JR cargo EH500, which is well known for the compatibility of Kintaro.
23:41Toyoda safely returned to Onahama Station after finishing his driving.
23:48This is the end.
23:50Is this the end of the day?
23:51Yes, it is.
23:52I was able to deliver it safely today.
23:57Thank you for your hard work.
23:58Thank you for your hard work.
24:11After more than 50 years, Tohogo has continued to deliver AEN.
24:17We will be able to see him working until March this year.
24:21Thank you for your hard work for a long time.