Steam Locomotives at Amarume

Located in the heart of the Shonai Plain, Amarume Station serves as a junction between the Uetsu Main Line and the Rikuu West Line. Back in 1970, the Uetsu Main Line was a major artery bustling with passenger and freight trains hauled by C57 and D51 locomotives, while the Rikuu West Line saw freight trains pulled by C58s and—during summer vacation—special passenger trains. I set out to capture images of these steam locomotives in action near Amarume Station before their retirement in October 1972.
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A passenger 827 train hauled by D51648 heading north__A baggage 2048 train hauled by C57103 heading south(Aug.1971)

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A passenger 829 train hauled by the D51512, heading towards Amarume Station from the direction of Tsuruoka.(Aug.1971)

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A passenger 811 train hauled by the D51611 departing Amarume Station in the glow of the setting sun (Aug.1972).

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The C58 on the Rikuu West Line, which normally hauls only freight trains, During the summer holidays, C58 pulls the "Kappa-go":a special passenger train for beachgoers.(Aug.1972).

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A special passenger 9125 train for beachgoers, "Kappa-go" has its locomotive swapped for a D5175 and its direction reversed at Amarume Station, bound for Nezugaseki on the Uetsu Main Line.(Aug.1972)

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A baggage 2048 train hauled by a DD5115 and a D51 in double header operation departs from Amarume Station (Aug.1972)

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Profile view of C58187 of the Rikuu West Line undergoing switching operations at Amarume Station(Aug.1972)

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A passenger 811 train on the Uetsu Main Line, temporarily hauled by a double-headed consist of D51331 and D51101, arrives at Amarume Station(Aug.1972).

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A double-headed passenger 811 train hauled by D51331 and D51101 departs Amarume Station on the Uetsu Main Line, with warehouses for Shonai rice in the background(Aug.1972)

Yonesaka Line closed due to heavy rain disaster--Clear day in snowy season