Mooka Line Explained

Mooka Line 真岡線
Type:	Heavy rail
Locale:	Ibaraki, Tochigi prefectures
Stations:	17
Website:	https://www.moka-railway.co.jp/
Open:	1912
Owner:	Mooka Railway
Linelength:	41.92NaN2
Electrification:	None

The is a Japanese railway line connecting Shimodate Station, in Chikusei, Ibaraki and Motegi Station in Motegi, Tochigi. It is the only railway line operated by the . The third sector company took over the former JR East line in 1988. In addition to regular diesel local trains, the line also operates the SL Mooka steam service for tourists using a C12 class steam locomotive.

History

• 1 April 1912: 16.5 km line opens between Shimodate and Mooka.
• 15 December 1920: Entire line opened to Motegi (route length of 42.0 km). The proposed extension to Nagakura was not constructed.
• 2 September 1922: Line renamed Mooka Line.
• 1 November 1982: Freight services discontinued.
• 11 September 1984: Line closure approved.
• 11 April 1988: JR line closes and becomes Mooka Railway Mooka Line. Route length is reduced to 41.9 km.
• 27 March 1994: SL Mooka steam train operation starts.
• 30 July 2020: JNR Class C11 steam locomotive #325 moved to Tobu Railway. ^[1]

Rolling stock

(As of October 2022)^[2]

• Mooka 14 diesel railcars x9
• DE10 Class diesel locomotive #1535^[3]
• JNR Class C12 steam locomotive #66
• OHa & OHaFu coaches x3

Stations

• The SL Mooka stops at stations marked with "●" and passes stations marked "｜".
• To take the SL Mooka, passengers must purchase the SL ticket (500 yen) via Mooka Railways SL Guide and reserve their seats at least a day in advance.
• There is "SL・DL Rapid" service only on days SL Mooka is operated. And, boarding on this service costs only fares.^[4]

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	SL Mooka	SL・DL Rapid	Transfers	Location
	下館	0.0	●	●	East Japan Railway Company (JR East): Mito Line Kantō Railway: Jōsō Line	Chikusei	Ibaraki
	下館二高前	2.2	｜	↓
	折本	4.6	●	●
	ひぐち	6.5	｜	↓
	久下田	8.5	●	●		Mooka	Tochigi
	寺内	12.6	●	↓
	真岡	16.4	●	●
	北真岡	18.0	｜
	西田井	21.2	●
	北山	22.9	｜
	益子	25.1	●			Mashiko, Haga District
	七井	28.4	●
	多田羅	31.2	●			Ichikai, Haga District
	市塙	34.3	●
	笹原田	38.1	｜
	天矢場	39.2	｜			Motegi, Haga District
	茂木	41.9	●

See also

• List of railway companies in Japan
• List of railway lines in Japan

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Notes and References

1. News: July 30, 2020 . 真岡鐵道で運行していたSL(C11形325号機)を2020年7月30日に譲受します! . 1 . Tobu News Release . October 17, 2022.
2. http://www.city.moka.tochigi.jp/mokasl/annai00.php Mooka Railway company overview
3. "全国の現役機関車をめぐって" Japan Railfan Magazine, October 2008 issue, p.133
4. https://www.moka-railway.co.jp/stations/shimodate-station/ Holidays timetable from/to Shimodate Station around 15 p.m. and 16 p.m.