View Coaster Kazekko Aizu-Tadami Scenic Railway -201010-

びゅうコースター 風っこ 会津只見号（トロッコ列車）〜201010〜

View Coaster Kazekko is series of scenic railway train cars called “Joyful Train” that JR East obtained. They are remodeled Diesel Train Type KiHa 48 series with big removable windows on both sides of the cars. In winter stoves are used to heat the cars.

Kazekko, I believe, comes from Wind’s Child, and is a colloquial way to say “Kaze no ko”. Kazekko also sounds a bit like a local, traditional, nursery rhyme type of saying.

The scenic railway called “View Coaster, Kazekko Aizu-Tadami” was run on the Tadami Line from 2005 to 2011. The train’s name has had many changes but scenic railways on the Tadami Line still run as event trains during different seasons and on special occasions.

When I was on the scenic railway in Oct 2010, I was considering drawing it running though the Shiozawa-area. But the Tadami Line suffered from a severe rainfall and this is the last section still waiting to be repaired.
In 2018 it was finally decided that the repairs to this last section would be completed so I decided to come back to this Illustration and I added -201010- to the title (A substitute bus is currently running and the line is now expected to be restored in 2021.).

It was autumn but I was a bit early for the autumn leaves’ peak so next time I want to capture them at their best.

After Tadami Line suffered from the 2011 Niigata-Fukushima Heavy Rainfall event, sections other than Aizu-Kawaguchi –Tadami were gradually restored. This section, which includes Shiozawa area, is still yet to be repaired in 2019.

Repeated discussions were held between JR East and the related municipalities.
In March 2016, the first feasibility study for the JR Tadami Line reconstruction promotion committee was organized by Fukushima Pref.
Based on the documents from the first committee the following are the Event trains runs on Tadami Line to promote it (including before July 2011).

• 「SL Aizu Tadami Go（2005～2010）
• 「Kazekko Aizu Tadami Go（2005～2011）
• 「Bansai・Tadami Gururi Isshu Go（2005～2010）
• 「Kazekko Oku Aizu Go」（2012〜）
• 「Kazekko Oku Aizu Koyo Go」（2012）
• 「SL Tadami-Sen Oku Aizu Go」（2012）
• 「Kazekko stove Yuki Matsuri Go」（2012〜）
• 「Kazekko Tadami Shinryoku Go」（2013〜）
• 「Kazekko Oku Aizu Shinryoku Go」（2013〜）
• 「SL Tadami-Sen Koyo Go」（2013〜）
• 「Kazekko Tadami-Sen Koyo Go」（2013～）
• 「Pokemon Tadami-Sen Go」（2014）

SL：Steam Locomotive
Aizu：the west region of Fukushima Pref.
Go：a suffix for vehicles and transport
Bansai：short for Banetsu Saisen, another local JR train Line
Gururi Isshu：sightseeing line that runs through and around areas
Oku Aizu：Heart of Aizu, a far west area of Aizu
Koyo：autumn leaves
Tadami-Sen：Tadami Line
Yuki Matsuri：snow festival
Shinryoku：(the season of) fresh green leaves
Pokemon：popular Japanese anime and game characters, e.g. pikachu

During the third feasibility study in June 2016, the idea of separating infrastructure and operation was introduced by JR East and in later study meetings after reviewing the methods and costs, continuing the railway service has a become a real possibility.
In June 2017, Fukushima Pref and JR East concluded the Basic Agreement and Memorandum on Railway Resumption of Tadami Line (between Aizu-Kawaguchi –Tadami),

Tadami, Fukushima pref.
Located in a heavy snowfall region in the south-west of Fukushima prefecture on the border with Niigata prefecture. Declared「Shizen shuto・Tadami（Capital of Nature・Tadami）in 2007.
Its natural environment and resources together with the life and culture of its residents were judged particularly valuable among the modern world environment,
In 2014 it was designated as a biosphere reserve under the Man and the Biosphere Program. UNESCO’s Japan committee calls them Eco Parks.