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Steam Locomotive at Chichibu Railway / 秩父鉄道SLの旅 [Journey]

11月最後の日曜日、Sちゃんの誘いで、秩父鉄道のSL（蒸気機関車）パレオエクスプレスに乗って来ました。

このSLは、運転日に一日一往復、熊谷（くまがや）〜三峰口（みつみねぐち）間８駅を片道約2時間40分かけてのんびりと走って行きます。

I took the steam locomotive of Chichibu Railway by S-chan's invitation the last Sunday in November.

At the Kumagaya station 熊谷駅にて This steam locomotive runs one round trip a day between Kumagaya station and Mitsumineguchi station (8 stops). It takes one way about 2 hours and 40 minutes and runs leisurely.

というわけで、熊谷駅から旅はスタート。Sちゃんが事前にSLの指定席券（¥700）＆秩父鉄道一日フリー乗車券（¥1,400）を購入してくれていたので、このあとの行程が非常にスムーズに。早速10:10am発の汽車に乗り込みます。

SLは実物を見るのも乗るのもこれが初めて。ついつい童心に返ってしまう…。

Our trip had started from Kumagaya station. S-chan had already bought the reserved ticket (700 yen) and one-day ticket (1,400 yen), so that our course could do well. Anyway, we got into the train which leaves at 10:10am.

I saw and took the real steam locomotive for the first time. I enjoyed myself like a child.

[Left] In the train　客車内の様子
[Center] Stationmaster's cap　駅長帽
[Right] Cart of the No. C58 363 for "Paleo Express"　「C58363」のプレート付きカート

客車内では早速お弁当の販売が。「秩父路のSL　みそとん弁当」をゲット。美味でした〜。

In the train, the box lunches were sold at once. I ate a box lunch called "Miso ton bento (=Miso pork saute box lunch)". It was very tasty!

主要停車駅（寄居、長瀞、秩父ほか）では長めに停車時間が設定されているので、じっくりと撮影することができます。気分はすっかり “撮り鉄（=列車撮影を趣味とする人）”!?

Since stoppage time is set long at the major stations (Yorii, Nagatoro, Chichibu, etc), we can take a lot of the train's pictures. I was already railfan photographer's mood!?

どの駅も鉄道ファンのみならず、大勢の人たちが、集まっていました。
Many people gathered at each station as well as railfan.

At the Nagatoro station　長瀞駅にて

この乗務員の方（写真下）のおかげで、道中がとても楽しかった〜。撮影ポイントやSLにまつわるいろいろなお話、また美味しいおそば屋さんまで紹介してもらいました。

We could enjoy the trip very much through this crew. He told us the photography points, related story of the steam locomotive, his recommended Soba (=buckwheat) Noodles' restaurant, and so on.

ご好意で乗務員室から外の風景を撮影させていただけることに…。
And this crew permitted us to take pictures of scenery from the crew's room.

The scenery from the crew's room　乗務員室から見た風景

The freight train in Chichibu　秩父で見た貨物列車

12:49am、三峰口駅に到着！ We arrived at the Mitsumineguchi station at 12:49am.

客車から機関車を切り離す作業も見ることができます。

We can see the operation which disconnects a locomotive from a passenger car.

At the Mitsumineguchi station 三峰口駅にて

その後、乗務員の方に教えて頂いたオススメのそば屋さんへ向かうべく、普通電車で武州中川（ぶしゅうなかがわ）駅へ。駅のそばにそのお店はありました。

Afterwards, we went to the Bushu-Nakagawa station which is near the Soba Noodles' restaurant recommended by the aforesaid crew.

山菜かけそばをオーダー。とても美味しかった！！ I ate the "Sansai kake soba (=Soba Noodles with the edible wild plants)". It was so delicious!!

	そば屋さんの近くで幸運にも、復路で走るSLに遭遇。なんとも美しい光景です。
	Fortunately, we could see the steam locomotive near the Soba Noodles' restaurant. What a nice view!

秩父鉄道SLの旅は、西武秩父駅がある御花畑駅で下車して無事終了。
紅葉で色づく秩父の風景も楽しめて、大満足だった私。

Sちゃん、本当にありがとう！

This trip was over, after we got off at the Ohanabatake station which is nearby the Seibu-Chichibu station.
I was satisfied very much, because I could also enjoy seeing the autumn tints (red and yellow leaves) of Chichibu.

S-chan, I owe you a lot!!

• Posted by : MASUWO
• 11:06 PM
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