Yamaguchi Line

The name of the track of the West Japan Railway Company. 93.9 km between Shin-Yamaguchi (formerly Ogori, Yamaguchi Prefecture) and Masuda (Shimane Prefecture). Single track, non-electrified. One of the Chugoku mountain railways that connect the Sanyo and Sanin main lines, it connects three river basins: the Fushino River that flows into the Suo-Nada Sea, and the Abu River and Takatsu River that flow into the Sea of ​​Japan. Along the line are Yamaguchi City, the prefectural capital, and Tsuwano Town in Shimane Prefecture, which retains the vestiges of an old castle town, as well as tourist destinations such as Yuda Onsen and Chomonkyo (prefectural natural park). After the opening of the Ogori-Yamaguchi section in 1913 (Taisho 2), the line was gradually extended and completed in 1923. Since 1979, the steam train "Yamaguchi" has been running between Shin-Yamaguchi and Tsuwano in order to attract tourists and preserve the steam locomotives in working order. In 1987, following the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, the train became part of the West Japan Railway Company.

[Eiichi Aoki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

西日本旅客鉄道の線路名称。新山口（旧小郡(おごおり)、山口県）―益田(ますだ)（島根県）間、93.9キロメートル。全線単線、非電化。山陽・山陰本線を結ぶ中国山地横断鉄道の一つで、周防灘(すおうなだ)に注ぐ椹野(ふしの)川、日本海に注ぐ阿武(あぶ)川と高津(たかつ)川の3流域を結んでいる。沿線には、県庁所在都市の山口市や古い城下町のおもかげをとどめる島根県津和野町などがあり、湯田温泉や長門(ちょうもん)峡（県立自然公園）などの観光地もある。1913年（大正2）小郡―山口間の開業以降、小刻みに延長され、1923年に全通した。1979年（昭和54）より観光客誘致と蒸気機関車の動態保存を目的として、蒸気列車「やまぐち」号の運転が新山口―津和野間で行われている。1987年、日本国有鉄道の分割民営化に伴い、西日本旅客鉄道に所属。

［青木栄一］

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