Masaki Station (Miyazaki)

Masaki Station (真幸駅, Masaki-eki) is a passenger railway station located in the city of Ebino, Miyazaki, Japan. It is operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). [1][2]It is the only station on the Hisatsu Line in Miyazaki Prefecture, and the first station built in the prefecture.

Masaki Station

真幸駅
Kyushu Railway Company
Masaki Station in March 2017
General information
Location947 Uchitate, Ebinoshi, Miyazaki-ken 889-4162
Japan
Coordinates32°04′28″N 130°43′45″E / 32.07444°N 130.72917°E / 32.07444; 130.72917
Operated by JR Kyushu
Line(s) Hisatsu Line
Platforms1 island platform
Other information
WebsiteOfficial website
History
Opened1911
Passengers
FY20162 daily
Services
Preceding station Logo of the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). JR Kyushu Following station
Yatake
towards Yatsushiro
Hisatsu Line Yoshimatsu
towards Hayato
Location
Masaki Station is located in Miyazaki Prefecture
Masaki Station
Masaki Station
Location within Miyazaki Prefecture
Masaki Station is located in Japan
Masaki Station
Masaki Station
Masaki Station (Japan)
Map

Lines edit

The station is served by the Hisatsu Line and is located 79.0 km from the starting point of the line at Yatsushiro.[3]

Layout edit

The station consists of a island platform with two tracks at grade. It is located on a steep section of the Hisatsu Line on an inverted Z-shaped switchback that made it necessary for all trains (including express trains) to stop at this station as passing was impossible. The station building is the same as when first opened. Parking and a bike shed are available at the station forecourt.[2][4]A "Bell of Happiness" is placed in the middle of the platform. Local volunteers set up station notes and offer special products and tea. Commemorative admission tickets can also be purchased during volunteer hours.

History edit

The station was opened by Japanese Government Railways (JGR) on 11 May 1911 as an additional station on the existing track of what it then designated as the Hitoyoshi Main Line.[5] On 17 October 1927, the stretch of track between Yoshimatsu and Hayato, which included Masaki, was separated out and redesignated as the Hisatsu Line with the opening of the Sendai Main Line. On 22 August 1945 a derailment accident occurred in a tunnel between Masaki and Yoshimatsu, resulting in 53 deaths, Freight services were discontinued in 1974 and baggage handling from 1984, with the station becoming unattended from 1986. With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR), the successor of JGR, on 1 April 1987, Nishi Kobayashi came under the control of JR Kyushu.[3][6][7]

Platforms edit

1   Hisatsu Line for Hitoyoshi and Kumamoto
2  Hisatsu Line for Yoshimatsu and Miyazaki

Gallery edit

Surrounding area edit

On July 6, 1972, due to the effects of torrential rain, the mountain slope behind the station collapsed, with the debris flow destroying the inside of Masayuki Station and the surrounding area. The floodwaters engulfed the village, leaving 4 people dead, 5 injured, and 28 residential and 29 non-residential houses washed away. Although the tracks and station were restored, all the households whose homes were damaged were relocated, leaving the area around the station almost uninhabited.

Passenger statistics edit

In fiscal 2016, the station was used by an average of 2 passengers (boarding only) per day.[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "JR Kyushu Route Map" (PDF). JR Kyushu. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b "西小林" [Nishi Kobayashi]. hacchi-no-he.net. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b Imao, Keisuke (2009). 日本鉄道旅行地図帳 12号 九州 沖縄―全線・全駅・全廃線 [Japan Rail Travel Atlas No. 12 Kyushu Okinawa - all lines, all stations and disused lines] (in Japanese). Mook. pp. 21, 63. ISBN 9784107900302.
  4. ^ Kawashima, Ryōzō (2013). 図説: 日本の鉄道 四国・九州ライン 全線・全駅・全配線・第7巻 宮崎・鹿児島・沖縄エリア [Japan Railways Illustrated. Shikoku and Kyushu. All lines, all stations, all track layouts. Volume 7 Miyazaki Kagoshima Okinawa Area] (in Japanese). Kodansha. pp. 51, 84. ISBN 9784062951661.
  5. ^ "真幸" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  6. ^ Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. I. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 232. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.
  7. ^ Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. II. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 777. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.
  8. ^ "宮崎県統計年鑑 鉄道輸送実績(1日平均)" [Miyazaki Prefecture Statistics Yearbook Railway Transportation Record (daily average)]. Miyazaki Prefectural Government website. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018. See the table for 平成28年度 [fiscal 2016].

External links edit