5月。とにかく電車に乗ってどこかに行きたくて、わたらせ渓谷鐡道に乗ってきた。
It was May I traveled to Ashio, located in the upper side of Watarase river, very north of Tokyo.
DE10形ディーゼルにひかれて、上流の足尾銅山までひたすら登っていく。
Watarase valley train's Type DE-10 diesel brought us to an old town where once thrive on copper mining.
周囲の山々は、おそらくは植林と自然林との違いからか、色のコントラストが見えて楽しい。
Mountains had curious colour contrast. I guess the difference came from natural trees and planted trees.
足尾銅山観光施設には寄らず、終点の間藤駅に降りる。ほとんど何もない。
Although the town is famous for copper mine museum, I did not go there. I just visited the station called Toma in the end of Watarase line.
あるのはこの古川邸。古川掛水倶楽部。古川電工の所有物で、足尾銅山の迎賓館だったそうだ。戦時中は時の皇太子の疎開先にもなったという。
Nearby the Toma station, there is a Furukawa Club, an old guest house to mine visitors. The house was used as evacuation home to royal prince during the WWII period
当時をしのぶ部屋と庭。
Antique room.
帰りはこの わ89形 気動車で。遠くに足尾のはげ山を見て、教科書で習った物語を思い出す。
I left the town with this Type Wa-89 railcar. Over the train, I saw bald mountains. The copper mining had left huge damege to the nature.
ほとんど電車に乗っただけ。良く晴れた日で、良い気分転換になった。
It was a sunny day. Nice to have a one-day trip.
