Satsuma-Sendai, Kyushu – April, 2025

10Sep/250

Satsuma-Sendai, Kyushu – April, 2025

After the usual trip down to Miyazaki and Nichinan, I was ready to make a longer trip back to Osaka. I actually had to take a few days as I my usual long-stay apartment was booked out. On the way to Miyazaki, I'd already checked out Kagoshima City and therefore checked the freight timetable to work out the next area-of-interest to the north. This happened to be the town of Sendai, not to be confused with Sendai in Tohoku. To distinguish this it often is known as Satsuma-Sendai, where Satsuma is the historical name of the province of western Kagoshima.

I arrived around 3pm and, after a brief wander to Hard-Off (located a short walk from the station), I wandered south of the station to find vantage points for the incoming north-bound freighter. The sun was lovely, but the track tightly winds through suburbia leaving few areas for photography. Thankfully there's a nice bridge with views of both the Shinkansen and main line just south of the station.

Before-long the freight train arrived and, well, a photo was taken. I dawdled back to the main station to see the EF510 detached and shunting around. An older EF81 was also in the yard, looking quite decommissioned.

The rail line north from here is actually a private 'third-sector' railway operated by Hisatsu Orange Railway Company which will take you all the way to Yatsushiro. You'd think it'd take you into Kumamoto Station itself, thanks to the Kumamon livery, but it falls just short.

I rode this service to the first station north at Kami-Sendai to get a shot of this same freight service which was going to eventually continue north after its shunt at Satsuma-Sendai yard. I had enough time and visited a local Sukiya where the staff were impressed that I could use chopsticks. Small moments like this, where everyone is surprised, really remind you that you're in the country-side! Returning to the station, I then checked the surrounding area for photography spots. It turns out that there's a great location just south-east where the small streets parallel the railway.

The sun was starting to fade, but there was enough light for the imminent freight service. Thankfully, thanks to the use of a single line, the signals tell you everything you need to know... and before-long the path was set!

The freighter was actually put into the station loop to allow the next northbound passenger service to pass.

I then (incorrectly) waited for the next freighter (that wouldn't come for hours) as I mis-read the timetable. As the sun set, I then had to wait for the next-next southbound Hisatsu Service, which wasn't coming anytime soon!

Fortunately, the crossing activated (you can really hear the bells in the quiet night-time air!) unexpectedly? What was coming?

I really wasn't doing well following the timetable... as I REALLY should've known if the 7-Stars was operating in the area! Anyway, it was already too-bloody-dark and the next southbound arrived, liveried in a splash of colour relating to "Diesel Girls".

As you can tell, it was bedtime. I got up early the next morning to see the south-bound freighter to Kagoshima. It happened to be held in the station awaiting a clear path south.

The sun wasn't quite up yet...

Which was good, as it allowed me to get further south of the station, on-foot, to a level crossing on a nice curve. Just in time!

And then some passenger services...

I dawdled back to the hotel and checked-out. I forgot to mention... I stayed at the Toyoko-Inn right next to the station which has great balconies (and room views, if you get the right side of the building) of the railway.

Breakfast was included, but the restaurant was full of 30-odd student baseball players in town for a tournament... all very surprised to see me! I grabbed snacks from the station Kiosk instead and waited for my Sakura through to Hiroshima.