Hokuriku tunnel 1972/11/6 1:00am

大きな地図で見る


Please look at the map of Hokuriku District in Japan.
On the north side of Lake Biwako, which is the greatest lake in Japan, is a big mountain range.
That is also a violent snow coverage zone and the old track which opened for traffic in 1896 had a serious problem.
There was a steep hill, with deep snow coverage and a landslide. A steam locomotive towed the train by a three-car connection.
However, the transport capacity was still insufficient.
A new construction of a long tunnel is not new in present day Japan. However, Japan in those days was recovering from defeat in the Pacific War.
Hokuriku tunnel was a symbol of the development of Japan in those days. The opening to traffic was big news.A new stamp which celebrated the opening of traffic through Hokuriku tunnel was issued by the Japanese government.
The new long tunnel had a new danger. Japan in those days had insufficient knowledge of the danger of a long tunnel. At 1:00 a.m. on November 6th, 1972, the KITAGUNI Express was running through Hokuriku tunnel. An EF70 type of a new style electric locomotive was towing it. It was the organization of the coach of 15 cars of 10 series. Fire broke out in the dining car(OSHI 17-2018) of 11 numbered passenger cars. The driver stopped the KITAGUNI Express from the report of the fire by a passenger. However, it was the 5.3km neighborhood from the entrance at Tsuruga of the Hokuriku tunnel.

Ironical fate.

The sleeping car of the 20 series was filled with glory and fame. The sleeping car of the 20 series was famous for graceful vehicles and dignity. However, it was used only on the main line at first. Then, a new sleeping car was required to promise the local route a comfortable journey. The sleeping car of 14 series was able to separate the organization of some coaches. That is because the dynamo was carried under the floor of some of the sleeping cars. However, its reputation was terrible. Rationalization was following the sleeping car of the 14 series. Therefore, the interior in the car was inelegant. It was also for the prevention of a fire from careless danger of cigarettes.


The diesel generator carried the same engine as the engine of a diesel car. Therefore, the complaint occurred from passengers who were not able to sleep. Furthermore, a fearful accident, which JNR did not expect, occurred. It happened during the night of a cold day of winter on November 6, 1972. It started its journey in Fukui Prefecture in Hokuriku District in Japan. The express KITAGUNI which is a No. 501 train of the arrival at Aomori Station from Osaka Station left Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture at the scheduled time. The cursed darkness was waiting in the direction of the movement of the Express KITAGUNI in the Hokuriku tunnel which is 13870m in length and built by JNR in 1962.