A Wedge Plow at the Aizu Railway's Yunokami Onsen Station: Video Introduction

This video, titled "Wedge Plow Operation in Heavy Snow! Yunokami Onsen Station on the Aizu Railway" (大雪でラッセル車稼働！会津鉄道の湯野上温泉駅), was uploaded by "YAMAnoHAMA."

This video was taken at Yunokami Onsen Station on the Aizu Railway on February 15, 2015, when it snowed heavily. The wedge plows seen in the heavy snowfall areas of Japan's Tohoku region are vehicles for snow removal. It's possible you've seen them as model trains, in picture books, in toy train sets as a kid, etc.
Check out the video to see how the wedge plow works in heavy snowfall areas.

A Wedge Plow in Action at Yunokami Onsen Station on the Aizu Railway

Source :YouTube screenshot

In the video, after the Aizu Mount Express rapid train arrives at Yunokami Onsen Station, a wedge plow slowly enters the station from the other side, pushing through the snow.

People who seem to be tourists are taking pictures of the wedge plow, as it's an uncommon sight. Outside of Japan's most snowy regions it's unlikely that you'll ever see one.
Many people are surprised when they first see the wedge plows, as they can be smaller than you'd expect.

[Video] 0:05 - The Aizu Mount Express Rapid Train Arriving
[Video] 0:47 - Wedge Plow Snow Removal

Wedge Plows and Their History in Japan

Photo：A DE15 Wedge Plow on the Soya Main Line

A wedge plow, called a "Russel-sha" (ラッセル車, Russel Car) in Japanese, is a wedge plow developed by the Russell Company in the United States. The plows have a snow removal plate (blade) at the front of the vehicle and can remove snow on both sides in the direction of travel. It's similar to a bulldozer, but for snow.
In the mid-Meiji period, the Japanese government purchased a Yuki type-1 snowplow (single track, wedge plow) in Hokkaido. At that time, the vehicle was an all-wood car with a tandem axle bogie.

In the Showa period, the structure was improved, and wedge plows functionality evolved. Vehicles such as the new DD13 and DD15 diesel locomotives began to be manufactured and operated in large numbers across Japan.

In recent years, high-performance railroad speeders have appeared and efficiency is improving. In addition, there are various types for different applications, such as a type with a wedge plow and a rotary device, and a type with a rotary head attached to a wide wing.

More About the Aizu Railway in Fukushima, Japan

Photo：The Fifth Okawa Bridge, Aizu Railway in Shimogo, Fukushima

The Aizu Railway is a local line that runs from Aizukogen Ozeguchi Station in Fukushima Prefecture to Nishi-Wakamatsu Station. The line is 57.4 km long, and you can enjoy rich views of nature and rural scenery from the train windows. Another feature is that you can travel to tourist attractions such as Nikko, Tochigi and Asakusa, Tokyo without changing trains, thanks to mutual access with Yagan Railway and Tobu Railway.

The Aizu Railway has many unique stations. There's Yunokami Onsen Station, which has a thatched-roofed station building, and Ashinomaki Onsen Station, which gained popularity for its station master who happens to be a cat and was featured in numerous media. Yunokami Onsen Station, which appears in the video, is the closest station to Ouchi-juku, one of Aizu's most popular tourist attractions, and is therefore visited by many tourists.

Also recommended is the Oza Toro Tembo, a sightseeing train where passengers can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Minami-Aizu. It's a two-car train with tatami mat seating where passengers can relax with sunken kotatsu seating, trolley seats where you can enjoy the scenery, and observation seats. There are no windows in the trolley seats, so you can enjoy the train while feeling the pleasant breeze in spring and autumn.

Summary – The Wedge Plows of the Aizu Railway

This time we introduced wedge plows running along the Aizu Railway in Fukushima, Japan. Wedge plows are a rare sight, even for those that live in Japan, so if you get the chance to see one, definitely take some photos. Wedge plows only operate on days with heavy snowfall, so if you get the chance to see one, consider yourself lucky!
When planning a trip to Japan in winter, consider adding the Aizu Railway to your itinerary to see these awesome wedge plows powering through the snow!