Mooka Line
# Mooka Line

The Mooka Line (真岡線, Mo-oka-sen) is a Japanese railway line connecting Shimodate Station, in Chikusei, Ibaraki and Motegi Station in Motegi, Tochigi. It is the only railway line operated by the Mooka Railway (真岡鐵道, Mooka Tetsudō). The third sector company took over the former JR East line in 1988. In addition to regular diesel local trains, the line also operates the SL Mooka steam service for tourists using C11 and C12 class steam locomotives.

## History

* 1 April 1912: 16.5 km Mooka Light Railway (真岡軽便線) line opens between Shimodate and Mooka.
* 15 December 1920: Entire line opened to Motegi (route length of 42.0 km). The proposed extension to Nagakura was not constructed.
* 2 September 1922: Line renamed Mooka Line.
* 1 November 1982: Freight services discontinued.
* 11 September 1984: Line closure approved.
* 11 April 1988: JR line closes and becomes Mooka Railway Mooka Line. Route length is reduced to 41.9 km.
* 27 March 1994: SL Mooka steam train operation starts.
* 30 July 2020: JNR Class C11 steam locomotive #325 moved to Tobu Railway.

## Rolling stock

(As of October 2022)

* Mooka 14 diesel railcars x9
* DE10 Class diesel locomotive #1535
* JNR Class C12 steam locomotive #66
* OHa & OHaFu coaches x3

## Stations

* The SL Mooka stops at stations marked with "●" and passes stations marked "｜".
* To take the SL Mooka, passengers must purchase the SL ticket (500 yen) via Mooka Railways SL Guide and reserve their seats at least a day in advance.
* There is "SL・DL Rapid" service only on days SL Mooka is operated. And, boarding on this service costs only fares.

| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | SL Mooka | SL・DL Rapid | Transfers | Location | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Shimodate | 下館 | 0.0 | ● | ● | East Japan Railway Company (JR East): Mito Line Kantō Railway: Jōsō Line | Chikusei | Ibaraki |
| Shimodate-Nikōmae | 下館二高前 | 2.2 | ｜ | ↓ | | Chikusei | Ibaraki |
| Orimoto | 折本 | 4.6 | ● | ● | | Chikusei | Ibaraki |
| Higuchi | ひぐち | 6.5 | ｜ | ↓ | | Chikusei | Ibaraki |
| Kugeta | 久下田 | 8.5 | ● | ● | | Mooka | Tochigi |
| Terauchi | 寺内 | 12.6 | ● | ↓ | | Mooka | Tochigi |
| Mooka | 真岡 | 16.4 | ● | ● | | Mooka | Tochigi |
| Kita-Mooka | 北真岡 | 18.0 | ｜ | | | Mooka | Tochigi |
| Nishidai | 西田井 | 21.2 | ● | | | Mooka | Tochigi |
| Kitayama | 北山 | 22.9 | ｜ | | | Mooka | Tochigi |
| Mashiko | 益子 | 25.1 | ● | | | Mashiko, Haga District | Tochigi |
| Nanai | 七井 | 28.4 | ● | | | Mashiko, Haga District | Tochigi |
| Tatara | 多田羅 | 31.2 | ● | | | Ichikai, Haga District | Tochigi |
| Ichihana | 市塙 | 34.3 | ● | | | Ichikai, Haga District | Tochigi |
| Sasaharada | 笹原田 | 38.1 | ｜ | | | Ichikai, Haga District | Tochigi |
| Ten'yaba | 天矢場 | 39.2 | ｜ | | | Motegi, Haga District | Tochigi |
| Motegi | 茂木 | 41.9 | ● | | | Motegi, Haga District | Tochigi |
