Although some night trains had run through whole line, only this train survived after trains used in the night train section was upgraded (to Express 'Shimane' and eventually to night train 'Sanbe') or trains used in the night train section and the day train section were split (trains used in the night train section was named 'Sanin' later on).
以前には全線を直通する夜行列車もあったが、夜行区間が格上げ（急行「しまね」を経て夜行「さんべ」）されたり、夜行区間と昼行区間とが別列車に分断（夜行区間は後の「山陰」）されて、この列車が生き残った。