Rail transport in Chosen

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Railways in Chosen around 1929

The article Rail transport in Chōsen deals with rail transport in the time when Korea was under the name of Chōsen under Japanese rule (1910 to 1945/48). The railway lines built during this time also form the majority and the basic structure of today's rail network in North and South Korea . Due to the use of American cars and rail material , the standard gauge was introduced in Chōsen and Korea.

prehistory

Keijō Station (now Seoul), photo taken before 1945
Two steam locomotives of the type "Pashiko" used in Chōsen (photo between 1910 and 1945)

A few railroads were built in the time of the Joseon Dynasty (until 1897) and the Korean Empire (1897 to 1910) or during the time when Korea was a protectorate of Japan (1905 to 1910). In 1896, a concession was granted by the Korean King Gojong to the American businessman James R. Morse of the "American Trading Co" based in Yokohama . This allowed the construction of a line from Chemulpo to Hanseong . The Japanese company "The Seoul-Chemulpo Railway Syndicate" acquired ownership of the railway at the end of 1899, which was completed by 1897 on the 30 km Chemulpo- Noriangdschin section . The new owner completed the remaining 9 km of the route to Hanseong by 1900. Just four years later, on February 25, 1903, the line was bought by the Hanseong-Busan Railway Company. This railway was mainly used for passenger transport , especially since the Han River , which was navigable to Hanseong, was available for freight .

Another concession was granted in the same year to the French company Fives-Lille for the route from Hanseong to Sinŭiju . In the absence of sufficient financial resources, the work did not begin until 1902, but only about 10 km of the substructure were built without a rail layer. The concession was eventually returned to the imperial government. The Japanese army command, which wanted to carry out its troop transports safely by land, took over the completion of the line immediately after the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War and managed to make the line temporarily operational by 1905 at a cost of 20 million yen .

In 1898 the Korean Emperor Gojong awarded a final concession for the line from Hanseong to Busan to the Japanese "Keifu Railway Co.".

Rail transport in Chosen

In 1910 Korea became part of the Japanese Empire under the name Chosen . The railway lines built at that time still form the majority and the basic structure of today's rail network in North and South Korea .

Transition to the state railway

After the Japanese government bought the Korean routes in 1906, they were managed by the Japanese State Railways . From October 1, 1910, the railways were under the Japanese General Government Chosen.

Under the Japanese administration, the line from Keijō to Genzan and the line from Taiden to Mokupo were built in 1914 .

In a twelve-year plan in 1927, the expansion of the rail network was determined and the corresponding funds were made available by the Japanese Reichstag . In 1941 further railway construction was stopped during the Second World War .

Private railways

The construction of branch lines was left to private railways . To this end, a law for construction, operation and monitoring was passed in 1912, whereby the branch lines were only allowed to be narrow-gauge .

From 1920 on all new lines could only be built in standard gauge . With this law steam and electric propulsion were also codified.

The number of private railway companies rose from seven (1927) to twelve (1936), these were financed in many cases with the help of the Chōsen Ginkō .

Rail network

The rail network consisted of main lines of the state railway (SB), from which branch lines branched off, which were operated by the state railway (SB) or by private railways (PB). The South Manchurian Railway (SMB) operated two lines in the northeast of Chōsen .

The sorting of the following route list is based on the work of W. Paschen (1940) and reflects the status of 1936. In the table of the rail network, the current Korean names were used in the first line and the Japanese names in the second line, since most literature uses this notation. If Japanese names could not be clearly assigned to Korean places, these place names are written in italics.

Keifu line

Gyeongbu Railway Line Opening Ceremony
Name of the line route Art Route
length		 comment
Gyeongbuseon
Keifu Line 		Seoul - Busan
Keijō - Fusan 		SB 450 km Construction: 1902 - 1904
Opening Nov. 1905
for general traffic
Gyeonginseon
Keijin Line 		Seoul , Yeongdeungpo - Incheon
Yeitoho - Jinsen 		SB 31 km Construction: 1897 - 1900
Opening July 8, 1900
for the entire route

Incheon -
Jinsen - Rejshu 		PB
Anseongseon
Anjō Line 		Cheonan - Anseong
Tenan - Anjō 		PB
Janghangseon
 Cheonan - Janghang
Tenan - Choko 		PB

Jochiwon Bf. - Chungju Bf.
Chochiin - Chushu 		PB
Gyeongbukseon
 Gimcheon -
Kinsen - Gijo 		PB

Keigi line

Name of the line route Art Route
length		 comment
Gyeonguiseon
Keigi Line 		Seoul Central Station - Sinŭiju
Central Station . Keijo - Gischu 		SB 496.7 km Construction: March 1904 - April 1905
in narrow gauge.
Opening Nov. 1, 1911
completely in standard gauge
Yongsanseon
Ryuzan Line 		Yongsan Bf. -
Ryuzan - Tojiho 		SB 7 km
Shinchon connection line Sogang Station - Shinchon Station
Seiko - Shinson 		SB 1.6 km dismantled on Aug. 15, 1975
Songnimseon
Kenjiho Line 		Hwangju Bf -. Songnim Bf.
Koshu - Songnim 		SB 13.1 km Opening: April 1, 1908
Pyeongdeokseon
Heijo Mine Railway		 Daedonggang Bf. - Sunghori Bf.
Daidoko - Shokori 		SB 23.3 km First opening: Sep 1 1911
Second opening: May 5, 1918
Pyeongnamseon
Heinan Line 		P'yŏngyang Main Station - Namp'o Main
Station . Heijo - Chinnampo 		SB 55.2 km Construction: Aug. 1909 - Oct. 1910
Bakcheonseon
Hakusen Line 		Maengjungni station - Bakcheon station
Mochuri - Hakusen 		SB 9.3 km Opening: December 10, 1926
Kanganseon
Shingishu line 		Sinŭiju Central Station - Sinŭiju -Kangan
Shingishu Station - Shingishu Freight Station		 SB 1.8 km Opening: Nov. 1, 1911

Konan line

Name of the line route Art Route
length		 comment
Honamseon
Konan line 		Daejeon - Mokpo
Taiden - Moppo 		SB 260 km Opening
Jan. 11, 1914

Kunsan line 		Iksan - Gunsan
Riri - Kunsan 		SB 25 km Opening
autumn 1912

Keizen line

Name of the line route Art Route
length		 construction time
Gyeongjeonseon
South Keizen Line 		Samnangjin - Jinju
Sanroshin - Shinshu 		SB 110 km Construction by Masan
from Aug. 1904 to May 1905,
new construction 1907 - 1909
Jinhaeseon
Chinkai line 		Changwon - Jinhae
Shogen - Chinkai 		SB 20 km
Jeollaseon
North Keizen Line 		Iksan -
Riri - Yaho 		SB 106 km

Koshu line 		Gwangju - Damyang
Koshu - Tanyo 		SB 22 km

Tokai line

Name of the line route Art Route
length 		comment
Donghaenambuseon
Tokai South Line 		Busan Busanjin train station - Ulsan
central station. Fusanshin - Urusan 		SB 73.0 km Opening: December 16, 1921
Donghaejungbuseon
Tokai axis		 Daegu Daegu Station - Pohang Haksan Station
Taikyu - Kakusan 		SB 107.4 km Construction: 1917 - 1919
Opening: June 27, 1919
Donghaenambuseon
Tokai axis		 Gyeongju Bf -. Ulsan main station.
Keishu - Urusan 		SB 39.3 km Opening: Oct. 25, 1921
Donghaebukbuseon
Tokai North Line 		Anbyeon train station - Ganseong train station Ambe
- Kanjo 		SB 150.7 km Construction: 1929 - 1935
Opening: Nov. 1, 1935

Keigen line

Name of the line route Art Route
length 		comment
Gyeongwonseon
Keigen Line 		Seoul , Yongsan - Wonsan Central Station.
Keijo - Gensan 		SB 223.7 km Construction: 1911 - 1914
Opening: Aug. 21, 1914

Heigen line

Name of the line route Art Route
length 		comment
Pyeongwonseon
Heigen Line 		Pyongyang , Seopo Bf. - Yangdeok Bf.
Seiho - Yodoku 		SB 123.9 km Construction: 1926 - 1936
Opening: Nov. 1, 1936

Kankyo line

Name of the line route Art Route
length 		comment
Hamgyeongseon
Kankyo Lineage 		Wonsan central station - Chongjin Suseong station
Gensan - Yujo 		SB 532.8 km Construction: 1914 - 1928
Opening: 1 Sep. 1928
Cheonnaeseon
Sennairi line 		Ryongdam Bf. - Cheonnae Bf.
Ryutan - Sennairi 		SB 4.4 km Opening: Nov. 1, 1927
Bukcheongseon
Hokusei Line 		Sinbukcheong train station - Bukcheong central station.
Sinhokusei - Hokusei 		SB 9.4 km Opening: Sep 20 1929
Riwoncheolsanseon
Tetsusan Line 		Rahung Bf. - Riwoncheolsan Bf.
Rako - Rigentetsusan 		SB 3.0 km Opening: Sep 20 1929
Chahoseon
Shako line 		Jungsan Bf. - Chaho Bf.
Sosan - Shako 		SB 4.9 km Opening: Sep 20 1929

Other main lines

Name of the line route Art Route
length 		comment
Manposeon
Mampo line 		Suncheon Bf. - Hwaam Bf.
Junsen - Jensen 		SB 203.1 km Construction: 1918 - 1936
Opening: Dec. 1, 1936
Gaecheonseon
Keisen Line 		Sinanju Bf. - Gaecheon Bf.
Shinanshu - Kaisen 		SB 29.5 km Construction: 1916-1918
Ryongamseon
Ryuto Line 		Gujang Central Station - Ryongam
Kyujo Station - Ryuto 		SB 7.4 km Opening: April 1, 1934
Baekdusan Youth Lineage Keisan
Lineage 		Gilju Central Station - Unhung,
Kisshu station - Hotori 		SB 99.7 km Construction: 1933 - 1935
Opening: Sep 1. 1935
Baengmuseon
Hakumo Line 		Baegam Station - Yupyeongdong
Hakugan - Yuheidou 		SB 100.5 km Construction: 1934 - 1936
Opening: Oct. 16, 1936

South Manchurian Railway Company

Name of the line route Art Route
length
Hamgyeongseon
Kankyo Lineage 		Chongjin Suseong train station - Hoeryeong Hbf.
Yujo - Kainei 		SMB 93.8 km
including branch lines
Domuseon
Tomon Line 		Hoeryeong Central Station - Seonbong station
Kainei - Yuki 		SMB 220.4 km
including branch lines

Rail vehicles

Standard-gauge steam locomotives

The classification of the standard gauge steam locomotives was based on the American designation of the wheel arrangement. The name Puri comes, for example, from a corruption of the American word prairie after the designation of the type of locomotives after Whyte :

Mate class (マ テ / 마터)
Puri class (プ レ / 푸러)

The numbering in the third syllable of the classification consists of abbreviated Japanese numbers:

  • 1 - i (イ), from イ チ, "ichi"
  • 2 - ni (ニ), from ニ, "ni"
  • 3 - sa (サ), from サ ン, "san"
  • 4 - shi (シ), from シ, "shi"
  • 5 - ko (コ), from ゴ, "go"
  • 6 - ro (ロ), from ロ ク, "roku"
  • 7 - na (ナ), from ナ ナ, "nana"
  • 8 - ha (ハ), from ハ チ, "hachi"
  • 9 - ku (ク), from ク, "ku"
  • 10 - chi (チ), from ヂ ウ, "jyu"

Narrow-gauge steam locomotives

The narrow-gauge steam locomotives were divided into 11 groups of the Naki class (ナ キ).

Electric locomotives

The standard gauge electric locomotives were divided into the following three classes:

Railcars and rail buses

Shiki1 class steam railcar

Railcars and rail buses were divided into the following four classes:

Traffic performance

The operating length of the Chōsen railway network in 1939 was 3831 km on the state railway. The South Manchurian Railway Company operated a route of 346 km, while 1234 km belonged to private railways.

year Art Operating
length		 Passengers goods
1911 State railway 1078 km 2.0 million 0.9 million
1920 State railway 1851 km 12.4 million 3.2 million t
1930 State railway 2792 km 20.7 million 5.9 million
1939 State railway 3831 km 45.1 million 13.9 million
1939 Private railways 1234 km 11.4 million 2.9 million
1939 South Manchurian
Railway 		346 km

Other railways

In addition to the main lines , there were also three tram networks in Chosen . These existed in the cities of Keijō , Heijō and Fusan .

Keijō tram

Tram in Keijō (photo from 1910 to 1945)

The electric tram in Keijō, the current city of Seoul , was built by the "American-Korean Electric Co." and opened on May 1, 1899, before Korea was incorporated into the Japanese Empire. In 1909 this was sold to the "Nikkan Gas & Electric Co.".

The tram had a gauge of 1067 mm ( Cape gauge ). In 1914 the operating length was approx. 26 km.

Heijō tram

View of the Heijō tram built during the Japanese colonial era

In Heijō, the current city of Pyongyang , in 1914 an approx. 2 km long railway line connected the train station with the city, whose carriages were pushed by people ( coolie train ). It had a track width of 610 mm.

In 1923 the existing railway was replaced by an electric tram system.

This tram network is, with an interruption of over 30 years, the last of the three tram networks that has survived on the Korean Peninsula to this day.

Fusan tram

View of Fusans train station around 1930. In the foreground on the left the tram line.

In Fusan, the current city of Busan , the first steam tram to the hot springs of Dongnae-gu was built in 1910 by the company "Fusan Railway Co." with a gauge of 762 mm.

On October 31, 1915, the city's first electric tram went into service. The route length in 1914 was approx. 22 km. The routes were in 1931 by a track width of 762 mm on the Cape gauge mm 1067 umgespurt .

In the 1950s, the company acquired used streetcar vehicles from Atlanta and Los Angeles. The tram service ceased on May 20, 1968.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Korea. In: Viktor von Röll (ed.): Encyclopedia of the Railway System . 2nd Edition. Volume 6: Freight Transport Crises . Urban & Schwarzenberg, Berlin / Vienna 1914, pp  407 -412.
  2. ↑ http://www.taodabai.com/441544891.html accessed on May 20, 2016
  3. ↑ http://www.tramz.com/tva/ko.html accessed on March 8, 2020

See also

Web links

Commons : Rail Transport in Korea 1896-1945  - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

swell

  • Hermann Lautensach : Korea. A country study based on my own travels and literature . KF Koehler Verlag, Leipzig 1945
  • Andrei Lankov: The Dawn of Modern Korea . Verlag EunHaeng NaMu, Seoul 2007 (English)
  • Preyer-Elberfeld, Dr. in Archiv für Eisenbahnwesen, pp. 402-418, pp. 720-743: The railways in Korea . Published by Julius Springer, 1914
  • W. Paschen in Archives for Railways, pp. 520-524: The railways in Chosen (formerly Korea) . Published by Julius Springer, 1930
  • W. Paschen in Archiv für Eisenbahnwesen, pp. 849–876: The railways in Japan in the years 1935/36 and 1936/37 . Published by Julius Springer, 1940
  • 鉄 道 省 編 ( Ministry of Railways ), pp. 481–517: 鉄 道 停車場 一 覧 昭和 12 年 10 月 1 日 現在 (The station list), 1937