Works railway of the Tateyama-Sabō erosion control systems
The factory railway of the Tateyama Sabō erosion control systems ( Japanese 立 山 砂防 工事 専 用 軌道 , Tateyama Sabō Kōji Sen'yō Kidō or 立 山 砂防 軌道 , Tateyama Sabō Kidō ) is a Japanese 610 mm narrow-gauge railway in Tateyama , Toyama Prefecture . It is operated by the Hokuriku Regional Development Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport .
introduction
The railway transports materials and workers for the construction and maintenance of erosion control systems on the Jōganji River ( 常 願 寺 川 , -gawa ), for example for dams. Unlike most Japanese railways, it is neither regulated by the "Railway Operation Acts " ( 鉄 道 事業 法 , Tetsudō jigyōhō ) nor by the "Tramway Acts " ( 軌道 法 Kidōhō ), but by the industrial "Safety and Health Act" ( 労 働 安全 衛生 法 , Rōdō Anshin Eiseihō ), because the facility is not used for public transport but is a works railway. However, the line is very well known and loved among railway fans. It is one of the few Japanese narrow-gauge railways or possibly the only one that still exists with a track width of 610 mm. It is also one of the railway lines with a particularly large number of switchbacks . Due to its historical importance, the route is registered as a monument.
history
The Jōganji flows from the Tateyama Mountains to the Toyama Bay . It is known for its frequent floods and debris flows . In 1926 the Ministry of Internal Affairs began building erosion control systems including the railway line. The narrow-gauge railway between Senjugahara and Kanbadaira opened in 1929. In 1930 a funicular was built between Kanbadaira and Mizutani, and the following year a railway between Mizutani and Shiroiwa. During the Second World War , operations were temporarily suspended from 1944 to 1948. During this time the funicular collapsed and was replaced by a cable car in 1951 . In 1965 the section was replaced by a normal railway with 18 switchbacks in a row. The entire route from Senjugahara to Shiroishi was combined into a single railway line. The section between Mizutani and Shiroishi was later abandoned and the railway now only operates between Senjugahara and Mizutani. In 1998 and 2007 new tunnels were built to reduce the number of switchbacks.
Breakpoints
There are six breakpoints called liaison offices :
- Senjugahara ( 千寿 ヶ 原 ) near the Toyama Chihō Railway and Tateyama Line stations and the Tateyama Tateyama Cable Car Station. Height 475 m above sea level
- Nakagoya ( 中 小屋 )
- Kuwadani ( 桑 谷 )
- Onigajō ( 鬼 ヶ 城 )
- Kanbadaira ( 樺 平 )
- Mizutani ( 水 谷 ), height 1117 m above sea level
Important data
- Track width 610 mm
- Except for passing points, no double-track route
- Length: 18 km
- Difference in altitude: 640 m
- Average gradient: 35.6 ‰
- Maximum gradient: 83.3 ‰
- Overhead line: not electrified
- Breakpoints: 6
- Tunnel: 12
- Bridges: 20
- Switchbacks: 38, divided into 8 sections (up to 2005 there were 42 switchbacks in 9 sections)
Rail vehicles
- Diesel locomotives: 9
- Construction trains: 4
- Passenger cars: 16
- Freight wagons: 104
Timetable
Usually a diesel locomotive pulls three wagons. The timetable is relatively frequent. The entire journey takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. Due to heavy snowfall, the railway line is closed from mid-November to June. In winter, some bridges and fences are dismantled to avoid being damaged by the snow.
The railway line is not actually intended for public transport, but there has been a guided tour on erosion control that has been using the railway since 1984. Nevertheless, it is difficult for railway fans to take the train as many trips are canceled due to bad weather and you have to book in advance and win a ticket raffle. In 2006 a total of 16 journeys with 720 passengers per day were planned. There were 1.83 to 5.55 times more applicants than available places, and only 69% of the planned trips could be made.
Web links
- Official website of the Tateyama Mountain Area Sabō Office
- Official Website of the Tateyama Mountain Area Sabō Office (Japanese)
- Official website of the Tateyama Caldera Sabō Museum that runs the tours (Japanese)
Individual evidence
- ↑ 立 山 砂防 工事 専 用 軌道 (Tateyama Sabō Erosion Control Works Service Train) ( Japanese ) Office of Cultural Affairs . Retrieved May 21, 2012.