The , commonly called , is a Japanese,

narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller struc ...

industrial railway An industrial railway is a type of railway (usually private) that is not available for public transportation and is used exclusively to serve a particular industrial, logistics, or military site. In regions of the world influenced by British ra ...

line in Tateyama, Toyama. It is operated by the Tateyama Mountain Area Sabō Office, which belongs to the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Overview

The line transports materials and workers for the construction/conservation of erosion control facilities of

Jōganji River The is a river in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, that flows through the city of Toyama as well as the town of Tateyama. The river was previously referred to as the Nii River (新川 ''Nii-kawa''). Route The river originates in the Tateyama Mountai ...

, such as dams. Unlike ordinary railways in Japan, the line is not regulated by the Railway Business Law nor the Tram Law, but by the Industrial Safety and Health Law. It means the line is not a public transportation, but solely a construction facility. However, the line is well known among

railfan A railfan, rail buff or train buff (American English), railway enthusiast, railway buff or trainspotter ( Australian/British English), or ferroequinologist is a person who is recreationally interested in trains and rail transport systems. Rai ...

s. This is one of few Japanese railways, or possibly the only surviving one, to use narrow gauge track. Also, it is one of the lines with the largest number of railway

zig zags Zig Zags is a L.A. based heavy metal/ punk rock trio. The band consists of singer/guitarist Jed Maheu, drummer Dane Arnold and bassist Sean Hoffman. '' Clash'' has described their music as a "Venn diagram connecting Black Sabbath, Black Flag a ...

in the world. Because of its historical significance, the line is

registered Registered may refer to: * Registered mail, letters, packets or other postal documents considered valuable and in need of a chain of custody * Registered trademark symbol, symbol ® that provides notice that the preceding is a trademark or service ...

as a Monument of Japan.

History

Basic data

*Distance: * *Rails: 15 kg/m *Maximum speed: 18 km/h (uphill), 15 km/h (downhill) *Vertical interval: *Liaison offices: 6 *Double-track line: None *Electric supply: Not electrified *Average gradient: 3.5 % *Maximum gradient: 5.0 % *Tunnels: 12 *Bridges: 20 *Railway zig zags: 38, concentrated in 8 places **Until 2005, there were 42 railway zig zags concentrated in 9 places.

Liaison offices

*: Near Tateyama Station of

Toyama Chihō Railway The is a transportation company in Toyama, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The company is commonly known as . This private company operates railway, tram, and bus services in the eastern part of the prefecture. It also operates as the agency of A ...

Tateyama Line and

Tateyama Cable Car The is a Japanese funicular line of in Tateyama, Toyama, with its official name . The company also operates another funicular, Kurobe Cable Car with the same official name. The line is a part of Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. It opened in 1954. ...

. Altitude . * * * * *: Altitude .

Rolling stock

*Diesel locomotives: 9 *Work trains: 4 *Passenger cars: 16 *Freight cars: 104

Services

References

External links

Tateyama Mountain Area Sabō Office
official website
Tateyama Mountain Area Sabō Office
official website
Tateyama Caldera Sabō Museum
official website, a museum which hosts the study tour. {{DEFAULTSORT:Tateyama Sabo Erosion Control Works Service Train Railway lines in Japan Rail transport in Toyama Prefecture 2 ft gauge railways in Japan Railway lines opened in 1929 Registered Monuments of Japan Tateyama, Toyama Railways with Zig Zags