Takachiho Railway

Takachiho Railway (高千穂鉄道, Takachiho Tetsudō) is a Japanese railway company. The company in Miyazaki Prefecture has suspended operation of the railway since a typhoon disaster in 2005 and is expected to liquidate.

Line

The company operated one line named the Takachiho Line connecting Nobeoka Station in Nobeoka, Miyazaki and Takachiho Station in Takachiho, Miyazaki. The government authorization of the railway business was abolished for a half of the line in 2007 and for the remaining half in 2008.

Distance 50.0 km (31 mi.)
- Nobeoka - Makinine 29.1 km (18.1 mi.) Officially closed on 2007-09-06
- Makimine - Takachiho 20.9 kilometres (13.0 mi) Officially closed on 2008-12-28
Gauge: 1,067 mm / 3 ft. 6 in.
Stations: 19
Double-track line: None
Electrification: None
Signalling: Simplified automatic

History

The Takachiho Line, originally named the Hinokage Line (日ノ影線, Hinokage sen) of Japanese Government Railways, opened on February 20, 1935 in the section between Nobeoka Station and Hyūga-Okamoto Station. Following some extensions, the line reached Takachiho Station on July 22, 1972 and was renamed the Takachiho Line same day.^[1]

When the national railway was privatized in 1987, the line belonged to JR Kyushu, which withdrew from the operation of the Takachiho Line and transferred it to Takachiho Railway, a new company established by local funds, on April 28, 1989.^[1]

On September 6, 2005, flooding triggered by Typhoon Nabi washed away two bridges on the line, halting all operations. By December, it was clear that no government funding for rebuilding was available, and some attempts by local communities to rebuilt the railway went for nothing. A shareholders' resolution scheduled made on January 6, 2009 started the company's liquidation procedures.^[2]

Stations

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	Opened on	Tranfers	Location			Coordinates
Nobeoka	延岡	0.0	1922-05-01	JR Kyushu: Nippo Main Line	Nobeoka		Miyazaki Prefecture	32°35′24″N 131°40′21″E / 32.589958°N 131.672486°E / 32.589958; 131.672486
Nishinobeoka	西延岡	4.1	1935-02-20					32°35′12″N 131°38′24″E / 32.58654°N 131.639944°E / 32.58654; 131.639944
Mukabaki	行縢	6.8	1935-02-20					32°34′45″N 131°36′49″E / 32.579202°N 131.613736°E / 32.579202; 131.613736
Hosomi	細見	10.4	1957-02-01					32°34′00″N 131°34′50″E / 32.566655°N 131.580681°E / 32.566655; 131.580681
Hyūga-Okamoto	日向岡元	11.6	1935-02-20					32°33′55″N 131°34′08″E / 32.565411°N 131.568847°E / 32.565411; 131.568847
Hakiai	吐合	13.3	1957-02-01					32°33′56″N 131°33′02″E / 32.565528°N 131.550667°E / 32.565528; 131.550667
Soki	曽木	14.6	1936-04-12					32°34′23″N 131°32′30″E / 32.572946°N 131.541639°E / 32.572946; 131.541639
Kawazuru	川水流	17.1	1936-04-12					32°33′38″N 131°31′26″E / 32.560634°N 131.523972°E / 32.560634; 131.523972
Kamizaki	上崎	19.9	1957-02-01					32°34′36″N 131°30′40″E / 32.576627°N 131.511139°E / 32.576627; 131.511139
Hayahito	早日渡	24.9	1937-09-03					32°36′18″N 131°29′04″E / 32.604927°N 131.484556°E / 32.604927; 131.484556
Kamegasaki	亀ヶ崎	26.4	1957-02-01					32°36′02″N 131°28′12″E / 32.600691°N 131.470042°E / 32.600691; 131.470042
Makimine	槇峰	29.1	1937-09-03		Hinokage	Nishiusuki District		32°36′42″N 131°26′50″E / 32.611646°N 131.447306°E / 32.611646; 131.447306
Hyūga-Yato	日向八戸	31.5	1939-10-11					32°37′16″N 131°25′48″E / 32.621056°N 131.429903°E / 32.621056; 131.429903
Gomi	吾味	32.9	1957-02-01					32°37′23″N 131°25′02″E / 32.623174°N 131.417153°E / 32.623174; 131.417153
Hinokageonsen	日之影温泉	37.6	1939-10-11					32°38′56″N 131°23′29″E / 32.648771°N 131.39125°E / 32.648771; 131.39125
Kagemachi	影待	40.4	1972-07-22					32°39′56″N 131°22′23″E / 32.665496°N 131.373083°E / 32.665496; 131.373083
Fukasumi	深角	44.0	1972-07-22					32°40′55″N 131°20′41″E / 32.681999°N 131.344597°E / 32.681999; 131.344597
Amanoiwato	天岩戸	47.9	1972-07-22		Takachiho			32°42′31″N 131°19′40″E / 32.708731°N 131.327792°E / 32.708731; 131.327792
Takachiho	高千穂駅	50.0	1972-07-22		Takachiho			32°42′53″N 131°18′23″E / 32.714618°N 131.306444°E / 32.714618; 131.306444

Cars

cars at 2005

TR100
TR200
TR400 (Takarakuji-gō 401)

TR100 for local trains
Amanouzume-gō used for Torokko-Kagura-gō
Tajikarao-gō used for Torokko-Kagura-gō

Cars before 2005

TR300

Future

Takachiho-Amaterasu Railway Co. (高千穂あまてらす鉄道, Takachiho-Amaterasu-Tetsudō) has a plan to operate the line between Takachiho and Amanoiwato as a heritage railway.

References

^ ^a ^b Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. I. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. p. 232. ISBN 4-533-02980-9. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
^ 高千穂鉄道　１月６日解散決議へ　１２月２８日全線廃線 (Nishinippon Shinbun, December 21, 2008). Retrieved on December 30, 2008.

External links

[teishajo-1] Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. I. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. p. 232. ISBN 4-533-02980-9. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)

[2] 高千穂鉄道　１月６日解散決議へ　１２月２８日全線廃線 (Nishinippon Shinbun, December 21, 2008). Retrieved on December 30, 2008.

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