North China Transportation Company
The North China Transportation Company (華北交通株式会社, Japanese: Kahoku Kōtsū Kabushiki Kaisha, Chinese: Huáběi Jiāotōng Zhūshì Huìshè) was a transportation company in the territory of the collaborationist Provisional Government of the Republic of China during the Japanese occupation. A subsidiary of the South Manchuria Railway with its headquarters in Beijing, it was established in 1938 to manage railways and busses in the area of northern China occupied by Japan during the Sino-Japanese War. It was liquidated in 1945 following Japan's defeat in the Pacific War. It employed 110,000 people, of which 70% were Chinese.
Routes
- Boshan Line (博山線) Zhangdian-Boshan (張店～博山)
- Hongshan Line (黌山線) Zichuan-Hongshan (淄川～黌山)
- Jiaoji Trunk Line (膠済幹線) Qingdao-Jinan (青島～済南)
- Jingbao Trunk Line (京包幹線) Beijing-Baotou (北京～包頭)[1]
- Jinggu Trunk Line (京古幹線) Beijing-Gubeikou（北京～古北口)
- Jinghan Trunk Line (京漢幹線) Beijing-Hankou (北京～漢口)
- Jingshan Line (京山線) Beijing-Shanhaiguan (北京～山海関)
- Jinpu Trunk Line (津浦幹線) Tianjin-Xuzhou (天津～徐州)
- Longhai Trunk Line (隴海幹線) Lianyun-Kaifeng (連雲～開封)
- Shimen Trunk Line (石門幹線) Shimen-Dexian (石門～徳縣)
- Shitai Trunk Line (石太幹線) Shimen-Taiyuan (石門～太原)
- Tongpu Trunk Line (同蒲幹線) Datong-Puzhou (大同～蒲州)
Motive Power
Locomotives of the North China Transportation Company used the same classification system used by the South Manchuria Railway between 1938 and 1945.
- Marei class: 6-6 articulated tender locomotives, four built in 1908 by North British Locomotive Company. Became China Railways ML1 class.
- Mareni class: 2-4-4-2 articulated tender locomotives, four built in 1911 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. Became China Railways ML2 class.
- Maresa class: 2-8-8-2 articulated superheated tender locomotives, seven built in 1914 by ALCO. Became China Railways ML3 class.
- Mareshi class: 2-8-8-2 articulated superheated tender locomotives, seven built in 1921 by ALCO; they were the largest steam locomotives exported from the United States. Became China Railways ML4 class.
- Mikai class: 2-8-2 Mainline freight locomotives (numbers ミカイ1501-1769); estimated 250 built for NCTC between 1939 and 1945 by Kisha Seizō, Nippon Sharyō, Hitachi, Kawasaki and Sifang, along with twenty transferred from Manchukuo National Railway. Became China Railways MK1 (JF1 from 1959) class.
- Mikaro class: 2-8-2 Freight locomotives for secondary lines. Estimated 120 built for NCTC in 1938-1939 and 1943-1944 by Kisha Seizō. Became China Railways MK6 (JF6 from 1959) class.
- Mikana class: 2-8-2 Freight locomotives taken over from the Jingfeng Railway.[1]
- Pashiro class: 4-6-2 superheated tender locomotives for express passenger trains, twelve built by Kawasaki for Mantetsu in 1938 transferred to NCTC (numbers パシロ1501-1512), further 57 built for NCTC by Kawasaki in 1941 (numbers パシロ1533-1589). Became China Railways class PX6 (SL6 from 1959).
- Pashisa class: 4-6-2 tender locomotives for passenger trains identical to the "New National Small Pashi" (新國小パシ) of the Manchukuo National Railway, 50 built in 1939-1940 by Kisha Seizō and Hitachi (numbers パシサ1501-1550). Became China Railways class PX3 (SL3 from 1959).
- Purero class: 2-6-2 tank locomotives built by North British in 1896. Became China Railways class PL8.
Services
The North China Transportation Company ran a number of long-distance trains, both within China and in conjunction with the South Manchuria Railway and the Chosen Government Railway. Notable trains include the "Tairiku" ("Continental") and "Kōa" limited express trains between Beijing and Busan, Korea. The "Tairiku" entered service in 1938, making the trip from Busan to Beijing in 37.5 hours in 1940; the train was discontinued in 1944. The observation car used on this train is preserved at the Beijing Railway Museum. The "Kōa" was put into operation in 1939, making the same trip in 39.5 hours in 1940, but by 1945 the trip took 49 hours. The "Kōa" was discontinued after the Japanese defeat in the Pacific War.