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Chōsen Government Railway

The () was a state-owned railway company in Korea during Japanese rule. It was also colloquially known by the abbreviated name . It was the operational division of the , which managed and operated railways in Chōsen, as well as supervised privately owned railway companies.

Public identity

The Chosen Government Railway's public identity changed a number of times over the 39 years that it existed. In the first four years of its existence, its name changed three times to reflect the rapid changes in Korea's political environment between 1905 and 1910. Later, for eight years Korea's railways were managed by the South Manchuria Railway - which was almost a state-level actor in the region on its own - before finally regaining its independence for the last twenty years of its life.

  • 1906–1909: National Railway (統監府鐵道, Tōkanfu Tetsudō; 통감부 철도, Tonggambu Cheoldo)
  • 1909–1910: Korea Railway (韓國鐵道, Kankoku Tetsudō; 한국철도, Hanguk Cheoldo)
  • 1910–1917: Chosen Government Railway (朝鮮總督府鐵道, Chōsen Sōtokufu Tetsudō; 조선총독부 철도, Joseon Chongdokbu Cheoldo)
  • 1917–1925: South Manchuria Railway (南満州鉄道, Minami-ManshÅ« Tetsudō; 남만주 철도, Nammanju Cheoldo)
  • 1925–1945: Chosen Government Railway (朝鮮總督府鐵道, Chōsen Sōtokufu Tetsudō; 조선총독부 철도, Joseon Chongdokbu Cheoldo)

History

  • 20 August 1899 - Gyeongin Railway from Incheon to Noryangjin (Seoul) opened;
  • 1 October 1902 - Gyeongbu Railway from Yeongdeungpo (Seoul) to Myeonghak (Anyang) opened;
  • 1 November 1903 - Gyeongbu Railway acquired the Gyeongin Railway;
  • 21 February 1904 - Temporary Military Railway established by the Imperial Japanese Army;
  • 28 April 1905 - Military Railway's Gyeongui Line from Yongsan to Sinuiju opened;
  • 1 July 1906 - Railway Office of the Administration of the Japanese Resident-General of Korea established; Gyeongbu Railway nationalised;
  • 1 September 1906 - Temporary Military Railway transferred to the Railway Office and merged with the Gyeongbu Railway to create the National Railway Administration (統監府鐵道管理局, Tōkanfu Tetsudō Kanrikyoku; 통감부 철도관리국, Tonggambu Cheoldogwalliguk);
  • 16 December 1909 - National Railway Administration renamed Korea Railway Administration (鐵道員韓國鐵道管理局, Tetsudōin Kankoku Tetsudō Kanrikyoku; 철도원 한국철도관리국, Cheoldowon Hanguk Cheoldogwalliguk);
  • 29 August 1910 - Korea annexed by Japan, Government-General of Korea established;
  • 1 October 1910 - Korea Railway Administration becomes the Railway Bureau of the Government-General of Korea, (朝鮮總督府鐵道局, Chōsen Sōtokufu Tetsudōkyoku; 조선총독부 철도국, Joseon Chongdokbu Cheoldoguk) (Sentetsu), its operating arm called "Chosen Government Railway" in English;
  • 1 November 1911 - Bridge across the Yalu River completed, establishing a connection to the South Manchuria Railway (Mantetsu);
  • 31 July 1917 - Management of Sentetsu and private railways in Korea transferred to the South Manchuria Railway, Railway Bureau becomes Mantetsu Keijō/Gyeongseong Administration (満鐵京城管理局, Mantetsu Keijō Kanrikyoku; 만철 경성 관리국, Mancheol Gyeongseong Gwalliguk);
  • 1 April 1925 - Management and operation of railways in Korea returned to the Railway Bureau, Sentetsu independent again;
  • 1 October 1934 - Management of the Sentetsu lines north of Cheongjin transferred to the South Manchuria Railway;
  • 12 March 1943 - Railway Bureau abolished, Chosen Government Railway transferred to the Ministry of Transportation.
  • 15 August 1945 - Sentetsu abolished.

After the end of the World War II, all railways in Korea were nationalised, with the lines in South Korea becoming part of the Korean National Railroad, and those in North Korea becoming part of the Korean State Railway.

Organisation

The organisation of the Railway Bureau as of 1 September 1941:

  • General Affairs Section
  • Railway Library
  • Railway Clinic
  • Research Division
  • Inspection Division
  • Marketing Division
  • Transportation Division
  • Construction Division
  • Improvements Division
  • Track Maintenance Division
  • Work Division
  • Electrical Division
  • Accounting Department
  • Railway Employees' Training School
  • Regional Railway Bureaux: Gyeongseong (Seoul), Busan, HamhÅ­ng
  • Railway Offices: Gyeongseong, Busan, Daejeon, P'yŏngyang, Sunch'ŏn, Wŏnsan, Sŏngjin, Kanggye
  • Construction Offices: Gyeongseong, P'yŏngyang, Andong, Kangneung
  • Improvements Offices: Gyeongseong, Busan, P'yŏngyang
  • Railway Factories: Gyeongseong, Busan, Ch'ŏngjin
  • Gyeongseong Railway Hospital

The Railway Bureau also operated a system of sports clubs. Today's Daejeon Korail FC is the direct descendant of Sentetsu's football club, which won the All-Korea football championship in 1939; Sentetsu's ice hockey club was the first to ever play a game of that sport in Korea, playing a game against the team of the Tokyo Imperial University in 1928, and later played the first game between two Korean clubs, against a team from the Gyeongseong Imperial University.

Motive power

Sentetsu, or more accurately its predecessor, the National Railway, was created through the merger of the Temporary Military Railway and the Gyeongbu Railway, which had previously absorbed the Gyeongin Railway, on 1 September 1906. At the time of the merger, the Korean locomotive fleet was as follows:

When the National Railway became Sentetsu in 1910, the locomotive fleet had increased by only 21 engines; by the time Mantetsu took over the management of Korea's railways in 1917, the Sentetsu motive power fleet had grown from 115 in 1910 to 175. Mantetsu management lasted just under a decade, and by the time Sentetsu regained its independence in 1925 the locomotive park stood at 247 engines. The 1930s, however, saw enormous growth in Sentetsu's fleet. From 302 locomotives in 1930, by the end of the decade the number had more than doubled to 740 engines in 1940, and reached 1,000 in 1944. When Sentetsu was abolished after the end of the Pacific War there were 1,302 locomotives on the roster.

Classification system

Sentetsu's first classification system was a simple, number-based system, in which, loosely, the hundreds digit of the running number indicated the locomotive's wheel arrangement - numbers in the 100s were 2-6-0 or 2-8-0, those in the 200s and 300s were 4-6-0, the 400s were 4-4-0, the 500s were 4-6-4, and so on. This slightly modified in 1918, the year after Mantetsu took over management of Korea's railways, with some of the numbers being redefined, and after Mantetsu introduced a new classification system for its own locomotives in 1920, the system for Korean locomotives was once again adjusted, retaining the number series as they were in 1918, but adding new class designations - likewise reflecting wheel arrangement - akin to those used for Mantetsu's own locomotives, based on the common American name for the given wheel arrangement. Thus, from the 1920s until 1938, Sentetsu's locomotive had both a katakana-based class designation as well as a running number; however, unlike Mantetsu's engines, those of Sentetsu didn't have the class designation marked on the locomotive itself.

In 1938, Mantetsu introduced a unified classification and numbering system for its own locomotives, as well as for those of its de jure subsidiary, the North China Transportation Company, and its de facto subsidiary, the Manchukuo National Railway. At the same time Sentetsu - though it had regained its independence in 1925 - introduced its own variant of the new Mantetsu system, which included the locomotives owned by private railways in Korea.

The new system consisted of a class designation and a running number counting sequentially from 1; the class designation had three katakana characters. The first two, indicating wheel arrangement, remained as they were in the previous system, with the addition of one: マテ (Mate), from "Mountain", for 4-8-2 locomotives introduced in 1939. The third katakana in the class name was the class number, derived from the first syllable of the corresponding Japanese numbers from one to ten:

  • 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 - ji (チ), from ヂウ, "jyu"

Thus, the third class of locomotives with a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement would be called パシサ - Pashisa.

Narrow-gauge steam locomotives did not use the designation forms based on wheel arrangement; instead, they all used ナキ ("Naki", from English "Narrow Gauge") plus a class number. Petrol-powered narrow gauge railcars were classified ナケハ.

Classification of electric locomotives was slightly different from that used for steam locomotives. Although this also used the two character + class number arrangement, the first character was デ ("de", from 電気, denki, "electric"), while the second character indicated the number of powered axles (using the same number abbreviations as used for the class number). In practice, Sentetsu had only two types of electric locomotive, both with six powered axles - デロイ (DeRoI) and デロニ (DeRoNi).

This classification system later formed the basis of the systems used by both the Korean National Railroad in South Korea and the Korean State Railway in North Korea.

Locomotive Types

Standard gauge

Standard gauge railcars

Narrow gauge steam locomotives

  • Nakii-class (ナキイ) steam locomotives
  • Nakini-class (ナキニ) steam locomotives
  • Nakisa-class (ナキサ) steam locomotives
  • Nakishi-class (ナキシ) steam locomotives
  • Nakiko-class (ナキコ) steam locomotives
  • Nakiro-class (ナキロ) steam locomotives
  • Nakina-class (ナキナ) steam locomotives
  • Nakiha-class (ナキハ) steam locomotives

Narrow gauge railcars

  • Nakeha-class (ナケハ) petrol railcars

Routes

The following is a list of the rail lines of the Chosen Government Railway in 1945. The name in brackets is the Japanese form of the name, which was the officially used form.

Standard gauge

  • Bakcheon Line (Hakusen Line): Maengjungni–Bakcheon, 1926–1945 (to KSR Pakch'on Line)
  • Bongcheon Colliery Line (Hōsen Tankō Line): Bongcheon–Bongcheon Colliery, 1933–1945 (to KSR Pongch'ŏn Colliery Line)
  • Botonggang Line (FutsÅ«kō Line): Botonggang–Pyeongcheon, 1944–1945 (to KSR P'yŏngyang Thermal Power Plant Line)
  • Bukcheong Line (Hokusei Line): Sinbukcheong–Bukcheong, 1929–1945 (to KSR Tŏksŏng Line)
  • Busan Jochajang Line (Fuzan Sōshajō Line): Sasang–Beomil, 1944–1945 (to KNR Gaya Line)
  • Chaho Line (Shako Line): Jeungsan–Chaho, 1929–1945 (to KSR Riwŏn Line)
  • Cheolsan Line (Tetsuzan Line): Riwon Cheolsan–Raheung, 1929–1945 (to KSR Riwŏn Line)
  • Cheongjin Wharf Line (Seishinfutō Line): Cheongjin–Cheongjinbudu (Cheongjinhang), 1940–1945 (to KSR Ch'ŏngjin Port Line)
  • West Cheongju Line (Nishi-SeishÅ« Line): Jochiwon–Cheongjugu, 1925–1945 (to KNR )
  • Cheongna Line (Seira Line): Cheongjin–Cheongam, 1945 (to KSR Ch'ŏngra Line)
  • Cheonnaeri Line (Sennairi Line): Ryongdam–Cheonnaeri, 1927–1945 (to KSR Ch'ŏnnae Line)
  • Cheonseong Colliery Line (Tensei Tankō Line): Sinchang–Cheonseong, 1936–1945 (to KSR Ch'ŏnsŏng Colliery Line)
  • Daean Line (Taian Line): Giyang–Daean Hwamul, <1937–1945 (to KSR Taean Line)
  • Daegu Line (TaikyÅ« Line): Daegu–Yeongcheon, 1938–1945 (to KNR Daegu Line)
  • Daejeon Line (Taiden Line): Daejeon–Seodaejeon, 1944–1945 (to KNR )
  • Deokdal Branch Line (Tokutachi Branch Line): Cheongdan–Deokdal, 1944–1945 (to KSR Tŏktal Line)
  • Dongcheon Line (Tōsen Line): Charyeongwan–Dongcheon, <1937–1945 (to KSR Ch'ŏlsan Line)
  • Donghae Bukbu Line (Tōkai Hokubu Line): Anbyeon–Oegeumgang–Kamho–Chogu–Jejin–Yangyang, 1929–1945 (Anbyeon–Kamho to KSR KÅ­mgangsan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line, Chogu–Yangyang to KNR Donghae Bukbu Line)
  • Donghae Jungbu Line (Tōkai ChÅ«bu Line): Daegu–Gyeongju–Haksan, Gyeongju–Ulsan, 1928–1945
  • Donghae Nambu Line (Tōkai Nanbu Line): Haksan–Pohang–Gyeongju–Ulsan–Busan, 1934–1945 (to KNR Donghae Nambu Line)
  • Gang-an Line (Kōgan Line): Sinuiju–Gang-an, 1936–1945 (to KSR Kang'an Line)
  • Gangdeok Line (Kōtoku Line): Nanam–Suseong, 1942–1945 (to KSR Kangdŏk Line)
  • Gilhye Line (Kikkei Line): Kilju–Hyesanjin, 1933–1945 (to KSR Paektusan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line)
  • Gobi Line (Kōbi Line): Ripseongni–Gobi, 1934–1945 (to KSR Kobi Line)
  • Gocham Colliery Line (Koten Tankō Line): Gocham–Sinmyeongcheon, ~1937–1945 (to KSR Koch'am Colliery Line)
  • Gwangju Line (KōjÅ« Line): Songjeongni–Gwangju–Damyang, 1928–1945 (to KNR )
  • Gyeomipo Line (Kenjiho Line): Hwanghae Hwangju–Gyeomipo, 1910–1945 (to KSR Songrim Line)
  • Gyeongbu Line (Keifu Line): Gyeongseong–Busan, 1910–1945 (to KNR Gyeongbu Line)
  • Gyeonggyeong Line (Keikyō Line): East Gyeongseong–Jecheon–Yeongju–Gyeongju 1942–1945 (to KNR Jungang Line)
  • Gyeongin Line (Keijin Line): Gyeongseong–Incheon, 1910–1945 (to KNR Gyeongin Line)
  • Gyeongjeon Nambu Line (Keizen Nanbu Line): Samnangjin–Masan–Jinju, 1931–1945 (to KNR Gyeongjeon Nambu Line → 1956 )
  • Gyeongjeon Seobu Line (Keizen Seibu Line): Songjeongni–Suncheon, 1936–1945 (to KNR Gyeongjeon Line)
  • Gyeongui Line (Keigi Line): (Yongsan) Gyeongseong–Pyeongyang–Sinuiju, 1910–1945 (Pyeongyang–Sinuiju to KSR P'yŏngÅ­i Line, Pyeongyang–Kaesong–Panmun to KSR P'yŏngbu Line, Jangdan–Seoul to KNR Gyeongui Line; 1964 Yangsi–Namsi to KSR Paengma Line)
  • Gyeongwon Line (Keigen Line): Yongsan (Gyeongseong)–Woljeongni–Gagok–Pyeonggang–Wonsan, 1911–1945 (Seoul–Woljeongni to KNR Gyeongwon Line, Gagok–Pyeonggang–Wonsan to KSR Kangwŏn Line)
  • Hamgyeong Line (Kankyō Line): Wonsan–Kowon–Cheongjin–Sangsambong, 1941–1945 (Wonsan–Kowon to KSR Kangwŏn Line, Kowon–Cheongjin to KSR P'yŏngra Line, Cheongjin–Sambong to KSR Hambuk Line)
  • Hoeryeong Colliery Line (Kainei Tankō Line): Hoeryeong–Gyerim–Singyerim, 1940–1945 (to KSR Hoeryŏng Colliery Line)
  • Honam Line (Konan Line): Daejeon–Mokpo, 1914–1917 (to SMR Gyeongseong Honam Line); 1925–1945 (to KNR Honam Line)
  • Husan Line (Kōsan Line): Husan–Yangmak, <1937–1945 (to KSR Husan Line)
  • Hwanghae Main Line (Kōkai Main Line): Sariwon–Haseong, 1944–1945 (to KSR Hwanghae Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line)
  • Hwasun Line (Washun Line): Hwasun–Bogam, 1942–1945 (to KNR )
  • Jeokgi Line (Shakugi Line): Bujeon–Jeokgibudu, 1945 (to KNR )
  • Jeolla Line (Zenra Line): Yeosu–Suncheon–Jeonju–Iri (Iksan), 1936–1945 (to KNR Jeolla Line)
  • Jinhae Line (Chinkai Line): Changwon–Jinhae, 1926–1945 (to KNR Jinhae Line)
  • Joyang Colliery Line (Chōyō Tankō Line): Gaecheon–Joyang, 1932–1945 (to KSR Choyang Colliery Line)
  • Judong Line (Sōtō Line): Gaya–Bujeon, 1944–1945 (to KNR Bujeon Line)
  • Junhyeok Line (Shunkaku Line): Gaecheon–Junhyeongni, ?–1945 (to KNR Chunhyŏk Line)
  • Manpo Line (Manho Line): Suncheon–Gaecheon–Kanggye–Manpo, 1933–1945 (to KSR Manp'o Line)
  • Masan Harbour Line (Masan Rinkō Line): Masan–Masanhang, 1910–1945 (to KNR Masan Harbour Line)
  • Mijeon Line (Biden Line): Mijeon–Nakdonggang, 1945 (to KNR )
  • Musan Line (Mosan Line): Komusan–Musan, 1944–1945 (to KSR Musan Line)
  • Myeongdang Line (Meidō Line): Cheongnyong–Myeongdang, 1925–1945 (to KSR Myŏngdang Line)
  • Osicheon Line (Goshisen Line): Daeocheon–Osicheon, 1937–1945 (to KSR Osich'ŏn Line)
  • Pyeongnam Line (Heinan Line): Pyeongyang–Jinnampo, 1910–1945 (to KSR P'yŏngnam Line)
  • Pyeongwon Line (Heigen Line): Seopo–Gowon, 1927–1945 (Seopo–Dongbungni to KSR Ryongsŏng Line, Dongbungni–Gowon to KSR P'yŏngwŏn Line)
  • Pyeongyang Colliery Line (Heijō Tankō Line): Pyeongyang–Seunghori–Sinseongcheon, 1911–1945 (to KSR P'yŏngdŏk Line)
  • Secheon Line (Seisen Line): Sinhakpo–Jungbong, 1929–1934, 1940–1945 to KSR Sech'ŏn Line)
  • Seongpyeong Line (Jōhei Line): Tonggwan–Seongpyeong, 1929–1934, 1940–1945 (to KSR Sŏngp'yŏng Line)
  • Dongpo Line (Tōho Line): Jongseon–Dongpo, 1929–1934, 1940–1945 (to KSR Tongp'o Line)
  • Yangsi Line (Yōshi Line): Sinuiju–Yangsi–Namsi, 1940–1943 (to KSR Yangsi Line)
  • Yongdeung Line (Ryōtō Line): Kujang–Yongdeung, 1934–1945 (to KSR Ryongam Line)
  • Yonggang Line (Ryōkō Line): Jinjidong–Mayeong, <1937–1945 (to KSR Ryonggang Line)
  • Yongmun Colliery Line (Ryōmon Tankō Line): Eoryong–Yongmun Colliery, 1941–1945 (to KSR Ryongmun Colliery Line)
  • Yongsan Line (YÅ«san Line): Yongsan–Seogang–Dangilli/Seogang–Gajwa, 1929–1945 (Yongsan–Seogang–Gajwa to KNR Yongsan Line, Seogang–Dangilli to KNR )

Narrow gauge

  • Baengmu Line (Hakumo Line) (762&nbsp;mm): Baegam–Musan, 1934–1945 (to KSR Paengmu Line)
  • Dohae Line (Tokai Line) (762&nbsp;mm): Haeju–Doseong, 1944–1945 (to KSR Paech'ŏn Line)
  • Gaecheon Line (Keisen Line) (762&nbsp;mm): Sinanju–Gaecheon, 1933–1945 (to KSR Kaech'ŏn Line)
  • Haseong Line (Kasei Line) (762&nbsp;mm): Sinwon–Haseong, 1944–1945 (to KSR Hasong Line)
  • Jangyeon Line (Chōen Line) (762&nbsp;mm): Sariwon–Sugyo–Jangyeon, 1944–1945 (to KSR Changyŏn Line)
  • Jeongdo Line (Teitō Line) (762&nbsp;mm): East Haeju–Jeongdo, 1944–1945 (to KSR Chŏngdo Line)
  • Naeto Line (Naito Line) (762&nbsp;mm): Hwasan–Naeto, 1944–1945 (to KSR Naet'o Line)
  • Ongjin Line (Ōshin Line) (762&nbsp;mm): Haeju–Ongjin, 1944–1945 (to KSR Ongjin Line)
  • Sahae Line (Sakai Line) (762&nbsp;mm): Samgang–Hwasan–Sinwon–East Haeju, 1944–1945 (to KSR Sahae Line; Sinwon–East Haeju –> Hwanghae Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line) 1958)

Private railways

A number of private railways existed during the period of the Japanese occupation of Korea; these were overseen by the Railway Bureau. Most were freight (served industrial plants, ports, natural resource transport sectors, as well as military transport) and a few for passenger service in Japanese-occupied Korea.

After the end of the Second World War, these were all nationalised, both in North and South Korea.

This is a (nearly) exhaustive list of private railways in Korea.

References