The Hoeam Line is a 10.4 km (6.5 mi) non-electrified secondary line of the Korean State Railway in Kyŏnghŭng County, North Hamgyŏng province, North Korea, running from Haksong on the Hambuk Line to Obong.[1]

Hoeam Line
Overview
Other name(s)Ao Line (아오선 (阿梧線))
Obong Line (오봉선(梧鳳線))
Native name회암선(灰岩線)
StatusOperational
OwnerChosen Coal Industry Co. Railway (1938–1945)
Korean State Railway (since 1945)
LocaleNorth Hamgyŏng
Termini
Stations4
Service
TypeHeavy rail,
Regional rail, Freight rail
History
Opened9 September 1938 (Aoji−Hoeam)
14 September 1942 (Hoeam−Obong)
Technical
Line length10.4 km (6.5 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Route map

Hoeam Line
0.0
Haksong
Ryongyŏl-lodongjagu
5.9
Hoeam
(bridge appx 180 m (590 ft))
7.5
Ŭndŏk
coal mine
(bridge appx 195 m (640 ft))
10.4
Obong coal mine
Closed
Hoeam Line
Chosŏn'gŭl
회암선
Hancha
Revised RomanizationHoeam-seon
McCune–ReischauerHoeam-sŏn

History edit

After the Chosen Synthetic Oil Company opened a large factory in Aoji-ri (now Haksong-ri) in 1937[2] to produce synthetic oil from the bituminous coal mined in the area,[3] the Chosen Coal Industry Company built a railway line, called the Ao Line, to connect its mines to the chemical factory and to the South Manchuria Railway's North Chosen East Line, opening the first 5.9 km (3.7 mi) section from Aoji to Hoeam for passenger and freight service on 9 September 1938.[4] The line was then extended, with a new 4.5 km (2.8 mi) section from Hoeam to Sinaoji (now called Ŭndŏk) and Obong opened on 14 September 1942.[5]

Following the partition of Korea, the entirety of the Ao Line was located in the Soviet zone of occupation. The Provisional People’s Committee for North Korea nationalised all railways in the northern half of the country on 10 August 1946, and following the establishment of North Korea, the Korean State Railway was created.[6] After the town of Aoji was renamed to Haksong, the line was given its current name.

Route edit

A yellow background in the "Distance" box indicates that section of the line is not electrified.

Distance (km) Station Name Former Name
Total S2S Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Connections
0.0 0.0 Haksong 학송 (鶴松) Aoji 아오지 (阿吾地) Hambuk Line
5.9 5.9 Hoeam 회암 (灰岩)
7.5 1.6 Ŭndŏk 은덕 (恩德) Sinaoji 신아오지 (新阿吾地)
10.4 2.9 Obong 오봉 (梧鳳) Closed.

References edit

  1. ^ Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), p. 93 ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6
  2. ^ Aoji-ri Chemical Complex
  3. ^ 북한 아오지 탄광과 석유화학공업(1편)
  4. ^ 朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 3505, 20 September 1938 (in Japanese)
  5. ^ 朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 4695, 14 September 1942 (in Japanese)
  6. ^ Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), p. 131, ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6