The Tasado Line is a non-electrified standard-gauge secondary line of the Korean State Railway in North P'yǒngan Province, North Korea, running from Ryongch'ŏn on the P'yŏngŭi Line to Tasado Port.[1]

Tasado Line
Overview
Native name다사도선(多獅島線)
StatusOperational
OwnerTasado Railway (1939–1945)
Korean State Railway (since 1945)
LocaleNorth P'yǒngan
Termini
Stations6
Service
TypeHeavy rail, Regional rail
Passenger/Freight
History
Opened31 October 1939
Technical
Line length24.1 km (15.0 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Minimum radius250 m (820 ft)
Maximum incline12‰
Route map

0.0
Ryongch'ǒn
3.5
Pukchung
Closed
5.0
Pukchung
(bridge appx 35 m (115 ft))
10.5
0.0
Ryongamp'o
3.4
Ryongamp'o Sea Fishing Co.
6.4
Chinhŭng
bulk loading
(bridge appx 25 m (82 ft))
16.8
Sinjǒngri
20.5
Tasado
23.1
West Tasado
Closed
1.4
24.1
Tasado Port
Tasado Line
Chosŏn'gŭl
다사도선
Hancha
Revised RomanizationDasado-seon
McCune–ReischauerTasado-sŏn

Running through gentle territory, the Tasado Line's ruling grade is 12‰, the minimum curve radius is 250 m (820 ft), and there are five bridges with a total length of 81 m (266 ft).[2]

History edit

The Tasado Line was opened by the Tasado Railway on 31 October 1939, as a 39.5 km (24.5 mi) line from Sinŭiju to Tasado Port via Yangsi,[3] to provide the Oji Paper Company's plant in Sinŭiju (today the Sinŭiju Chemical Fibre Complex a means of shipping its products out via the port at Tasado, as the Yalu River freezes in winter. The Sinŭiju–Yangsi section of the line was transferred to the Chosen Government Railway on 1 April 1943 as the Yangsi Line.[4]

After the partition of Korea the line was within the territory of the DPRK; Yangsi Station was given its current name, Ryongch'ŏn Station some time after the partition. The line suffered considerable damage during the Korean War, including the destruction of the bridge west of Pukchung; this was rebuilt in September 1971, restoring service on the entirety of the line.[2]

Services edit

At Pukchung the line serves the Pukchung Machine Complex factory, while beyond the station at the town of Tasado, it continues on to serve the Korean People's Navy base at Tasado Port.[1] Coal, metal and metal products, fertilisers, agricultural products and materials required at the navy base are the major commodities shipped on the line.[2]

There are five daily return commuter trains between Ryongch'ŏn and Tasado.[2]

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 Ryongch'ŏn 룡천 (龍川) Yangsi 양시 (楊市) P'yŏngŭi Line
3.5 3.5 Pukchung 북중 (北中) Station relocated
5.0 5.0 Pukchung 북중 (北中)
10.5 7.0 Ryongamp'o 룡암포 (龍岩浦)
16.8 3.6 Sinjŏngri 신정리 (信井里)
20.5 3.7 Tasado 다사도 (多獅島)
24.1 3.6 Tasadohang (Tasado Port) 다사도항 (多獅島港) Kwakkot Ch'oe Harbour KPN base

References edit

  1. ^ a b Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6
  2. ^ a b c d North Korea Geographic Information: Transportation Geography - Tasado Line (in Korean)
  3. ^ 朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa Nr. 3841, 8 November 1939
  4. ^ 朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa Nr. 4837, 19 March 1943