Tōbu Kumagaya Line

Tōbu Kumagaya Line
Disused track of the former Tobu Kumagaya Line at Kami-Kumagaya Station, November 2011
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Saitama Prefecture
Termini	Saitama Menuma
Stations	4
Operation
Opened	1943
Closed	1983
Owner	Tobu Railway
Depot(s)	None
Rolling stock	Tōbu KiHa 2000 series
Technical
Line length	10.1 km (6.3 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Not electrified

The Tōbu Kumagaya Line (東武熊谷線, Tōbu Kumagaya-sen^?) was a 10.1 km single-track line operated by Tobu Railway, which ran from Kumagaya to Menuma in Saitama Prefecture.^[1]

History

Construction of the line was planned during the Pacific War to provide transportation for the military supply factories located in the area. It opened on 5 December 1943, although the shortage of materials during the war meant that the rails for the line had to be procured by singling the Tōbu Nikkō Line between Kassemba and Tōbu Nikkō Stations. The original plan to extend the line beyond Menuma over the Tone River to the freight terminal at Shin-Koizumi (on the now closed Sengokugashi Freight Line extending from the Tōbu Koizumi Line at Nishi-Koizumi) was cancelled following the end of the war.^[1]

The line was not linked to any other Tōbu lines, and remained unprofitable. It was finally closed on 31 May 1983.^[1]

Some of the former Kumagaya Line track remains in situ between Kumagaya and Kami-Kumagaya on the Chichibu Main Line, as does one of the concrete piers for the planned Tone River bridge, on the Gunma Prefecture side of the river.^[2]

Stations

• Kumagaya
• Kami-Kumagaya
• Ōhata
• Menuma

Source: ^[2]

Rolling stock

Preserved KiHa 2000 series diesel railcar formerly used on Kumagaya Line, August 2011

The line was initially operated using Class B2 (ex-JNR Class 5300) Beyer Peacock-built steam locomotives (numbers 27 and 28, ex-JNR 5312 and 5313) hauling former DeHa 1 electric cars converted to non-powered passenger coaches.^[2] New KiHa 2000 series diesel railcars were introduced from 1954.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} 歴史でめぐる鉄道全路線NO.5 東武鉄道２ (Railway Line History No. 5: Tobu Railway 2). Japan: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. September 2010. ISBN 978-4-02-340135-8. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "東武鉄道熊谷線と那須電気軌道 [Tobu Kumagaya Line and Nasu Tramway]". Japan Railfan Magazine (Japan: Kōyūsha Co., Ltd.) 50 (590): p.128–135. June 2010.