Shimizuko Line
Encyclopedia
The , literally "Shimizu Port Line", was a Japanese railway line
in Shimizu
, Shizuoka operated by Japanese National Railways
. It ran as a branch line
off the Tōkaidō Main Line
from Shimizu Station
, through the industrial port of Shimizu before terminating in the residential area of Miho. The line operated first as a freight line and later as a passenger line before closing in 1984 and being replaced by a bus service. At its peak, the line included a total of four passenger stations, and two spur lines used for freight services.
was a thriving fishing port and the export of the locally grown green tea
. Miho is a busy residential area on the Shimizu peninsula famous for Miho no Matsubara
. In an age before widespread bus or haulage services or personal transport, a train link into the area was conceived.
from the then-named Ejiri Station into the industrial area of Shimizu port. The first stretch of the line ran as a 1.6 km spur to . An extension on February 1, 1930 took the line deeper into the port district, with a station opening as to further service the many export factories in the region. On December 1, 1934 Ejiri Station was renamed as Shimizu Station in part to reflect the growing influence the port had on the region's identity.
) trains a day. With increasing competition from buses and personal transport usage declined to the point that by the early 1980s the line was no longer considered a viable transport link. After forty years as a passenger service, the last Miho bound train departed Shimizu on March 31, 1984. The line officially closed for business on April 1 of the same year, its route being replaced by a bus
service.
Today the majority of the old route has been converted into pedestrian and cyclist walkway. Of the old stations, signals and rolling stock, remnants have been preserved to varying degrees. Shimizu-minato Station's industrial crane
has been preserved and can be see in the grounds of S-Pulse Dream Plaza, a shopping and entertainment complex on the station's former site.
The best preserved of the stations is Tomoegawaguchi, with a full platform and section of track complete with station signage still standing and today surrounded by a car park. Beyond Tomoegawaguchi, examples of the passenger trains and signals
can be found on the 4 km cycle path and walkway which runs the path of the old rail road. Locations of old stations are marked with signs, and the area of and around Miho Station terminus has been converted into a park. The platform still stands along with a section of track with an example of one of the industrial trains which used to service the area's numerous factories
.
The former railway is now a flower-lined route running through the heart of Shimizu. It is used daily by residents, tourists and the many students of the various local schools in the area.
Rail transport in Japan
Rail transport in Japan is a major means of passenger transport, especially for mass and high-speed travel between major cities and for commuter transport in metropolitan areas.-Overview:...
in Shimizu
Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka
is one of three wards of the city of Shizuoka, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, located in the eastern part of the city.-Geography:Shimizu is located on the coast of Suruga Bay of the Pacific Ocean and covers a wide area from a coastal plain to the hills...
, Shizuoka operated by Japanese National Railways
Japanese National Railways
, abbreviated or "JNR", was the national railway network of Japan from 1949 to 1987.-History:The term Kokuyū Tetsudō "state-owned railway" originally referred to a network of railway lines operated by nationalized companies under the control of the Railway Institute following the nationalization...
. It ran as a branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
off the Tōkaidō Main Line
Tokaido Main Line
The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
from Shimizu Station
Shimizu Station (Shizuoka)
is a railway station on the Tōkaidō Main Line of Central Japan Railway Company in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The station is 169 rail kilometers from Tokyo Station.- Station history:...
, through the industrial port of Shimizu before terminating in the residential area of Miho. The line operated first as a freight line and later as a passenger line before closing in 1984 and being replaced by a bus service. At its peak, the line included a total of four passenger stations, and two spur lines used for freight services.
Background
Shimizu port had long been an important area for industry in the area. The areas natural harbour in Suruga BaySuruga Bay
Suruga Bay is a bay on the Pacific coast of Honshū in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is situated north of an imaginary line joining Omaezaki Point and Irōzaki Point at the tip of the Izu Peninsula and surrounded by Honshū to the southwest and west and the Izu Peninsula to the east.-Geology:Suruga...
was a thriving fishing port and the export of the locally grown green tea
Green tea
Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has recently become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally...
. Miho is a busy residential area on the Shimizu peninsula famous for Miho no Matsubara
Miho no Matsubara
is a scenic area located on the Miho Peninsula in the Shimizu-ku area of Shizuoka, Japan.-Overview:Miho no Matsubara is renowned as a seashore with beautiful green pine trees and white sands spanning over seven kilometers. It has a great scenic view of Mount Fuji and the Izu Peninsula across Suruga...
. In an age before widespread bus or haulage services or personal transport, a train link into the area was conceived.
Industrial beginnings
The line began life on July 10, 1916 purely as an industrial railwayIndustrial railway
An industrial railway is a type of railway that is not available for public transportation and is used exclusively to serve a particular industrial, logistics or military site...
from the then-named Ejiri Station into the industrial area of Shimizu port. The first stretch of the line ran as a 1.6 km spur to . An extension on February 1, 1930 took the line deeper into the port district, with a station opening as to further service the many export factories in the region. On December 1, 1934 Ejiri Station was renamed as Shimizu Station in part to reflect the growing influence the port had on the region's identity.
As a passenger service
On July 1, 1944 the line was further extended a further 6 km to into Miho, with the addition of four new stations: , and . This extension also included a new Shimizu-futō Station opening 0.2 km back towards Shimizu Station, with the already existing platforms turned over purely to handle freight. On December 1 of the same year, all of the new stations began operating passenger services, and the line was officially named the Shimizukō Line.Decline and closure
By the 1970s, passenger services had been reduced to meet only the needs of the morning and evening rush hour commuters and school students with only one roundtrip of passenger (mixedMixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
) trains a day. With increasing competition from buses and personal transport usage declined to the point that by the early 1980s the line was no longer considered a viable transport link. After forty years as a passenger service, the last Miho bound train departed Shimizu on March 31, 1984. The line officially closed for business on April 1 of the same year, its route being replaced by a bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service.
Present day
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
has been preserved and can be see in the grounds of S-Pulse Dream Plaza, a shopping and entertainment complex on the station's former site.
The best preserved of the stations is Tomoegawaguchi, with a full platform and section of track complete with station signage still standing and today surrounded by a car park. Beyond Tomoegawaguchi, examples of the passenger trains and signals
Railway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
can be found on the 4 km cycle path and walkway which runs the path of the old rail road. Locations of old stations are marked with signs, and the area of and around Miho Station terminus has been converted into a park. The platform still stands along with a section of track with an example of one of the industrial trains which used to service the area's numerous factories
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
.
The former railway is now a flower-lined route running through the heart of Shimizu. It is used daily by residents, tourists and the many students of the various local schools in the area.