Kumgol Line

Kŭmgol Line
Overview
Other name(s)	Hamnam Line 함남선(咸南線)
Native name	금골선
Type	Heavy rail, Passenger/freight rail Regional rail
Status	Operational
Locale	South Hamgyŏng
Termini	Yŏhaejin Muhak
Stations	17
Operation
Opened	1943
Owner	Chosen Magnesite Development Railway (1943–1945) Korean State Railway (since 1945)
Technical
Line length	83.4 km (51.8 mi)
Number of tracks	Single track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	3000 V DC Overhead line
Maximum incline	26‰
Route map Legend - P'yŏngra Line 0.0 Yŏhaejin P'yŏngra Line 1.2 Ch'ŏn'gok 5.5 Taptong Kaŭng Closed Puktaech'ŏn 14.1 Kwangch'ŏn Unjŏn Closed 23.3 Tongdŏk 27.7 Tong'am Puktaech'ŏn 33.8 Such'on Puktaech'ŏn Sinp'yŏng Closed 42.8 Rip'a Puktaech'ŏn Puktaech'ŏn 50.3 Sinjŭngsan Puktaech'ŏn Puktaech'ŏn magnesite mine 54.8 Tonsan Puktaech'ŏn 59.7 Paekkŭmsan magnesite mine magnesite mine 63.4 Kŭmgolmagnesite mine Puktaech'ŏn Sindŏk Puktaech'ŏn Taesin Taehŭng Taehŭng Youth Magnesite Mine 83.4 Muhak magnesite mine

The Kŭmgol Line is an electrified standard-gauge secondary line of the North Korean State Railway running from Yŏhaejin on the P'yŏngra Line to Muhak.^[1] Located entirely in Tanch'ŏn city, South Hamgyŏng - one of the DPRK's most important mining areas - freight trains moving ore from the mines on the line to the P'yŏngra Line form the bulk of the line's traffic.

The line is in relatively severe terrain, with a ruling grade of 26‰. There are 45 bridges with a total length of 3,112 m (10,210 ft), and 30 tunnels with a total of 8,241 m (27,037 ft).^[2]

History

Originally called the Hamnam Line, it was built by the privately-owned Chosen Magnesite Development Railway (Japanese: 朝鮮マグネサイト開発鉄道 Chōsen Magunesaito Kaihatsu Tetsudō, Korean: 조선 마그네사이트 개발 철도, Chosŏn Magŭnesaitŭ Kaebal Ch'ŏldo), to exploit the magnesite deposits of the Kŏmdŏk district; the company was granted a licence to operate passenger trains on 25 March 1943.^[3] The first section, 27.7 km from Yŏhaejin on the P'yŏngra Line to Tongam, was opened on 30 March 1943, followed by a 32 km extension from Tongam to Ryongyang (nowadays called Paekkŭmsan) that was opened on 4 December of the same year.^[3][4]

After the partition of Korea following the end of World War 2 and the subsequent establishment of the DPRK, the line was nationalised and its name was changed to the current name. In 1961-62 the line, which by that time was outdated in technical terms, was upgraded with modern equipment; at the same time, a 3.7 km (2.3 mi) extension from Paekkŭmsan to Kŭmgol was built. The entire line was then electrified in 1977, improving the total capacity, safety and train speeds on the line.^[2] The final 20 km (12 mi) extension from Kŭmgol to Muhak was built after 1988.

Services

Route

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

References