Tateyama Sabō Erosion Control Works Service Train


The Tateyama Sabō Erosion Control Works Service Train, commonly called Tateyama Erosion Control Train, is a Japanese, narrow gauge industrial railway line in Tateyama, Toyama. It is operated by the Tateyama Mountain Area Sabō Office, which belongs to the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Overview

The line transports materials and workers for the construction/conservation of erosion control facilities of Jōganji River, such as dams. Unlike ordinary railways in Japan, the line is not regulated by the :ja:鉄道事業法|Railway Business Law nor the :ja:軌道法|Tram Law, but by the :ja:労働安全衛生法|Industrial Safety and Health Law. It means the line is not a public transportation, but solely a construction facility. However, the line is well known among railfans. This is one of few Japanese railways, or possibly the only surviving one, to use narrow gauge track. Also, it is one of the lines with the largest number of railway zig zags in the world. Because of its historical significance, the line is registered as a Monument of Japan.

History

Basic data