Mitsui Chemicals Line to close in May

[bill937ca]

The Mitsui Chemicals Omuta Plant in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture, has decided to discontinue the Mitsui Chemicals exclusive railway (about 1.8 km) connecting the JR Kagoshima Line and the plant in May.

 

The Omuta Plant has mainly used a dedicated railway to carry nitric acid that arrives on a freight train from Mitsubishi Chemical's Fukuoka Plant (Kitakyushu). Mitsubishi Chemical decided to stop nitric acid production at the end of April. 

 

https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/n/587706/?fbclid=IwAR01mT3Dq8iH2dYwcvmZCCjGy3EhS9qxn4RhchHlTENwScXGuKjIPfhWPAA

 

A couple of videos for reference. Videos by tomaremiyo.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 7, 2020 by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

An article on the closing of only remaining part of the Mitsui Miike Coal Mine Railway in Kyushu, the current 1.8km Mitsui Chemicals Line.

 

The line opened in 1878 to transport coal from the Miike Coal Mine to the Miike Port and at its height had route length of 18.7km including a branch line, and at ome time also ran passenger services.  The only electric locomotive operating dates from 1915.

 

https://tetsudo-ch.com/10134832.html?amp&utm_source=Newsapp&utm_medium=https&utm_campaign=link_back&fbclid=IwAR0YENY64TvvHDiOo1EK_km-IR2ggJDmoP2384Nq0634BEFqsMhyWo6YWkE

[stevenh]

Everyone needs to watch the Benny Hill moment at the start of that first video when the elderly gentleperson tried to get back across the rails.

[cteno4]

Ahh Benny, a flashback to childhood,

 

jeff

[ben_issacs]

Where is the connection of this railway to the JR? The reason that I ask is that on a group tour to Japan several years ago, we went to what obviously was the main yard for this line, with a couple of the little red electric locos shunting tank wagons up and down.

 

Also, a long line of derelict elec. locos alongside the yard.

 

I was never able to work out where we were.

 

Bill

Melbourne

[Nick_Burman]

2 hours ago, ben_issacs said:

Where is the connection of this railway to the JR? The reason that I ask is that on a group tour to Japan several years ago, we went to what obviously was the main yard for this line, with a couple of the little red electric locos shunting tank wagons up and down.

 

Also, a long line of derelict elec. locos alongside the yard.

 

I was never able to work out where we were.

 

Bill

Melbourne

 

Forgot the name, but it's one stop north of Omuta on the Nishitetsu.

 

Cheers NB

[ben_issacs]

Thanks, Nick, 

 

Will have a look at my 'Japanese Road Atlas' for this location.

 

Bill,

Melbourne.

 

[ben_issacs]

Nick,

 

One stop north of Omuta on the Nishitetsu Omuta Line is Shin Sakaemachhi, is that the place?

 

Bill, 

Melbourne.

 

[Socimi]

9 hours ago, Nick_Burman said:

 

Forgot the name, but it's one stop north of Omuta on the Nishitetsu.

 

 

https://www.google.it/maps/search/mitsui+chemicals/@33.0382386,130.4504307,341m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

The line branches off JR Kyuhsu's Kagoshima Main Line near Shin-Sakaemachi station on the parallel Nishitetsu Tenjin-Omuta Line.

[ben_issacs]

Thanks, Socimi,

 

Will have to have a look at Google Earth to get an idea of the layout there.

 

Bill

Melbourne

[Nick_Burman]

On 4/13/2020 at 6:32 PM, ben_issacs said:

Thanks, Socimi,

 

Will have to have a look at Google Earth to get an idea of the layout there.

 

Bill

Melbourne

 

 

Yes, Shin-Sakaemachi station on the Nishitetsu. If you turn on the "transportation" layer on Google Earth you'll be able to see the line to the plant.

 

Cheers Nicholas

[bill937ca]

One last look from March 2020.  Video by  Natsuo78

 

"It is a 45t class convex electric locomotive No. 18 working on the Mitsui Chemicals dedicated line announced to be abolished in May 2020. It is made in 1936 (Showa 11). "

 

Tour of premises.

 

 

Video by  Miyaha Okegawa

 

 

[bill937ca]

More

Video by sakura 050301

 

 

Video by  OmuraShobuDiary

 

[ranger10178]

I hope the loco ends up being preserved, even if just as a static exhibit somewhere!

[bill937ca]

Mitsui Chemicals dedicated railway. Video by kamotudaisuki

 

 

[bill937ca]

I seen references that the unusual crossing gate is manually operated.  In this Japanese narrated video there is footage of the crossing from ground level showing the attendant's booth just after the 9:35 minute mark.  Video by おーくすおーくす

 

 

[RossDensha]

@stevenhLucky it's manual, or Benny Hill in one of the top videos would have come a cropper.

Edited May 25, 2020 by RossDensha

[bill937ca]

"On August 28, 2017, the 45-t electric locomotive No. 18, which was used for transportation from JR ⇔ Mitsui Chemicals Omuta Factory (Miyaura), was derailed on the safe side line inside the temporary river yard. It seems that the power transmission to the overhead line was stopped due to this event, and it is probable that Unit 19 of the same type, which is also used for cargo towing, could not be used. As a result, 22t locomotives No. 11 and No. 12, which are normally used to replace freight cars at Mitsui Chemicals Omuta Plant, were selected for the above transportation. By the way, the 22t locomotive is made in 1917, so it is an antique that will be 100 years old this year. The 22t locomotive runs on electricity from a freight car equipped with a battery in order to prevent ignition from sparks due to overhead lines in the factory. When running on the battery, fold the pantograph and run. Use the pantograph only when charging. Therefore, it is possible to drive on the track where the power transmission was stopped like this time. It is very rare to see such a special vehicle exiting the factory and passing a public road. It should be noted that the derailed Unit 18 has been over a week since the event occurred at the time of shooting, and it is unknown when it will return to its normal form. * It seems that Unit 18 was rescued between 11th and 12th September, the day after shooting. If the flow of delivery of freight cars to and from JR is based on the time of the temporary river, around 7:55 JR freight EF towed to Omuta passes by the temporary river around 8:30 22t locomotive from Miyaura (single unit) Arrives by pulling a freight car around 8:35, leaving a freight car and leaving 22t locomotive unit (single unit) to Miyaura around 9:05 ★ Bonus ★ Nanatsu stars pass by the temporary river (Sunday only) 9 Around 20:20 JR freight DE towing car that returned at JR Omuta Station arrived at Temporary River around 9:30 A 22t locomotive from Miyaura arrived at Temporary River by heavy train around 9:40 22t Locomotive locomotive towed Freight train departs for Miyaura Around 10:15 A JR freight DE towing vehicle departs for Omuta Station. Around 12:10 JR freight EF towing car that returned at Omuta Station passed by the temporary river The video was edited to follow the flow of the above day." MY
http://www.aunzrailfan.com    Video by railfan auntz.

 

 

[maihama eki]

There is a short article in "Rail Magazine" No. 440, May 2020 about this line.  A few nice photos and a paragraph of text.

 

That battery car is really unique.