Oigawa Railway C10

[bill937ca]

[David]

Is that dual gauge track, or is there another reason for what looks like third rail?

[KenS]

Is that dual gauge track, or is there another reason for what looks like third rail?

 

I'd guess it's a guard rail for the curves, to prevent a derailed wheel from getting out of the tracks.  It's a bit far from the inside rail of the curve, but I've seen guardrails that far off.  The line is described as being the usual 1067mm, and the online photos I found showed only two rails (except for the steep section that has a centered rack-rail, but that looks different).

[bill937ca]

Its dual gauge.  762mm and 1067mm.

 

From Wikipedia:

 

The single track line was originally constructed with 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge  However, in order to have dual usage with carriages on the Senzu-Shinrin Line (now extinct) a third rail was added the following year for the 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Japanese standard gauge.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cigawa_Railway_Ikawa_Line

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cigawa_Railway_%C5%8Cigawa_Main_Line

 

More information on the Oigawa Railway.

 

http://www.japaneserailwaysociety.com/hiroshi/oi/oi1.htm

 

http://www.japaneserailwaysociety.com/hiroshi/oi/oi2.htm

[stevenh]

Bill,

 

Is there a chance you know of this 'Shinrin' destination? I can't find it on any maps (although I've only had a brief look.)

[bill937ca]

I haven't found anything yet. No mention of Shinin in Electric Railways of Japan. 

[bikkuri bahn]

The reason is that the dual gauge line in question is on the Ikawa Line, the line than starts from the Oigawa Rlwy main line terminus at Senzu.  The Senzu Forest Rlwy shared track with the Ikawa Line between Senzu and Sawama Stations.

 

I think the track in the clip is what Ken S stated: a guard/check rail, notice its presence on the S curve.

[stevenh]

I can't see the video in question here at work, but it would have to be a guard rail if it is anywhere between Senzu and Kanaya as bikkuri bahn has stated.

 

Meanwhile, here's the Senzu Forest Railway: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8D%83%E9%A0%AD%E6%A3%AE%E6%9E%97%E9%89%84%E9%81%93

 

I imagine the tracks leading away from the Ikawa Line have been entirely ripped up? Or was there no diversion from the current Ikawa Line?

 

Here is Sawama Station: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B2%A2%E9%96%93%E9%A7%85

 

I would love to see some proper satellite imagery on this, Google Maps has nothing.

[bikkuri bahn]

I imagine the tracks leading away from the Ikawa Line have been entirely ripped up? Or was there no diversion from the current Ikawa Line?

 

Yes, it appears so.  The forestry line parted from the Ikawa Line at Sawama.  The right of way was converted at places into roadway.  This website has pictures taken in the vicinity of Sawama:

 

http://yamaiga.com/rail/senzu/main1.html

[stevenh]

Even if that is some bad translating (thanks Google), this is cool information. Seems there's still some formwork all the way along. Too bad the author has only trekked two sections!

 

Meanwhile, go to the main index and scroll down to find the other 5 pages (in case you only found main1,main2,main3,main4) :)