| Tōbu Kumagaya Line | |
|---|---|
Disused track of the former Tobu Kumagaya Line at Kami-Kumagaya Station, November 2011 |
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| Overview | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| Locale | Saitama Prefecture |
| Termini | Saitama Menuma |
| Stations | 4 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1943 |
| Closed | 1983 |
| Owner | Tobu Railway |
| Depot(s) | None |
| Rolling stock | Tōbu KiHa 2000 series |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 10.1 km (6.3 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | Not electrified |
The Tōbu Kumagaya Line (東武熊谷線 Tōbu Kumagaya-sen) was a 10.1 km single-track line operated by Tobu Railway, which ran from Kumagaya to Menuma in Saitama Prefecture.[1]
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Construction of the line was planned during the Pacific War to provide transportation for the military supply factories located in the area. It opened on 5 December 1943, although the shortage of materials during the war meant that the rails for the line had to be procured by singling the Tōbu Nikkō Line between Kassemba and Tōbu Nikkō Stations. The original plan to extend the line beyond Menuma over the Tone River to the freight terminal at Shin-Koizumi (on the now closed Sengokugashi Freight Line extending from the Tōbu Koizumi Line at Nishi-Koizumi) was cancelled following the end of the war.[1]
The line was not linked to any other Tōbu lines, and remained unprofitable. It was finally closed on 31 May 1983.[1]
Some of the former Kumagaya Line track remains in situ between Kumagaya and Kami-Kumagaya on the Chichibu Main Line, as does one of the concrete piers for the planned Tone River bridge, on the Gunma Prefecture side of the river.[2]
Source: [2]
The line was initially operated using Class B2 (ex-JNR Class 5300) Beyer Peacock-built steam locomotives (numbers 27 and 28, ex-JNR 5312 and 5313) hauling former DeHa 1 electric cars converted to non-powered passenger coaches.[2] New KiHa 2000 series diesel railcars were introduced from 1954.[1]
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