Kumgol Line

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.

Kŭmgol Line
Overview
Other name(s)Hamnam Line
함남선(咸南線)
Native name금골선
StatusOperational
OwnerChosen Magnesite Development Railway (1943–1945)
Korean State Railway (since 1945)
LocaleSouth Hamgyŏng
Termini
Stations17
Service
TypeHeavy rail, Passenger/freight rail
Regional rail
History
Opened1943 (Yŏhaejin–Paekkŭmsan)
1962 (Paekkŭmsan–Kŭmgol)
after 1988 (Kŭmgol–Muhak)
Technical
Line length83.4 km (51.8 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification3000 V DC Overhead line
Maximum incline26‰
Route map
P'yŏngra Line
Tuŏn Line
0.0
 Yŏhaejin
P'yŏngra Line
(tunnel appx 65 m (213 ft))
1.2
 Ch'ŏn'gok
(tunnel appx 235 m (771 ft))
(bridge appx 50 m (160 ft))
5.5
 Taptong
(tunnel appx 170 m (560 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 140 m (460 ft))
9.0
 Kaŭng
(tunnel appx 145 m (476 ft))
(bridge appx 175 m (574 ft))
(tunnel appx 205 m (673 ft))
14.1
 Kwangch'ŏn
(bridge appx 80 m (260 ft))
(bridge appx 90 m (300 ft))
19.0
 Unjŏn
(bridge appx 50 m (160 ft))
(bridge appx 140 m (460 ft))
23.3
 Tongdŏk
27.7
 Tong'am
(tunnel appx 175 m (574 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 90 m (300 ft))
(tunnel appx 630 m (2,070 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 100 m (330 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 65 m (213 ft))
(tunnel appx 375 m (1,230 ft))
33.8
 Such'on
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 100 m (330 ft))
(tunnel appx 500 m (1,600 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 140 m (460 ft))
(tunnel appx 395 m (1,296 ft))
36.7
 Sinp'yŏng
(tunnel appx 300 m (980 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 120 m (390 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 85 m (279 ft))
(tunnel appx 150 m (490 ft))
(tunnel appx 550 m (1,800 ft))
42.8
 Rip'a
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 115 m (377 ft))
(tunnel appx 660 m (2,170 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 100 m (330 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 100 m (330 ft))
(tunnel appx 70 m (230 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 140 m (460 ft))
(tunnel appx 195 m (640 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 130 m (430 ft))
50.3
 Sinjŭngsan
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 90 m (300 ft))
(tunnel appx 280 m (920 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 180 m (590 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 130 m (430 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 90 m (300 ft))
(tunnel appx 485 m (1,591 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 135 m (443 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 120 m (390 ft))
magnesite mine
54.8
 Tonsan
(tunnel appx 190 m (620 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 140 m (460 ft))
(tunnel appx 105 m (344 ft))
(tunnel appx 350 m (1,150 ft))
(tunnel appx 285 m (935 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 80 m (260 ft))
(tunnel appx 230 m (750 ft))
(tunnel appx 80 m (260 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 105 m (344 ft))
(tunnel appx 215 m (705 ft))
59.7
 Paekkŭmsan
(bridge appx 120 m (390 ft))
(tunnel appx 145 m (476 ft))
1.5
magnesite mine
(tunnel appx 745 m (2,444 ft))
(tunnel appx 400 m (1,300 ft))
(bridge appx 110 m (360 ft))
(tunnel appx 140 m (460 ft))
0.8
magnesite mine
63.4
 Kŭmgol
magnesite mine
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 170 m (560 ft))
66.3
 Sindŏk
68.9
 Taesin
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 130 m (430 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 185 m (607 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 400 m (1,300 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 210 m (690 ft))
(tunnel appx 350 m (1,150 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 170 m (560 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 90 m (300 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 90 m (300 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 105 m (344 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 120 m (390 ft))
77.3
 Taehŭng
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 125 m (410 ft))
(tunnel appx 265 m (869 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 125 m (410 ft))
(tunnel appx 380 m (1,250 ft))
underground facility
83.4
 Muhak
84.7
Taehŭng Youth Magnesite Mine
(tunnel appx 195 m (640 ft))
Puktaech'ŏn
(bridge appx 65 m (213 ft))
88.7
magnesite mine
Kumgol Line
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationGeumgol-seon
McCune–ReischauerKŭmgol-sŏn

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

Freight

Freight movements make up by far the largest amount of traffic on the Kŭmgol Line, with the bulk of that traffic moving from Kŭmgol to the connection with the P'yŏngra Line at Yŏhaejin - the vast majority of that traffic being magnesite ore from Paekkŭmsan and non-ferrous ores from the Kŏmdŏk Mining Complex. Northbound traffic is mainly coal, construction materials, foodstuffs and empty cars for ore-loading.[2]

Passenger
See also: List of passenger train services in North Korea

The following passenger trains are known to operate on this line:[1]

  • Express trains 11/12, operating between P'yŏngyang and Kŭmgol, runs on this line between Yŏhaejin and Kŭmgol;
  • Local trains 513/516 operate on this line between Kŭmgol and Muhak;
  • Local trains 913/914 operate on this line between Tonsan and Paekkŭmsan.

Route

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

Distance (km)Station NameFormer Name
TotalS2STranscribedChosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)TranscribedChosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)Connections
0.0 0.0 Yŏhaejin 여해진 (汝海津) P'yŏngra Line
1.2 1.2 Ch'ŏn'gok 천곡 (泉谷) Flag stop.
5.5 4.3 Taptong 답동 (畓洞)
9.0 3.5 Kaŭng 가응(加應) Flag stop.
14.1 5.1 Kwangch'ŏn 광천 (廣泉) Yongjam 용잠 (龍岑)
19.0 4.9 Unjŏn 운전 (雲田) Flag stop.
23.3 4.3 Tongdŏk 동덕 (東德) Hamnam Kwangch'ŏn 함남광천 (咸南廣泉)
27.7 4.4 Tong'am 동암 (東巖)
33.8 6.1 Such'on 수촌 (水村)
36.7 2.9 Sinp'yŏng 신평 (新坪) Flag stop.
42.8 6.1 Rip'a 리파 (梨坡)
50.3 7.5 Sinjŭngsan 신증산 (新甑山)
54.8 4.5 Tonsan 돈산 (-山) Hamnam Unsong 함남운송 (咸南雲松)
59.7 4.9 Paekkŭmsan 백금산 (白金山) Yongyang 용양 (龍陽)
63.4 3.7 Kŭmgol 금골 (金-)
66.3 2.9 Sindŏk 신덕 (新德)
68.9 2.6 Taesin 대신 (大新)
77.3 8.4 Taehŭng 대흥 (大興)
83.4 6.1 Muhak 무학 (舞鶴)

References
  1. Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), 2007, Shinchosha, Tokyo, ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6
  2. The traffic and geography in North Korea: Kŭmgol Line (in Korean)
  3. 朝鮮総督部官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor–General of Korea), Shōwa No. 4854, 9 April 1943 (in Japanese)
  4. 朝鮮総督府官報(The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 5059, 13 December 1943 (in Japanese)

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