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A little Japanese Railway History.
Living in Japan one grows to appreciate the Internet. An open link with old England. I must confess to have missed the steam railway bug of years gone by. My brother wasn't so lucky. He got involved with Brambleton Railway in our hometown of Harpenden. But I wasn't infected, or so I told myself. Years later with a new life in far away Japan the only pastime I could link with England is gardening. Well it's relaxing, pottering around, deadheading the odd rose. So when I use the Internet I often search for things of a garden nature. Ah, I hear you say, accidently wandered into to a garden railway web site. Yes, that was what put the idea in my head.
In 1872 the first Japanese railway was established between Tokyo and Yokohama. This covered a distance of 29km using a gauge of 3 foot 6 inches (1067mm). One might consider this to be narrow gauge until one understands that this is the standard gauge for most railways in Japan. That being the case, what I consider a real narrow gauge of around 2 foot would be referred to as a light railway here in Japan. For the initial stages of the Japanese railway steam engines were obtained from Britain. Engineers from Britain were employed in all manner of positions, having considerable influence on the face of early Japanese railways.
Other narrow gauge railways existed such as a mining line (1880) running on 2 foot 9 inches (838mm), a railway linking a port and city (The Iyo Railway, 1888) using 2 foot 6 inches (762mm). This latter gauge was more common with future light railways whose main operation was of passenger transportation?
Enough history. In fact, just enough history for me to begin thinking about creating a light railway, set some time in the past, in the mountainous edge of the Kanto plain. Enter Takasaki. Now it is a city of 240,000 people with a Shinkansen (Bullet) line, main lines, the most expensive private line in Japan, but lacking a true narrow gauge line. Eighty years ago it could very well have had a small line, linking the fruit growing areas of Haruna and Misato with the growing town of Takasaki.
Well, that is what I imagine had happened. This gives me the basis for a small circular line linking three areas of interest, providing farmers the means to deliver their produce to Takasaki for sale. But that isn't the only reason for the line.
Japan is blessed with numerous 'onsen', or hot spa, which attract a wide variety of people looking for a traditional relaxational activity. The natural volcanic geography gives rise to many onsens which are very popular now and in the past. This means there is a need for said people to gain access to those often remotely located havens. Ah, another cunning reason for a little railway line.
There's more. Takasaki is the main producer of the Daruma doll. A lucky charm famous for it's round red wooden body and scary face. Transport from the local family production areas to Takasaki town calls for some kind of cheap system. The roads are just tracks, no good for the poor early motor vehicles.
So the scene is set. And a little light railway, using the cheaper narrow gauge locos and rolling stock, will do nicely.
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