is a small-sector private railway company operating two railway lines in northern Saitama Prefecture

Saitama Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...

, Japan. In addition to its railway operations, the company deals in the real estate and tourism industries. It also manages the Mitsumine Ropeway (三峰ロープウェイ). The aerial tramway line, however, closed in December 2007.

Taiheiyo Cement

Taiheiyo Cement

is a Japanese cement company, and is the biggest of its kind in Japan. It was formed in 1998 with the merger of Chichibu Onoda and Nihon Cement ....

 is its largest shareholder, and one of Chichibu Railway's main operations is the transportation of limestone

Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....

 from Mount Bukō. The railway's passenger services concentrate on the tourism industry, as there are popular destinations along the line. A train hauled by a steam locomotive

Steam locomotive

A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...

 also operates regularly during some seasons, attracting tourists from around the country.

Railway lines

• Chichibu Mainline
  Chichibu Mainline
  The is a railway line in Japan, owned by Chichibu Railway, which links Hanyū and Mitsumineguchi, both in Saitama Prefecture.Locals living around the line call it the Chichibu sen, or Chichibu line...
  
   (秩父本線): from to (passenger line)
• Mikajiri Line (三ヶ尻線): from Takekawa
  Takekawa Station
  is a railway station in Fukaya, Saitama, Japan, operated by the Chichibu Railway.-Lines:Takekawa Station is served by the Chichibu Main Line from to , and is located 24.8 km from Hanyū.-Station layout:...
  
   to Kumagaya Kamotsu Terminal (freight line)

History

• 8 November 1899 - Founded as Jōbu Railway (Headquartered in now-defunct Nihonbashi
  Nihonbashi
  , or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
  
   Ward, Tokyo City
  Tokyo City
  was a municipality in Japan and part of Tokyo-Fu which existed from May 1, 1889 until its merger with its prefecture on July 1, 1943. The historical boundaries of Tokyo City are now occupied by independent special wards...
  
  ).
• 7 October 1901 - Started operations between Kumagaya
  Kumagaya Station
  is a railway station in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan, operated jointly by East Japan Railway Company and the Chichibu Railway-Lines:Kumagaya Station is served by the JR East Jōetsu Shinkansen and Nagano Shinkansen high-speed shinkansen lines from Tokyo, the Takasaki Line to , and also the privately...
  
   and Yorii
  Yorii Station
  is a railway station in Yorii, Saitama, Japan, jointly operated by East Japan Railway Company , Tobu Railway, and the Chichibu Railway.-Lines:Yorii Station is served by the following three lines.* Hachikō Line * Tōbu Tōjō Line...
  
  .
• 1916 - Company name changed to Chichibu Railway.
• 1921 - Started operations between Hokubu Railway's Hanyu station
  Hanyu Station
  is a railway station in Hanyū, Saitama, Japan, jointly operated by Tobu Railway and Chichibu Railway.-Lines:Hanyū Station is served by the Tōbu Isesaki Line from in Tokyo and also forms the eastern terminus of the 71.7 km Chichibu Main Line to , and is located 1.2 km from Hanyū.-Station layout:The...
  
   and Gyoda Station (now Gyodashi station
  Gyōdashi Station
  is a railway station in Gyōda, Saitama, Japan, operated by the Chichibu Railway.-Lines:Gyōdashi Station is served by the Chichibu Main Line from to , and is located 8.3 km from Hanyū. Chichibuji express services stop at this station.-Platforms:...
  
  ).
• 1922 - Chichibu Railway acquired Hokubu Railway.
• 1930 - Started operations on the full line between Hanyu and Mitsumineguchi
  Mitsumineguchi Station
  is a railway station in Chichibu, Saitama, Japan, operated by the Chichibu Railway.-Lines:Mitsumineguchi Station is served by the Chichibu Main Line from , and is located 71.7 km from Hanyū...
  
  .
• 1954 - Started direct operations with the Tōbu Tōjō Line.
• 1980 - Headquarters moved to Kumagaya, Saitama
  Kumagaya, Saitama
  is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 203,089 . The total area is 159.88 km². The city is one of the biggest in northern Saitama Prefecture. It is the administrative, business and commercial centre in northern Saitama Prefecture. Eight...
  
  .
• 1988 - Started operations of a steam locomotive
  Steam locomotive
  A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
  
  -hauled train, the Paleo Express.
• 1989 - Started direct operations with Seibu Railway
  Seibu Railway
  is a conglomerate based in Tokorozawa, Japan, with principal business areas in railways, tourism and real estate. Seibu Railway's operations are concentrated in northwest Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture; the name "Seibu" is an abbreviation of "west Musashi," referring to the historic name for this area...
  
  .
• 1997 - Moved bus operations to a separate entity, Chichibu Railway Sightseeing Bus Co., Ltd.

External links

• Chichibu Railway website