Nippon Railway
Encyclopedia
was the first private railway company in the history of Japan. The company built trunk lines connecting Tokyo
with the Tōhoku region
to the northeast. Most of its lines came under the control of Japanese Government Railways
following nationalization in 1906, and many are now operated by East Japan Railway Company
.
s, Nippon Railway is behind Tokyo Bashatetsudō established in 1880 as the first private railway in Japan.
Major investors to the company were kazoku
, led by the highest-class court noble Iwakura Tomomi
. The company, incorporated to help expansion of national railway network in line with the national policy, received strong support from the government in both technically and financially.
The first 38 miles (61.2 km) of the railway, between Ueno Station
in Tokyo and Kumagaya Station
in Kumagaya, Saitama
, opened on July 28, 1883. The mainline to Aomori was completed in 1891.
The company expanded the railway by means of both construction and acquisition of other companies. As of 1906, it operated 860.8 miles (1,385.3 km) of railways including the present-day Tōhoku Main Line, Jōban Line
, Takasaki Line
and Yamanote Line
.
On November 1, 1906, the entire operation of the company was purchased by the government of Japan under the Railway Nationalization Act
. Consequently the company was dissolved.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
with the Tōhoku region
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
to the northeast. Most of its lines came under the control of Japanese Government Railways
Japanese Government Railways
The Japanese Government Railways was the national railway system directly operated by the central government of Japan until 1949. It is a predecessor of Japanese National Railways and the Japan Railways Group.- Name :...
following nationalization in 1906, and many are now operated by East Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
.
Outline
The company was incorporated in 1881 as the first privately-funded railway company in Japan where the railways had been built only by the imperial government since early 1870s. If, however, the definition of "railway" includes horsecarHorsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
s, Nippon Railway is behind Tokyo Bashatetsudō established in 1880 as the first private railway in Japan.
Major investors to the company were kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
, led by the highest-class court noble Iwakura Tomomi
Iwakura Tomomi
was a Japanese statesman in the Meiji period. The former 500 Yen banknote issued by the Bank of Japan carried his portrait.-Early life:Iwakura was born in Kyoto as the second son of a low-ranking courtier and nobleman . In 1836 he was adopted by another nobleman, , from whom he received his family...
. The company, incorporated to help expansion of national railway network in line with the national policy, received strong support from the government in both technically and financially.
The first 38 miles (61.2 km) of the railway, between Ueno Station
Ueno Station
is a major railway station inTokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and other famous cultural facilities...
in Tokyo and Kumagaya Station
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...
in 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...
, opened on July 28, 1883. The mainline to Aomori was completed in 1891.
The company expanded the railway by means of both construction and acquisition of other companies. As of 1906, it operated 860.8 miles (1,385.3 km) of railways including the present-day Tōhoku Main Line, Jōban Line
Joban Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi...
, Takasaki Line
Takasaki Line
The is a Japanese railway line which runs between Ōmiya Station in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture and Takasaki Station in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. It is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company ....
and Yamanote Line
Yamanote Line
The is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its...
.
On November 1, 1906, the entire operation of the company was purchased by the government of Japan under the Railway Nationalization Act
Railway Nationalization Act
The brought many of Japan's private railway lines under national control. The Diet of Japan promulgated the Act on March 31, 1906. The Act was repealed by Article 110 of the Japan National Railway Reform Act of 1988, which formed the modern Japan Railways Group....
. Consequently the company was dissolved.
List of lines
| Endpoints | Length (miles) |
Line names (designated after nationalization) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| – | 456.9 | Tōhoku Main Line | |
| – | 0.8 | Jōban Line Joban Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi... |
|
| – | 52.5 | Takasaki Line Takasaki Line The is a Japanese railway line which runs between Ōmiya Station in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture and Takasaki Station in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. It is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company .... , Ryōmō Line Ryomo Line The is a Japanese railway line between the cities of Oyama in Tochigi Prefecture and Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture. long, the line is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company . The name refers to the fact that Gunma and Tochigi prefectures were once part of an ancient province called ,... |
|
| – | 50.9 | Ryōmō Line Ryomo Line The is a Japanese railway line between the cities of Oyama in Tochigi Prefecture and Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture. long, the line is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company . The name refers to the fact that Gunma and Tochigi prefectures were once part of an ancient province called ,... |
|
| – | 31.4 | Mito Line Mito Line The is a railway line between Oyama Station in Tochigi Prefecture and Tomobe Station in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The line is long and is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company .- Station list :* All trains stop at every station.... |
|
| – | 213.6 | Jōban Line Joban Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi... |
|
| – | 3.3 | Yamanote Line Yamanote Line The is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its... |
|
| – | 13.0 | Yamanote Line Yamanote Line The is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its... , Akabane Line Akabane Line The is a railway line of the East Japan Railway Company in Tokyo, Japan. It connects Ikebukuro Station in Toshima Ward and Akabane Station in Kita Ward... |
|
| – | 25.0 | Nikkō Line Nikko Line The is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company which runs from to .Both the Tōbu and JR East railway stations in Nikkō are located within walking distance of each other.-Station list:* Trains can pass each other at any station.... |
|
| – Shiogama | 4.3 | Shiogama Line | |
| Shiriuchi (present-day ) – Minato | 5.1 | Hachinohe Line | |
| – | 1.2 | Tōhoku Main Line | Freight |
| – | 2.0 | Jōban Line Joban Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi... |
Freight |
| – Nakagawa | 0.8 | Jōban Line Joban Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi... |
Freight |
| Total | 860.8 |
Rolling stock
| Year | |Steam locomotives | |Passenger cars | |Freight cars etc. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagons | Trucks | |||
| 1890 | 54 | 158 | 763 | |
| 1900 | 286 | 824 | 1,646 | 1,957 |
| 1905 | 356 | 857 | 2,345 | 3,386 |