Usui Pass section between Yokokawa and Karuizawa

E941153

The Usui Pass section between Yokokawa and Karuizawa is a steep, historically significant mountain railway stretch in Japan that once required special engineering to handle its challenging gradients.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf mountain railway
railway line section
closed 1997
closureReason opening of the Nagano Shinkansen
connects Karuizawa Station NERFINISHED
Yokokawa Station NERFINISHED
convertedToAdhesionOperation 1963
crosses Usui Pass NERFINISHED
currentUse partly preserved as heritage railway and walking trail
electrificationSystem 1,500 V DC overhead catenary
electrified true
engineeringSignificance one of the steepest mainline railway sections in Japan
gauge 1,067 mm
hadDoubleTrackSections true
hadSpeedRestrictions low speeds due to steep gradient
hasAlternativeName Usui Pass railway section NERFINISHED
hasFamousStructure Megane-bashi NERFINISHED
Usui Third Bridge NERFINISHED
hasHeritageStatus some structures designated as Important Cultural Property
hasMaximumGradient 1 in 15
66.7 per mille
historicallySignificant true GENERATED
isSteepMountainSection true
lineStatusAfter1997 Yokokawa–Karuizawa section abandoned
locatedIn Gunma Prefecture NERFINISHED
Japan
Nagano Prefecture NERFINISHED
nearbyFacility Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park NERFINISHED
opened 1893
operatedBy East Japan Railway Company NERFINISHED
Japanese National Railways NERFINISHED
partOf Shinetsu Main Line NERFINISHED
rackOperationEndYear 1963
rackOperationStartYear 1893
rackSystemType Abt system NERFINISHED
requiredBankEngines true
safetyMeasures special braking systems on EF63 locomotives
terrain steep mountainous
touristAttraction historic bridges and tunnels
usedRackAndPinionSystem true
usedSpecialLocomotives EF63 class electric locomotives NERFINISHED
wasImportantLinkBetween Kanto region NERFINISHED
Nagano region NERFINISHED
wasKeyRouteFor freight traffic between Tokyo and Niigata via Shinetsu Main Line
wasNotoriousFor challenging gradients
heavy operational costs

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Shinetsu Main Line formerRackSection Usui Pass section between Yokokawa and Karuizawa