# Shinmei Line

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The **Shinmei Line** (深名線, *Shinmei-sen*) was a Japanese railway line in [Hokkaido](/source/Hokkaido) operated by the [Hokkaido Railway Company](/source/Hokkaido_Railway_Company) (JR Hokkaido) which connected [Fukagawa Station](/source/Fukagawa_Station) in [Fukagawa](/source/Fukagawa,_Hokkaido) and [Nayoro Station](/source/Nayoro_Station) in [Nayoro](/source/Nayoro).

## Stations

Stops legend: ●: [Train meet](/source/Train_meet) possible X:Train meet impossible

No. Station name Japanese Between (km) Distance (km) Stop Transfers Notes Location 深川 0.0 ● Hakodate Main Line Rumoi Main Line (Abolished 1 May 1989) Fukagawa Maruyama 円山 4.7 4.7 X Kami-Tadoshi 上多度志 6.1 10.8 X Tadoshi 多度志 3.2 14.0 X Uma 宇摩 5.4 19.4 X Horonari 幌成 2.9 22.3 X Shimo-Horonari 下幌成 1.8 24.1 X Takadomari 鷹泊 3.2 27.3 X Numaushi 沼牛 10.6 37.9 X Uryu District Horokanai Shin-Nariu 新成生 2.0 39.9 X Horokanai 幌加内 3.8 43.7 ● Kami-Horokanai 上幌加内 3.1 46.8 X Uembetsu 雨煙別 4.3 51.1 X All trains passed this station between December 1 and April 20. Closed 10 March 1990 Seiwa-Onsen 政和温泉 5.1 56.2 X All trains passed this station between December 1 and April 20. Closed 10 March 1990 Seiwa 政和 2.5 58.7 X 新富 5.5 64.2 X Closed 1 September 1990 添牛内 4.4 68.6 X 大曲 3.6 72.2 X Closed 1 February 1976 共栄 3.3 75.5 X 朱鞠内 3.3 78.8 ● Meiu Line (Uncompleted) Kohan 湖畔 1.9 80.7 X 宇津内 4.3 85.0 X Closed 19 November 1956 蕗ノ台 4.5 89.5 X All trains passed this station between December 1 and April 30. Closed 10 March 1990 白樺 4.1 93.6 X All trains passed this station between December 1 and April 30. Closed 10 March 1990 北母子里 5.4 99.0 X 天塩弥生 15.6 114.6 X Nayoro 西名寄 3.2 117.8 X 名寄 4.0 121.8 ● Nayoro Main Line (Abolished 1 May 1989) Sōya Main Line

## History

Uryū Line began construction in 1922, to connect Shumarinai and Fukagawa. The construction was split in six phases and the construction was completed by 1932.[1] The line was renamed to Horokanai Line in 1931.[1]

Meiu Line (名雨線) began construction in 1935 to connect Nayoro to Shumarinai. The line was completed in 1939, and the two lines were renamed to Shinmei Line, taking letters from the two terminus.[1]

### Post war

In 1960s, due to the decline of coal mines and introduction of cheaper foreign woods, the economy of the nearby municipalities began to decline. This led to the slow decrease in the population. Population in Horokonai decreased to 7,283 by 1970 compared to 12,016 in 1960.[1] In areas close to Shirakaba station and Fukinodai, settlements disappeared, and with the ongoing [motorization](/source/Motorization) and the improvements in roads, the number of users fell to one-third of its peak.[1]

Following the huge drop in users and [operating ratio](/source/Operating_ratio) hitting 2,785, the line was listed as one of the [Deficit 83 Lines](/source/Deficit_83_Lines) movement and later [Specified local lines](/source/Specified_local_lines). However, due to lack of replacement roads, it was not closed by the movement, the line continued to operate until 1995, when it was closed and switched to bus service by [JR Hokkaido Bus Company](/source/JR_Hokkaido_Bus_Company).

## Rolling stock

Six [JNR Class C11s](/source/JNR_Class_C11) were used in the line from 1941 to 1949.[1] [JGR Class 8620](/source/JGR_Class_8620) and [JNR Class 9600](/source/JNR_Class_9600) were used until the 1970s.[1]

[KiHa 01 series](/source/KiHa_01_series) was used from August 1955, but were slowly replaced by [KiHa 05](/source/KiHa_04_series#KiHa_05), which were used by 1966.[2][1] After 1966, [KiHa 21 and KiHa 22 DMU](/source/KiHa_20_Series) made for Hokkaido were used.[1]

From March 1986, [KiHa 53](/source/KiHa_56_series#KiHa_53), [KiHa 54](/source/KiHa_54), and [KiHa 40](/source/KiHa_40_series) were used until the closure of the entire line.[1]

## References

1. 青木栄一「特定地方交通線の実態と問題を現地に見る 10 深名線」『鉄道ジャーナル』第183号、成美堂出版（鉄道ジャーナル社）, May 1982, 122-131p.

1. 「旧型気動車にお別れ」『広報ほろかない』May 1966

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Shinmei Line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinmei_Line) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinmei_Line?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.