Dan Free - Early Japanese Railways 1853-1914: Engineering Triumphs That Transformed Meiji-era Japan

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many people assisted me in the research and preparation of this book, but the following merit particular mention and thanks: John Agnew, New Zealand; Charles Bates, Allen County Museum, Lima, Ohio; Onouchi Makoto, Tky; John Buydos, Dr. Tomoko Steen and Sayuri Umeda, Library of Congress; Dr. Steven Ericson, Dartmouth College; Sr. Jane Gates, Medical Mission Sisters, Philadelphia; Dr. Charles W. Kinzer, Annapolis; Kohashi Noriko, Los Angeles; Komine Hiroyasu, Yokohama; Kenneth Mencz, New York; The National Archives and Records Administration Staff, New York Regional Office; Zoe Rees and Judith Dennison, Birmingham City Archives, UK; and Sakakihara Asakichi, San Francisco.

Among those who have been particularly more generous than I deserve with both their time and assistance are: Kawano Keiko, The Railway Museum, miya; Terry Bennett, early Japanese photographic authority sans pareil whose assistance, advise, and guidance has been invaluable; Reg Carter, the late librarian of the Stephenson Locomotive Society, UK, who sadly did not live to see publication of this book; and Dr. Aoki Eiichi, one of Japans pre-eminent railway historians who graciously agreed to review the manuscript and offer comments. Finally, I must give heartfelt thanks to two individuals who helped me verify numerous dates, checked seemingly countless facts, and who offered help when my research abilities were at the limits of what could be accomplished outside of Japan, devoting untold hours with unwavering enthusiasm and providing encouragement at every turn in the road, Nakagane Jun, Yokohama and Ozawa Tomio, Tky.

APPENDIX

ORIGINAL METROPOLITAN TERMINII OF PRINCIPAL MEIJI ERA NON-GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS

WORKSHOP LOCATIONS

GAUGE EQUIVALENTS AND REPRESENTATIVE LINES

Gauges shown in bold were based on a traditional Japanese measurement: 1 shaku = 10 sun = 303.03mm.

IJGR LOCOMOTIVE NUMBERING SCHEMES 18721909

18721874

(Up to opening of the Kbesaka Line)

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18741891

(Up to opening of the Tokaid Line)

With the opening of the Kbesaka Line in 1874, locomotives running on the Shimbashi line were assigned odd numbers, while locomotives on the Kbe sakaKyto and the later TsurugaNagahama-gaki Lines were assigned even numbers. Abt cogged locomotives for the Shinetsu line were also given even numbers, while conventional steam locomotives on that line were given odd numbers. Classes of locomotives were assigned a single letter designation from the Roman alphabet, and after the Romaji alphabet had been exhausted, the system was continued in AA, AB, AC, AD, etc. fashion. Those running numbers for which records remain or have been discovered are as follows:

Shimbashi Line (renumbering):

KbesakaKyto Line

TsurugaNagahamagaki Line

NaoetsuUeda (later Shinetsu) Line

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