Paengmu Line

{{Short description|Railway line in North Korea}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{infobox rail line

|name = Paengmu Line

|native_name = 백무선(白茂線)

|color =

|logo =

|type = Heavy rail, Regional rail

|system =

|status = Operational

|locale = Ryanggang,
North Hamgyŏng

|start = Paeg'am Ch'ŏngnyŏn

|end = Musan

|stations = 28

|routes =

|daily_ridership =

|open = Stages between 1934–1944

|close =

|owner = Chosen Government Railway (1934–1945)
Korean State Railway (since 1945)

|character =

|depot =

|stock =

|linelength = {{Convert|191.7|km|abbr=on}}

|tracks = Single track

|load_gauge =

|gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|lk=on}} (Paegam–Taet'aek)
{{RailGauge|762mm|lk=on}}

|electrification = 1500 V DC Catenary
(Taet'aek–Kulsong, formerly to Yugok)

|speed =

|elevation =

| map = 300px

{{routemap

| inline=1

| map=

\\\uCONTg\\\~~ ~~ ~~Paektusan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line

\\\uSTR!~lELC\\\

ELCa\\\uSTR!~KBHFa\\\~~0.0~~Paeg'am Ch'ŏngnyŏn

BL\\nSTR+l\uSTRl!~nSTRr!~STR\uSTRq!~lELC\uCONTfq\~~ ~~ ~~Paektusan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line

BL\\hnKRZWae\STR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|55|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\nSTR\hKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\nSTR!~lBUE\STR!~lBUE\\\

BL\\nSTR!~lBUE\STR!~lBUE\\\

BL\\nBHF\STR\\\~~6.6~~Taet'aek

BL\STR+l\nSTR!~hSTRaeq\STRr\\\

BL\KBSTe\nSTRl\nSTR+r\\\~~7.9~~Taet'aek

BL\\\RYq!~hnSTRae\\\

BL\\\nBHF\\\WORKS~~11.9~~Pukkyesu~~sawmill

BL\\\nHST\\\WORKS~~17.6~~Sangdonae~~sawmill

BL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Sŏdusu

BL\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\\nBHF\\\WORKS~~24.2~~Tonae~~sawmill

BL\\\nHST\\\~~29.2~~Sanghwangt'o

BL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|30|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

BL\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

BL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Sŏdusu

BL\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|45|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\\nHST\\\~~33.8~~San'yangdae

BL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Sŏdusu

BL\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\\nHST\\\~~40.5~~Sŏdu

BL\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

BL\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

BL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

BL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\\nHST\\\~~47.1~~Yŏnp'yŏng

BL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Sŏdusu

BL\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|70|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

BL\\\nSTR\nKBSTa\\WORKS~~1.7~~Yŏnsu

BL\\\hnKRZWae\hnKRZWae\\~~ ~~ ~~Sŏgyesu

BL\\\nSTR\nSTR\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge on main appx {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\\nABZg+l\nSTRr\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge on branch appx {{convert|65|m|ft|abbr=on}})

BL\\\nBHF\\\~~{{BSsplit|55.9|0.0|line=1|align=right}}~~Yŏn'am

ELCe\\\exnSTR!~nKBHFe\\\WORKS~~58.4~~Kulsong

exBL\\\hnKRZWae!~exnSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|35|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exELCa\\\exnHST\\\~~63.5~~Sangdan~~ ~~Closed

exBL\\\hnKRZWae!~exnSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|120|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\hnKRZWae!~exnSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\exnHST\\\~~68.6~~Samsa~~ ~~Closed

exBL\\\hnKRZWae!~exnSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\hnKRZWae!~exnSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\WDOCKSa!~exnSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~reservoir of Paektusan Sŏn'gun

exBL\\\WDOCKSe!~exnSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~Youth Power Station

exBL\\\hnKRZWae!~exnSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|120|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\exnSTR!~nKHSTa\\\~~77.4~~Ch'ŏnsu

exBL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|130|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\nHST\\\~~86.0~~Hahwangt'o

exBL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Hwangt'oamsu

exBL\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|75|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\nBHF\\lDRH\WORKS~~90.1~~Sanggyŏngpyŏng

exBL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Hwangt'oamsu

exBL\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|155|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Hwangt'oamsu

exBL\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|195|m|ft|abbr=on}})

exBL\\\enHST\\\~~96.1~~Hagyŏngpyŏng~~ ~~Closed

exBL\\\enHST\\\~~100.5~~Yup'yŏngdong~~Closed

exELCe\\\nHST\\\~~111.0~~Yugok

\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|465|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\nSTRq!~lENDE@Gq\nABZq+r\nSTRr\\\~~ ~~ ~~switchback

\\nSTRl\nHSTq\nSTR+r\\~~117.4~~Rajŏk

\\\nHST!~lENDE@G\TUNNEL1\\WORKS~~126.9~~Samyu

\\\nABZgl\nSTRr\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|155|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\nHST\\\~~129.5~~Sodo

\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

\\\nBHF\\\WORKS~~136.8~~Yŏnsa

\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|120|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\nHST\\\~~143.4~~Hambuk Sinjang

\\\nHST\\\~~150.1~~Yŏnsu

\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|125|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Yŏnmyŏnsu

\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|125|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Yŏnmyŏnsu

\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|175|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Yŏnmyŏnsu

\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|115|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Yŏnmyŏnsu

\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|130|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\nHST\\\~~158.4~~Tuam

\\\hnKRZWae\\\~~ ~~ ~~Oroch'ŏn

\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|90|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\nHST\\\~~164.8~~Yŏnsang

\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|510|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\nHST\\\~~174.1~~Hŭngam

\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|70|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|85|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|45|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\nHST\\\~~181.2~~Namch'on

\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

\\\nHST\\\~~186.0~~Tokso

\\\nSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|55|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\nSTR!~lBUE\\\

\\\TUNNEL1\\\~~ ~~ ~~(tunnel appx {{convert|120|m|ft|abbr=on}})

\\\uSTR+l!~nSTR\uSTRq!~lELC\uCONTfq\~~ ~~ ~~Musan Line

\\\uSTR!~nKBHFe\\\~~191.7~~Musan

\\\uSTR!~lELC\\\

\\\uCONTf\\\~~ ~~ ~~Musan Line

}}

}}

{{Infobox Korean name|context=north|

hangul=백무선|

hanja={{linktext|白|茂|線}}|

mr=Paengmu-sŏn|

rr=Baengmu-seon|

}}

The Paengmu Line is a partially electrified narrow gauge line of the Korean State Railway running from Paeg'am on the Paektusan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line to Musan on the Musan Line, in the Ryanggang and North Hamgyŏng provinces of North Korea.Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), {{ISBN|978-4-10-303731-6}}

The electrified section originally ran {{convert|111|km|abbr=on}} from Paeg'am Ch'ŏngnyŏn station to Yugok, whence the remaining {{convert|80.7|km|abbr=on}} to the terminus at Musan remained unelectrified. Since the closure of part of the line due to the construction of a reservoir, the line has been split into two disconnected sections, the electrified Paeg'am—Kulsong and the non-electrified Ch'ŏnsu—Musan sections. A new standard gauge section from Paeg'am to Taet'aek, roughly paralleling the narrow-gauge line, was built in 2013.

History

In 1927, the Government-General of Korea formulated a "12-Year Plan for Railways in Chosen", under which the railway network of the Korean Peninsula was to be greatly expanded.I, Yongsang et al, 한국 철도의 역사와 발전 II (Hanguk Ch'ŏldoŭi Yŏksawa Paljŏn), BG Book Gallery, Seoul, p. 49. {{ISBN|9788964950531}} Although not part of that 12-year plan, it was decided to build the Paengmu Line for the transport of forest products and to aid in the development of the area. Construction was started at Paeg'am' by the Chosen Government Railway on 16 November 1932,Korail, 철도주요연표(The Principal Chronicle of the Korean Railway) 2010, 2010 and the first section, from Paeg'am to San'yangdae, was opened in September 1934.http://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1934083000209102001&edtNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1934-08-30&officeId=00020&pageNo=2&printNo=4932&publishType=00010 백두산 밑으로! 무산선 일부 개주(開週), 《동아일보》, 1934.08.30. The line was extended to Yŏn'am in September of the following yearhttp://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1935081600209202017&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1935-08-16&officeId=00020&pageNo=2&printNo=5283&publishType=00020 백무, 혜산 양선(兩線) 구월부터 개업, 《동아일보》, 1935.08.16. and to Yup'yŏngdong in October 1936. Service on the Yup'yŏngdong—Yŏnsa section began in October 1939,http://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1939091400209102022&edtNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1939-09-14&officeId=00020&pageNo=2&printNo=6490&publishType=00010 유평→연사간 시월부터개통, 《동아일보》, 1939.09.14. but the final section to Musan, connecting the line to the Musan Line, was completed only in December 1944.

The names of several stations were changed over the years following the establishment of the DPRK, with Paeg'am Station becoming Paeg'am Ch'ŏngnyŏn Station, Hambuk Sinjang Station becoming Sinjang Station (this station was subsequently closed), Hambuk Mun'am Station becoming Tuam Station, and Sinyang Station becoming Samyu Station. Electrification of the section from Paeg'am to Yugok was completed in August 1991.조선향토대백과, 2008.

In August 1980, Kim Il Sung ordered the construction of a new, northern east–west transversal line to run from Manp'o on the Manp'o Line to Hoeryŏng on the Hambuk Line.[http://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=105655 북한 북부철길 개건사업 마감단계.. ‘제2의 마식령속도’ 창조] The Pukpu Line, as the planned line was called (북부, pukpu, means "northern"), was to have been built in three stages: Manp'o to Hyesan, Hyesan to Musan, and Musan to Hoeryŏng;[http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=2090718&cid=44454&categoryId=44461 북부 철길 건설] to save on labour and expenditures, the new line was to make use of existing rail lines where possible – the Hŭngam–Musan section of the Paengmu Line was to have been regauged. However, this plan was only partially realised before it was abandoned in the 1990s. The plans were revived again in the mid-2000s, and work began on the second stage, in the form of the shortening and regauging of the Samjiyŏn Line from Hyesan to Motka.[http://www.newsis.com/ar_detail/view.html?ar_id=NISX20150529_0013694461&cID=10301&pID=10300 北, 백두산 관광철도 공사 재개한듯], 《뉴시스》, 2015.05.29. Work stopped and started several times, until finally work on the Hyesan–Motka section was completed in April 2017,[http://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/ne-ms-04112017093238.html 북, ‘혜산-삼지연’간 철도공사 완공] but the plans to continue construction of the line to Musan are not currently being pursued.[http://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/food_international_org/railroad-06102015094416.html 북, 외화벌이 급해 북부 윤환선 포기], 《자유아시아방송》, 2015.06.10.

Construction of the reservoir of the Paektusan Sŏngun Youth Power Station led to the flooding of part of the line,https://www.nknews.org/2013/10/three-new-north-korean-railway-updates/ Three New North Korean Railway Updates, Curtis Melvin, 8 October 2013 resulting in the closure of the section between Ch'ŏnsu and Kulsong; since the closure, the line is electrified only between Paeg'am and Kulsong.

Construction of the line took place as follows:

class="wikitable"
DateSectionLength
1 September 1934Paeg'am–Sanyangdae朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 2277, 11 August 1934{{convert|33.8|km|abbr=on}}
1 September 1935Sanyangdae–Yŏn'am朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 2583, 21 August 1935{{convert|22.1|km|abbr=on}}
16 October 1936Yŏn'am-Yup'yŏngdong朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 2922, 8 October 1936{{convert|44.6|km|abbr=on}}
style="text-align: center;" | 1 October 1939Yup'yŏngdong–Yŏnsa朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 3795, 12 September 1939{{convert|36.3|km|abbr=on}}
style="text-align: center;" | 1 December 1944Yŏnsa–Musan朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 5345, 28 November 1944{{convert|54.9|km|abbr=on}}

Route

An orange background in the "Distance" box indicates that section of the line is not electrified narrow-gauge; a pink background indicates that section is electrified narrow gauge. The Paegam—Taet'aek section is duplicated by an incomplete electrified standard gauge.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"
colspan="2" | Distance (km)colspan="2" | Station Namecolspan="2" | Former Name
TotalS2STranscribedChosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)TranscribedChosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)Notes
bgcolor=#F78181|0.0

| bgcolor=#F78181|0.0

| Paeg'am Ch'ŏngnyŏn

| 백암청년 (白岩靑年)

| Paeg'am

| 백암 (白岩)

| Paektusan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line

bgcolor=#F78181|6.6

| bgcolor=#F78181|6.6

| Taet'aek

| 대택 (大澤)

|

|

| Parallel incomplete standard gauge line ends

bgcolor=#F78181|11.9

| bgcolor=#F78181|5.3

| Pukkyesu

| 북계수 (北溪水)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#F78181|17.6

| bgcolor=#F78181|5.7

| Sangdonae
(Upper Tonae)

| 상도내 (上島內)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#F78181|24.2

| bgcolor=#F78181|6.6

| Tonae

| 도내 (島內)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#F78181|29.2

| bgcolor=#F78181|5.0

| Sanghwangt'o

| 상황토 (上黃土)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#F78181|33.8

| bgcolor=#F78181|4.6

| Sanyangdae

| 산양대 (山羊台)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#F78181|40.5

| bgcolor=#F78181|6.7

| Sŏdu

| 서두 (西頭)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#F78181|47.1

| bgcolor=#F78181|6.6

| Yŏnp'yŏng

| 연평 (延坪)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#F78181|55.9

| bgcolor=#F78181|8.8

| Yŏn'am

| 연암 (延岩)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#F78181|58.4

| bgcolor=#F78181|2.5

| Kulsong

| 굴송 (屈松)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#F78181|63.5

| bgcolor=#F78181|5.1

| Sangdan

| 상단 (上坍)

|

|

| Closed.
Flooded by reservoir of
Paektusan Sŏngun Youth Power Station

bgcolor=#F78181|68.6

| bgcolor=#F78181|5.1

| Samsa

| 삼사 (三社)

|

|

| Closed.
Flooded by reservoir of
Paektusan Sŏngun Youth Power Station

bgcolor=#F78181|77.4

| bgcolor=#F78181|8.8

| Ch'ŏnsu

| 천수 (天水)

|

|

| No longer electrified.

bgcolor=#F78181|86.0

| bgcolor=#F78181|8.6

| Hahwangt'o

| 하황토 (下黃土)

|

|

| No longer electrified.

bgcolor=#F78181|90.1

| bgcolor=#F78181|4.1

| Sanggyŏngp'yŏng
(Upper Kyŏngp'yŏng)

| 상경평 (上境坪)

|

|

| No longer electrified.

bgcolor=#F78181|96.1

| bgcolor=#F78181|6.0

| Hagyŏngp'yŏng
(Lower Kyŏngp'yŏng)

| 하경평 (下境坪)

|

|

| Closed.
No longer electrified.

bgcolor=#F78181|100.5

| bgcolor=#F78181|4.4

| Yup'yŏngdong

| 유평동 (楡坪洞)

|

|

| Closed.
No longer electrified.

bgcolor=#F78181|111.0

| bgcolor=#F78181|10.5

| Yugok

| 유곡 (楡谷)

|

|

| No longer electrified.

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|117.4

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|6.4

| Rajŏk

| 라적 (羅跡)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|126.9

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|9.5

| Samyu

| 삼유 (三楡)

| Sinyang

| 신양 (新陽)

|

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|129.5

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|2.6

| Sodo

| 소도 (小桃)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|136.8

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|9.1

| Yŏnsa

| 연사 (延社)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|143.4

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|6.6

| Hambuk Sinjang

| 함북신장 (咸北新章)

|

|

| Closed.

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|150.1

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|6.7

| Yŏnsu

| 연수 (延水)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|158.4

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|8.3

| Tuam

| 두암 (頭岩)

| {{nowrap|Hambuk Mun'am}}

| 함북문암 (咸北文岩)

|

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|164.8

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|6.4

| Yŏnsang

| 연상 (延上)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|174.1

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|9.3

| Hŭngam

| 흥암 (興巖)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|181.2

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|7.1

| Namch'on

| 남촌 (南村)

|

|

|

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|186.0

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|4.8

| Tokso

| 독소 (篤所)

|

|

| Flag stop.

bgcolor=#FE9A2E|191.7

| bgcolor=#FE9A2E|5.7

| Musan

| 무산 (茂山)

|

|

| Musan Line

References

{{Reflist}}

  • Japanese Government Railways (1937), 鉄道停車場一覧. 昭和12年10月1日現在(The List of the Stations as of 1 October 1937), Kawaguchi Printing Company, Tokyo, pp 502–503

{{Paengmu Line}}

{{coord missing|North Korea}}

Category:Railway lines in North Korea

Category:Standard-gauge railways in North Korea

Category:2 ft 6 in gauge railways in North Korea