明延鉱山一円電車

It is the best if you think that it is narrow. I am looking forward to the future as the course is expanding steadily.

I stopped by a break during the touring, but unfortunately I couldn't ride the 1-yen train, so I took a photo of it.

Kurogane seems to run on Sundays I want to take a leisurely tour of the mine, so the date I shifted it! In front of the information center Shirogane is on display!

This kind of mining railway has many rusted systems that are statically preserved, but this is a dynamic preservation. Oval course like Plarail is cute and round You can ride in the vehicle, but the small size is amazing

Today was a one-yen train festival. It was a light rain, but I enjoyed it because there was a mini concert with a nostalgic Showa melody. Thank you to all the townspeople. Of course, I got on the one-yen train with my back curled up (laughs).

It's small, but it's one yen. [Explanation below] It was laid for the purpose of transporting ore. Originally, it was positioned as the lower track between Kamikohata and Arai (JNR Bantan Line) and the upper track of one set, but due to road maintenance, the lower track was abolished early (1957), and only this one that hits the upper track remains. Was done. Initially, a light railway from Meinobu to Yabu Station was planned, but due to opposition from residents along the planned line, the route was changed from Kamikohata. 1912 Meinobu-Beginning with the installation of a cableway between Kamikohata (extension 5.75 km), in 1918 a track was planned to be laid to increase transportation capacity, and excavation of three tunnels that penetrate the mountains that stand in the middle. Construction started, but was suspended the following year due to difficult construction. After that, the construction was resumed in 1927, and the construction of the Myojin Third Tunnel (extension 3,937 meters), which was the most difficult construction in 1929, was completed, and the 4-ton class electric locomotive used in the underground track from April of the same year. Transport of ore by car and 1-ton locomotive has started. Furthermore, in 1941, when the importance of tin ore as a strategic resource increased under the wartime regime, the gauge was changed (gauge change). As a result, the gauge was widened from the same 500 mm gauge as the underground track to 762 mm gauge, and the transportation capacity was greatly enhanced. Due to the rapid appreciation of the yen since the Plaza Accord, the international competitiveness of the tin mine declined, and the Meishin Railway was closed as the Meishin mine closed in 1987. One-yen train In addition to the ore trains, human cars have been in operation since 1945 for the convenience of miners. At this time, the fare was initially free, but from 1949, 50 yen, from 1952, 1 yen for related parties, 10 yen for outsiders, and then 1 yen for outsiders. After the price cut, it did not change until the abolition of personnel transportation in October 1985. This is the reason why it is called a "one-yen train". In addition, there was a case where a fee of 10 yen was collected and opened to mountaineers, and after that, the fare was unified to 1 yen regardless of whether or not they were involved. However, as a result of the media reporting that the fare was 1 yen in the 1960s, the number of interested outsiders on board increased, and not a few of them interfered with the operation. Due to the fact that the business was hindered, it was necessary to prohibit outsiders from boarding (although it was sometimes possible to board at the discretion of the parties concerned).

The Meishin Railway is a mine train that connects the Meishin Mine and the Kamikohata Concentrator. About 6 kilometers from the Meinobu Mine Daisen Concentrator, which is the first concentrator, to the Kamikohata Concentrator, which is the second concentrator, was dug into a tunnel with zero elevation difference. At first, only ore was transported, but later a passenger car was connected to carry miners and their families. It was called a one-yen train because it carried passengers for a one-yen fare. Currently, Kurogane, Shirogane (shirokane), Akane (red gold), etc., which were active as passenger cars, are preserved as cultural properties designated by Hyogo Prefecture.

It seems that I happened to do it on the day of the event, and it seems that it operated on a 1-yen train for 300 yen, but it's a pity that it ended because it was past 15:00. On Sundays, the tunnel seems to have a guide at the reception until 15:00.