Sohae Line

The Sŏhae Line, also known as the Anju Colliery Line (안주 탄광선), is a partially electrified standard-gauge secondary line of the Korean State Railway in South P'yŏngan Province, North Korea, running from Mundŏk on the P'yŏngŭi Line to Hwap'ung.[1] The line is electrified between Mundŏk and P'yŏngnam Sŏho and between Ch'ŏngnam and Sŏsi.

Sŏhae Line
Overview
Other name(s)	Anju Colliery Line (안주탄광성 安州炭鉱線)
Native name	서해선 (西海線)
Type	Heavy rail, Passenger & freight rail Regional rail
Status	Operational
Locale	South P'yŏngan
Termini	Mundŏk Hwap'ung Namdong (closed)
Stations	10
Operation
Opened	Mundŏk–Namdong: 1970s Ch'ŏngnam–Hwap'ung: 1987
Closed	2000s
Owner	Korean State Railway
Operator(s)	Korean State Railway
Technical
Line length	22.4 km (13.9 mi)
Number of tracks	Single track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	3000 V DC Overhead line Mundŏk-P'yŏngnam Sŏho, Ch'ŏngnam-Sŏsi
Route map P'yŏngŭi Line to Sinŭiju Taegyo 0.0 Mundŏk (bridge appx 50 m (160 ft)) 5.6 Sŏngbŏp P'yŏngŭi Line to P'yŏngyang 11.6 0.0 Ch'ŏngnam coal mine DPRK-Iran Friendship Ripsŏk Co-op Farm 2.2 Ripsŏk T'an'gwang coal mine Ch'ŏngnam Line 15.6 0.0 Samch'ŏnp'o 5.0 T'aehyang coal mine coal mine 4.1 Sŏsi 10.2 P'yŏngnam Sŏho coal mine 13.5 Hwap'ung coal mine Closed (bridge appx 50 m (160 ft)) Ch'ŏngnam Line 22.4 Namdong Closed Namdong Line Closed

Sohae Line
Chosŏn'gŭl	서해선
Hancha	西海線
Revised Romanization	Seohae-seon
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏhae-sŏn

History

In order to exploit coal fields in the area, the Korean State Railway opened the 22.4 km (13.9 mi) Mundŏk—Ch'ŏngnam—Namdong line in the 1970s.[2] Electrification of the line to Namdong was completed in 1978. In 1987 the line was expanded in two directions - one a loop line from Samch'ŏnp'o - the Ch'ŏngnam Line - and the other an extension westwards from Ch'ŏngnam to Hwap'ung.[2] The sections from P'yŏngnam Sŏho to Hwap'ung and to Sŏsi were later abandoned.

Services

Much of the coal that originates on the line is shipped to the Ch'ŏngch'ŏn River Thermal Power Plant on the Ch'ŏnghwaryŏk Line.[3]

Route

A yellow background in the "Distance" box indicates that section of the line is not electrified.

Mainline

Distance (km)		Station Name		Former Name
Total	S2S	Transcribed	Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)	Transcribed	Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)	Connections (Former)
0.0	0.0	Mundŏk	문덕 (文徳)	Mansŏng	만성 (万城)	P'yŏngŭi Line
5.6	5.6	Sŏngbŏp	성법 (聖法)			(Sŏngbŏp Branch)
11.6	6.0	Ch'ŏngnam	청남 (清南)			(Ch'ŏngnam Line)
15.6	4.0	Samch'ŏnp'o	삼천포 (三川浦)			Sŏsi Branch (Ch'ŏngnam Line)
22.4	6.8	Namdong	남동 (南洞)			Closed. (Namdong Line)

Hwap'ung Branch

Distance (km)		Station Name		Former Name
Total	S2S	Transcribed	Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)	Transcribed	Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)	Connections (Former)
0.0	0.0	Ch'ŏngnam	청남 (清南)			Main line (Ch'ŏngnam Line)
2.2	2.2	Ripsŏk T'an'gwang	립석탄광 (立石炭鉱)
5.0	2.8	T'aehyang	태향 (汰香)
10.2	5.2	P'yŏngnam Sŏho	평남서호 (平南西湖)			(Sŏsi Branch)
13.5	3.4	Hwap'ung	화풍 (和豊)			Closed

Sŏngbŏp Branch

Closed.

Distance (km)		Station Name		Former Name
Total	S2S	Transcribed	Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)	Transcribed	Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)	Connections
0.0	0.0	Sŏngbŏp	성법 (聖法)			(Main line)
		Taegyo	대교 (大橋)			(P'yŏngŭi Line)

Sŏsi Branch

Closed from P'yŏngnam Sŏho, but Sŏsi Station is still in use via Samch'ŏnp'o.

Distance (km)		Station Name		Former Name
Total	S2S	Transcribed	Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)	Transcribed	Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja)	Connections
0.0	0.0	Samch'ŏnp'o	삼천포 (三川浦)			Main line (Ch'ŏngnam Line)
4.1	4.1	Sŏsi	서시 (-)	Sŏsa	서사 (西砂)
7.9	3.8	P'yŏngnam Sŏho	평남서호 (平南西湖)			Main line. Section from Sŏsi to P'yŏngnam Sŏho closed.

References

1. Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6
2. Choe, Un-sik, 한국의 전통 사회 운송 기구, ISBN 978-89-7300-728-8, pp. 114-115
3. North Korea Geographic Information: Transportation Geography - P'yŏngŭi Line (in Korean)