Ever ridden a ghost train? The Nishitetsu Miyajidake Line isn’t exactly haunted. But it’s a railway line with a fascinating past. It’s a line that whispers stories of a bygone era. This very spot you’re standing on was once a bustling part of the Nishitetsu Miyajidake Line.
The Nishitetsu Miyajidake Line once stretched much further than it does now. It connected Nishitetsu Shingū Station to Tsuyazaki. A journey of nearly 10 kilometers. A journey that ended in 2007. Due to declining ridership. The line was then renamed the Kaizuka Line. Its present route links Kaizuka Station in Higashi-ku Fukuoka to Nishitetsu Shingū Station. A journey significantly shorter. A journey that continues today.
Before its name changed the Miyajidake Line had a rich history. It began in 1924 as the Hakata Bay Railway. This was a standard-gauge line running from Shinhakata to Wajiro. A year later it expanded to Miyajidake. Electrification arrived in 1929. The system used 1500V DC. A significant upgrade for its time. In 1942 it merged with the Nishi-Nippon Railway. The Nishitetsu company we know today. The line was regauged in 1954 to the narrower 1067 mm gauge. It connected to the Fukuoka Line. It underwent further improvements. A grade separation over the JR Kashii Line at Wajiro Station in 1966. CTC signaling came in 1978. Modernizations that improved safety and efficiency. The Shinhakata to Kaizuka section closed in 1986. The Fukuoka City Subway Hakozaki Line replaced it. Times changed and so did the Nishitetsu Miyajidake Line.
Imagine the sights and sounds of the line in its heyday. Passengers bustling onto trains. The rhythmic chugging of the engines. The gentle sway of the carriages. Now the Nishitetsu Miyajidake Line remains a vital part of Fukuoka’s transportation network. It’s a reminder that even when things change. History leaves its mark. The memories of the old Miyajidake Line still resonate here. The line serves as a lasting testament to its rich past. A testament to the ever-changing landscape of Fukuoka and its railway history. Take a moment. Feel the echoes of the past. On this very spot where the Nishitetsu Miyajidake Line once thrived.