Profile
Name: noz (e-mail: kuroganerail@gmail.com)
Year of birth: 1955
Location: Saitama, Japan
Greetings
My home was not very far from the railway line, so when I was a child I often went to watch the trains. At night I could faintly hear the distant whistle and the sound of wheels passing over rail joints, and perhaps that is why I naturally came to love railways, having grown up with those sounds almost like a lullaby. Above all, I loved steam locomotives, with their smoke and steam and their busy, complicated motion of rods as they ran along. I have been taking photographs for more than thirty years now, and I have accumulated a fair number of them. They are not artistic or especially beautiful photographs, but I wanted to share at least some of them, and that led me to create “Kurogane no Michi.” However, in order to make the site worth reading for many people, it was clear that I could not do everything alone, especially when trying to choose themes and present them properly. Fortunately, I have been able to receive help from old friends as well as new friends I have come to know through the Internet. I will continue working to improve and expand the contents of this site, and I hope you will enjoy it.
Acknowledgements (in no particular order)
Mr. Hitoshi Shiozaki, Mr. Hung Chih-wen, Mr. Li Huangcun Ruqiang, Mr. Ni Jia-en, Mr. Chen He-ren, Mr. Chen Pi-you, Mr. Hsieh Ming-hsiu, Mr. Su I-Jaw, Mr. Yusaku Tada, Mr. Hidetoshi Takani, Mr. Ryokichi Takahashi and Mrs. Ayako Takahashi, Mr. Hirohiko Otsu, Mr. Atsushi Kaneko, Mr. Kiha181 Tsubasa, Mr. Junichi Satomi, Mr. Ryuichi Kita, Mr. Takahisa Uchida, Mr. Mitsuhiro Katsuragawa, Mr. Yoshiaki Yamauchi, Mr. Yuhei Minato, Mr. Peter Crush, Mr. Geoff Coward, Mr. James Hefner, Mr. Nobuo Noguchi, Mr. Osamu Takeya, Mr. Kiyomi Shizuhata, and Mr. Yoshimitsu Shiraishi. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the many others who have kindly corrected errors and offered advice by e-mail and other means.
About Linking
You are welcome to create links to this website freely. I do not believe that permission is necessary for such linking. However, links from pages that are contrary to public order and morals, antisocial in nature, or defamatory toward specific individuals or organizations are not accepted. If a link has been created on such a page, I ask that it be removed. Although this is not a strict requirement, I would appreciate it if possible to link to the top page (https://www.kurogane-rail.jp/).
If you wish, please feel free to use this banner. (My thanks to Mr. Roger Huang, who created it.)
Limitation of Responsibility
I make every effort to ensure that the information provided on “Kurogane no Michi” is as accurate and up to date as possible. However, I assume no responsibility whatsoever for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information on this site, nor for any damage arising from the use of such information. As for pages provided by other organizations or individuals that are linked from “Kurogane no Michi,” I am not responsible for, nor do I necessarily endorse, any opinions or claims contained in their contents.
About the Use of Historical Terms
On “Kurogane no Michi,” historical place names, country names, and other commonly used terms are presented, as far as possible, in the forms used at the time. This is done in order to reproduce historical facts as faithfully and accurately as possible. Even where some terms or usages may today be regarded by some people as containing discriminatory or biased implications, “Kurogane no Michi” has absolutely no intention of encouraging discrimination or prejudice. In addition, “Kurogane no Michi” contains no political assertions, nor does it support any particular country, political party, political organization, or political viewpoint.
References
1. Primary Sources, Archival Materials, Statistics, and Annual Reports
- Japanese National Railways, ed. (1975), Kōbushō Kiroku Tetsudō no Bu.
- Japanese National Railways, ed. (1997 reprint), Nihon Kokuyū Tetsudō Hyakunen-shi, 19 vols. Seizando Shoten. ISBN 978-4-425-30161-4
- Kōtsū Kyōryokukai (2025), Tetsudō Hyakugojūnen-shi, 5 vols. plus source volume. Kōtsū Kyōryokukai. ISBN 978-4-330-00825-7
- Nippon Railway Company, Nippon Tetsudō Kaisha Jissai Hōkoku, nos. 1–50 (Meiji 15–39 / 1882–1906).
- Shinbun Shūsei Meiji Hennen-shi Hensan-kai, ed., Shinbun Shūsei Meiji Hennen-shi. Rinsensha, 1936–1940.
- Ministry of Railways, ed. (1921), Nihon Tetsudōshi, 3 vols.
- Kōtsū Tōkei Kenkyūjo Shuppanbu (1995), Kokuyū Tetsudō Tetsudō Tōkei Ruinenpyō. CD-ROM.
- Tetsudō Gijutsusha, ed. (1993 reprint), Kokuyū Tetsudō Shiryō Shūran, Shōwa 6-nenban. Athena Shobō (Fukkoku Tetsudō Meicho Shūsei, vol. 19).
- Japanese National Railways (1952 / 1993 reprint), Kokutetsu 80-nen no Ayumi. Athena Shobō. ISBN 978-4-87152-052-0
- Sharyō Kōgakkai, ed. (1924 / 1993 reprint), Zenkoku Kikansha Yōran. Mizoguchi Shoten; Athena Shobō.
- Ministry of Railways (1934 / 1993 reprint), Tetsudō Teishajō Ichiran. Athena Shobō.
- Railway Department, Government-General of Taiwan, ed. (1910–1911), History of Railways in Taiwan, 3 vols.
- Government-General of Taiwan, Statistical Book of the Government-General of Taiwan (Meiji 30 / 1897 – Shōwa 16 / 1941).
- Railway Department, Government-General of Taiwan, Annual Report of the Railway Department, Government-General of Taiwan (Meiji 32 / 1899 – Taishō 12 / 1923).
- Railway Department, Bureau of Transportation, Government-General of Taiwan, Annual Report of the Railway Department (Taishō 13 / 1924 – Shōwa 17 / 1942).
- Central Meteorological Observatory, ed. (1935), Report on the Severe Earthquake in Hsinchu and Taichū Prefectures.
- Taiwan Shimbunsha, ed. (1935), Illustrated Memorial Album of the Great Taiwan Earthquake.
- Institute of Transportation, ed. (1962), Transportation Yearbook of the Republic of China, combined edition for ROC 39–49 (1950–1960).
- Institute of Transportation, ed. (1962–1992), Transportation Yearbook of the Republic of China.
- Taiwan Private Railways Business Study Group, Minutes (1937–1941).
- Taiwan Provincial Administrative Executive Office, ed. (1946), Statistical Abstract of Fifty-One Years of Taiwan.
- Taiwan Railway Administration, ed. (1976), Taiwan Railway.
2. General Japanese Works: Surveys, Chronologies, Reference Works, and Dictionaries
- Kawakami, Yukiyoshi (1968), Shin Nihon Tetsudōshi, 2 vols. Tetsudō Tosho Kankōkai.
- Kubota, Hiroshi (2001), Nihon no Tetsudō Sharyōshi. Grand Prix Publishing. ISBN 978-4-87687-220-6
- Miyake, Toshihiko (2005), Nihon Tetsudōshi Nenpyō. Grand Prix Publishing. ISBN 978-4-87687-275-6
- Kubota, Hiroshi (2005), Nihon no Tetsudōshi Seminar. Grand Prix Publishing. ISBN 978-4-87687-271-8
- Editorial Committee of Shōwaki no Tetsudō, ed. (1994), Shōwaki no Tetsudō. Tetsudō Shiryō Hozonkai. ISBN 978-4-88540-092-6
- Japan Transportation Culture Association, ed. (1987), Kokutetsu Ujō 115-nen. ISBN 4-931215-01
- Japan Transportation Association, ed. (1972), Tetsudō Senjin-roku. Nihon Teishajō Co., Publishing Division.
- Miki, Masafumi (2004), Kōtsūshi Chōsa Handbook. Kokon Shoin. ISBN 978-4-7722-5092-4
- Nihon Tetsudō Tosho, ed. (1976), Tetsudō Yōgo Jiten.
- Kubota, Hiroshi (1996), Tetsudō Yōgo Jiten. Grand Prix Publishing. ISBN 4-87687-169-8
- Osaka Railway Bureau, comp. (2004 reprint), Tetsudō Yōgo Jiten. Seizando Shoten. ISBN 4-425-30162-5
- Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd., ed. (2004), History of the Teito Rapid Transit Authority.
- Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. (1986), Tobu no Tetsudō Sharyō: 90-nen no Ayumi Shashin-shū. Not for sale.
- Tobu Railway Co., Ltd., Company History Office, ed. (1998), Tobu Railway 100-Year History.
3. Japanese Studies on Steam Locomotives and Rolling Stock
- Usui, Shigenobu (1973), Kikansha no Keifuzu, vols. 1–4. Kōyūsha.
- Tetsudō Tosho Kankōkai, ed. (1978), Nihon Jōki Kikansha Tokushū Shūsei, 2 vols.
- Kawakami, Yukiyoshi (1978), Watashi no Jōki Kikanshashi, 2 vols. Kōyūsha.
- Okita, Yūsaku, ed. (1996), Santei-ban Kikanshahyō, 2 vols. Sōbōkai.
- Okita, Yūsaku, ed. (2001), Kikansha Seizō Daichō. Privately published.
- Usui, Shigenobu (1969), Nihon Jōki Kikansha Keishikizu Shūsei, parts 1 and 2. Seibundō Shinkōsha.
- Kaneda, Shigehiro (1972), Nihon Jōki Kikanshashi: Kansetsu Tetsudō-hen. Kōyūsha.
- Kaneda, Shigehiro (1990), Nihon Saisho no Kikanshagun. Kikanshashi Kenkyūkai.
- Usui, Shigenobu (1956), Kokutetsu Jōki Kikansha Shōshi. Tetsudō Tosho Kankōkai.
- Ikaros Publishing, ed. (2018), Zenkoku Jōki Kikansha Haichihyō. ISBN 978-4-8022-0435-4
- Neko Publishing, ed. (1994), Nihon no Jōki Kikansha. Rail Magazine, January 1994 special issue.
- Saitō, Akira (1996), Jōki Kikansha no Kōbō. NTT Publishing. ISBN 978-4-87188-416-7
- Saitō, Akira (1998), Jōki Kikansha no Chōsen. NTT Publishing. ISBN 978-4-7571-4002-8
- Saitō, Akira (2009), Jōki Kikansha no Gijutsushi. Seizando Publishing. ISBN 978-4-425-76161-6
- Kigei Shuppansha, ed. (1968), Jōki Kikansha Style Book.
- Kigei Shuppansha, ed. (1995), Meiji no Kikansha Collection. ISBN 4-905659-05-1
- Nakamura, Yoshinobu (1973), Nakamura Yoshinobu no Kisha no Hon. Yagi Shobō.
- Hosokawa, Takeshi (2011), Jōki Kikansha Mechanism Zukan. Grand Prix Publishing. ISBN 978-4-87687-317-3
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Rolling Stock Division (1996), From Steam Locomotives to Super High-Speed Rolling Stock. Kōyūsha.
- Tetsudōshi Shiryō Hozonkai, ed. (1997), Nissha no Sharyōshi. ISBN 4-88540-098-8
- Nippon Sharyō Seizō Co., Ltd. (1977), Bakushin: Nippon Sharyō 80-nen no Ayumi.
- Kinema Junpōsha, ed., Jōki Kikansha.
- KM Pro, ed. (1998), Jōki Kikansha Kenbunroku. Private edition.
- Kuwabara, Kenjirō (1924), “Bifun-tan Nenshō Kikansha Shiken Hōkoku,” Gyōmu Kenkyū Shiryō, 12(10), Railway Minister’s Secretariat Research Institute.
4. Works on Taiwan
4-1. General History, Institutions, and Regional Studies
- Taiwan Provincial Documents Committee, ed. (1984), History of Taiwan. Zhongwen Books.
- Ministry of Finance Administration Bureau, ed. (2002 reprint), Historical Survey of Japanese Overseas Activities: Taiwan, vols. 1–5. Yumani Shobō.
- Tokuda, Kōichi (1996), Railways of Taiwan. JTB. ISBN 4-533-02509-9
- Ikaros Publishing, ed. (2018), Complete Guide to Railway Travel in Taiwan 2018. ISBN 978-4-8022-0410-1
- Liu, Wenjun; Wang, Weijie; and Yang, Senhao (2003), One Hundred Years of Taiwan Railways. Goushi Publishers. ISBN 978-986-7796-11-0
- Tsai, Lung-pao (2010), Driving the Giant Wheel of the Age: Taiwan Government Railways in the Middle Japanese Colonial Period. Taiwan Shufang. ISBN 978-986-6318-14-6
- Lin, Caicheng (2026), Taiwan Private Railways within the Empire. Kyoto University Press. ISBN 978-4-8140-0629-8
- Yang, Yanqi (2001), A Hundred Years of Taiwan Sugar. Guoshi Publishing. ISBN 957-469-503-4
4-2. General Works, Photo Books, and Railfan Publications on Taiwan Railways
- Watanabe, Keinoshin (1939), Taiwan Tetsudō Tokuhon. Shunjūsha.
- Hung, Chih-wen (1992), Taiwan Railway Legends. China Times Publishing. ISBN 957-13-0508-1
- Hung, Chih-wen (1993), The Story of Taiwan Trains. China Times Publishing. ISBN 957-13-0656-8
- Hung, Chih-wen (1996), Casual Talks on Taiwan Railway Hobby. China Times Publishing. ISBN 957-13-2101-X
- Hung, Chih-wen (1998), Impressions of Taiwan Railways, 2 vols. Nantian Shuju. ISBN 957-638-462-1 / 957-638-464-8
- China Times Publishing, ed. (2000), Century Treasures of Taiwan Railways. ISBN 957-13-3284-4 / 957-13-3285-2
- Hung, Chih-wen (2001), Qingchun Huangwu. China Times Publishing. ISBN 957-13-3546-0
- Gu, Renrong (2003), Infinite Love for Trains: Gu Renrong’s Taiwan Railway Photo Album. Railway Culture Society of the Republic of China. ISBN 978-957-9933-53-7
- Railway Culture Society, ed. (1996), 110 Years of TRA Locomotives. ISBN 957-99335-1-0
- Su, Chao-hsu, ed. (2000), Forty Years of Nostalgia for the Taiwan Railways. Rye Field Publishing. ISBN 978-957-308-853-0
- Tianye Yingxiang Publishing, ed. (1997), Classic Years of Taiwan Railways. ISBN 957-97218-0-7
- Hung, Chih-wen (2025), Taiwan Train Legends. China Times Publishing. ISBN 978-626-444-043-1
- Small, Charles S. (1978), Rails to the Mines. Self-published.
- Aandahl, Loren (2011), The Taiwan Railway: 1966–1970. Self-published. ISBN 978-0-615-39162-5
- Aandahl, Loren (2012), The Taiwan Railway: 1971–2002. Self-published. ISBN 978-0-615-61302-4
4-3. Rolling Stock, Classes, Stations, and Lists in Taiwan
- Sōheki Publishing, ed., Illustrated Classification Drawings of Rolling Stock of the Railway Department, Government-General of Taiwan. ISBN 978-626-65427-5-8
- Su, Chao-hsu (2002), Illustrated Gazetteer of Taiwan Railway Stations. Rye Field Publishing. ISBN 986-7916-09-3
- Yang, Pengfei (1999), Dictionary of Past and Present Station Names in Taiwan Railway Districts. Privately published. ISBN 957-97364-6-4
- Katsuragawa, Mitsuhiro (2001), List of Taiwan Steam Locomotives (Prewar Edition). Not for sale.
4-4. Forest Railways in Taiwan: Alishan, Wulai, etc.
- Press Eisenbahn, ed. (1985), Alishan Forest Railway.
- Hung, Chih-wen (1997), Journey on the Alishan Forest Railway. China Times Publishing. ISBN 957-13-0982-6
- Zhang, Xinyu (1997), Studies on the Alishan Forest Railway. Gaohuang Publishing. ISBN 957-98911-4-1
- Chen, Yan, ed. (2009), Journey through Time on the Wulai Trolley. Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture. ISBN 978-986-02191-2-8
- Zheng, Renchong (2000), Splendor of the Eastern Taiwan Railway. Hualien Cultural Affairs Bureau. ISBN 957-02-4324-2
- Taichung County Cultural Center, ed. (1998), Exhibition Album of the Scenery of the Old Mountain Line. ISBN 957-02-4368-6
5. China, Manchuria, Hong Kong, and Other Overseas Works
5-1. General Works on Chinese Railways
- China Railway Publishing House, ed. (1982), Journey on China Railways. China Railway Publishing House + Minobi.
- China Railway Publishing House, ed. (1980), China Railways. Unified book no. 8043.1001
- Railway Publishing House, ed. (2001), On This Day in the History of Chinese Railways. ISBN 7-113-04028-4
- China Railway History Editorial Research Center, ed. (1996), Major Events in Chinese Railway History. China Railway Publishing House. ISBN 7-113-02359-2
- Editorial Group of Japanese-Chinese Railway Dictionary, ed. (1979), Nikkan Tetsuro Shiten. People’s Railway Publishing House.
- Mei, Zhicun, chief ed. (1987), English-Chinese Dictionary of Railway Abbreviations. China Railway Publishing House. Unified book no. 17043.1019
- Crush, Peter (1999), Woosung Road: the Story of China’s First Railway.
5-2. Chinese Steam Locomotives and Rolling Stock
- Zhang, Zhizhong (2007), History of Chinese Railway Locomotives, 2 vols. Shandong Education Press. ISBN 978-7-5328-5392-2
- China Steam Locomotive Association, ed. (2000), Survey of Steam Locomotives. China Railway Publishing House. ISBN 7-113-03164-1
- China Railway Publishing House, ed. (2001), A Century of Chinese Steam Locomotives in Photographs. ISBN 7-113-04148-5
- China Railway Publishing House, ed. (1993), Mao Zedong Hao. ISBN 7-113-01692-8
- Katsuragawa, Mitsuhiro (2000), List of Chinese Steam Locomotives. Not for sale.
- Shūeisha, ed. (1982), SL Tairiku Chūgoku 50,000 Kiro. Shūeisha.
- Tajima, Yukio (2003), Tairiku no Tetsurin. Eiriei Publishing. ISBN 978-4-87112-323-3
5-3. Manchuria, North China, and Central China
- Seibundō Shinkōsha, ed. (1998), Photographic Album of the South Manchuria Railway. ISBN 4-416-89828-2
- Minobe, Masayoshi (1941), Guide to the Lines of the Central China Railway. Central China Railway Co., Ltd.
- Takahashi, Yasutaka (1995), Japanese Colonial Railway History: A Business-Historical Study of the Railways of Taiwan, Korea, Manchuria, North China, and Central China. Nihon Keizai Hyōronsha.
- Crush, Peter (2013), Imperial Railways of North China: 關內外鐵路. Xinhua Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5166-0564-6
5-4. Hong Kong and Other Overseas Works
- Regional Council, ed. (1986), Hong Kong Railway Museum (Museum Booklet Series of the Regional Council). ISBN 962-7213-01-2
- Muzeum Kolejnictwa (1993), Polskie Parowozy Eksportowe. Muzeum Kolejnictwa.
6. Journals and Periodicals
- Tetsudō Tosho Kankōkai, ed., Tetsudō Pictorial.
- Kōyūsha, ed., Tetsudō Fan.
- Tetsudō Journal-sha, ed., Tetsudō Journal (ceased publication with the June 2025 issue).
- Press Eisenbahn, ed., Rail.
- Tetsudō Shigakkai, ed., Tetsudō Shigaku.
- Railway Culture Society / Huochepiaofang, Railway Information.
- Rye Field Publishing, ed., Rail Travel. ISSN 1609-8641
- Railway Knowledge. ISSN 1000-0372