Abstract
In Nov. 1882, the "Horonai Railway" started its transport business from Temiya to Horonai by way of Otaru and Sapporo in Hokkaido. It was the first coaler in Japan and steam hauled trains were operated from Horonai coalfield to Temiya wharf. The owner of this industrial railway was an agency of Japanese government which was called as "Kaitaku-shi". This agency was charged with a mission on the development of Hokkaido and this railway was its transport division. In Dec. 1889, this railway transferred to the "Hokkaido Tanko Railway" which was one of the private railways in those days. In Sep. 1825, "Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR)" started its transport business in the north England. The construction of S&DR was the dawn of a worldwide railway transport revolution and it was the first public line to employ steam power from its opening. Coal mine near Darlington was too undulating for canal construction, so railway was selected instead of canal. This line started at Witton Park, above Shildon in the central coalfield and arrived at Darlington wharf. The most important industrial heritage is the steam engine "Locomotion" and this historic and original one is now preserved in the Darlington Railway Centre & Museum neighboring North Road Station. In this presentation, short history and significance relation to these industrial railways from the viewpoint of the history of railway technology will be explained.
