RM Library No. 255 Tsukuba Railway (Part 1) [30% OFF]

Tsukuba Railway opened on April 17, 1918 (Taisho 7) as a steam-powered railway (gauge: 1,067 mm) between Tsuchiura and Tsukuba in order to improve transportation in the Tsukuba and Makabe regions of Ibaraki Prefecture by connecting the nationalized Joban Line and Mito Line, and the entire line between Tsuchiura and Iwase opened on September 7 of the same year. In 1937 (Showa 12), it began using internal combustion power as well, and was merged with the Josho Railway during the war to become the Josho Tsukuba Railway Tsukuba Line.

At its peak around 1960, express trains ran between Tsuchiura and Tsukuba, and company trains ran to Oyama (via the Mito Line), and during the tourist season JNR passenger trains ran to Tsukuba from Ueno (via Tsuchiura) and Hitachi (via Iwase).

In 1965 (Showa 40), it merged with the Kashima-Sangu Railway, also part of the Keisei Group, to form the Kanto Railway Tsukuba Line, and in 1979 (Showa 54), the Tsukuba Line was spun off together with the Hokota Line into a separate company to become the Tsukuba Railway (second generation), but was completely abolished at the end of March 1987 (Showa 62). The first volume focuses on the origins of the line, while the second volume focuses on the appearance of each station and the past rolling stock.