[Abandoned railway line] Walk 9.9km along the Mitsui Ashibetsu Railway

[Abandoned railway line] Walk 9.9km along the Mitsui Ashibetsu Railway

It opened in 1940 to transport coal from the Mitsui Ashibetsu Coal Mine.
Passenger service began in 1942. During peak season, there are more than 20 round trips per day.
Passenger service discontinued in 1972. Converted to bus service.
In 1989, the coal mine was closed and rail freight transport was discontinued.

0:00 JR Hokkaido Nemuro Line Ashibetsu Station

0:18 A train stops to help a late high school girl.

1:21 Mitsui Ashibetsu Railway Ashibetsu Station platform

1:57 Former site of Koukodori Station

2:58 Ashibetsu Tunnel

3:32 Tunnel Exit

4:25 Yamanotemachi Station ruins

5:11 Mitsui Ashibetsu Station ruins
The station building is still in use as an office.

6:42 There is a church

7:00 Abandoned coal mining housing

7:20 Iriyama Station ruins

7:55 A freight train on a railway bridge. It is not abandoned but on display. Both the bridge and the train are cultural assets.It is clearly visible from the road

9:00　 I turned to the other side　
　　　
10:44 Nakanohama Station ruins

11:13 Railroad crossing sign

12:36 Saiwaicho Station ruins

13:23 Ryokusen Station ruins

13:56 Railroad crossing remains

14:16 Nishimachi Apartment Station ruins

15:02 The remains of a prison camp. It’s very scary. People were cruel back then…

15:31 ruins

16:12 Ashinoyu Station ruins

16:38 Shuttered shopping street

16:48 Bridge girder

17:29 Raijo Station ruins

18:20 Former site of the rotary in front of the station

19:37 ruins

19:54 The remains of Tamagawa Station, the terminal station

20:27 Railway bridge and freight train from the bus

21:28 The remains of Koukodori Station from inside the train