The Kurobe Gorge Railway in Toyama Prefecture, nicknamed the "Trocco Train," runs through the deep canyons of the Kurobe River, which originates in the Northern Alps.

In November, I got close to the work of people who keep the operation safe in the scenery of autumn leaves.

The Kurobe Gorge Railway is a 20.1 km long mountain railway built along the steep valley of the Kurobe River.



There is not even a mountain trail upstream from Unazuki Station, and this railway is the only route to Keyakidaira Station, the final stop.



While used by many tourists, it is an indispensable railway for the maintenance of dams such as the Kurobe Dam and hydroelectric power plants.



The rail width is 762 mm, which is narrower than usual, because it passes through narrow mountainous areas.

(JR conventional line is 1067mm) There



are more than 200 curves, some of which have a radius of 21.5 meters, and some of the steepest curves in Japan except for trams.



Is there something wrong with the rail?

Track maintenance personnel “walk” to check the entire line to prevent accidents.



The Kurobe Gorge Railway will be suspended from December 1st to avoid damage from heavy snow and avalanches, and will resume operations around the annual holidays.