User Guide

MICROSOFT TRAIN SIMULATOR ENGINEER’S HANDBOOK
THE ROUTES | 86
HISATSU LINE
Location: Kyushu island, Japan
Route length: 53 miles (86 km)
Railroad: Kyushu Railway Company
Player-drivable locomotive: KIHA 31
Computer-controlled trains on route: KIHA 140
Constructed in the first decade of the 1900s, the Hisatsu line was the main railroad line in Kagoshima prefec-
ture on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. A number of people died during construction of the line,
especially digging Yatake Tunnel. Two stone plaques were made in order to honor all those who put tremen-
dous effort to make the tunnel and in order to remember the hardship of building the Hisatsu Line: “Now we
are easily able to transport people and heavy goods far distances because this railway travels through difficult
geographic barriers as if it travels through flat land.” Isaburo Yamagata placed the first plaque at the entrance
of Yatake Tunnel, facing toward Hitoyoshi. Shinpei Goto placed the other plaque at the other entrance of the
tunnel, facing toward Yoshimatsu. Therefore, trains going toward the plaque placed by Isaburo Yamagata are
called “Isaburo” and trains going toward the other plaque placed by Shinpei Goto are called “Shinpei.”
In the line’s heyday in the early 1900s, steam locomotives traversed the line, hauling freight and passengers.
Today, the Hisatsu line is used mainly for scenic day trips with trains consisting of one or two cars. Occasion-
ally, historic steam locomotives are used for special excursions.
The section between Yatsushiro and Hitoyoshi is called the River Line because it runs beside the Kuma river.
There are 24 railroad tunnels in this section of the line. The section between Hitoyoshi and Yoshimatsu is
called the Mountain Line. Trains climb the steep grade to the mountain pass (at 1772 feet (540 meters) above
sea level) using two switchbacks and a loop. “Isaburo/Shinpei,” the sightseeing train, runs on this section and
stops at viewpoints for sightseeing—it has one of the three best rail views in Japan. Long station stops allow
passengers to get off the train and explore the surrounding area before reboarding.