Do you have any dual-gauge tracks in your country? Here in Japan, we actually have a few, and every time I come across one, I feel a little spark of curiosity. Today, let me share one such spot with you — a charming dual-gauge section on the Hakone-Tozan Railway in Kanagawa Prefecture.
First, just a small introduction. The Hakone-Tozan Railway is a dependable mountain climber that makes its way up the slopes of Hakone Volcano. It connects Odawara on the Odakyu Line to the terminal at Gōra, covering about 15 kilometers. The entire line is a single electrified track, but what makes it interesting is that the lower half uses narrow gauge (1,067 mm), while the upper half switches to standard gauge (1,435 mm).
And that’s where the dual-gauge section comes in — connecting the lower and upper parts of the line.
If you look at the photo above, you’ll find a three-rail dual-gauge track — quite a sight if you enjoy the technical side of railways. Running on it is a narrow-gauge Odakyu Romancecar, the 60000-series EMU. This train travels directly from the Odakyu Line onto the Hakone-Tozan Line, following the left rail and the inner right rail as it climbs toward Hakone-Yumoto.
Then, in the next photo below, the view becomes even more fascinating. At Iryuda Station’s yard, you can see three types of tracks lined up together: a narrow-gauge track, a dual-gauge track, and a standard-gauge track. There’s also a red, standard-gauge Hakone-Tozan 2000-series EMU resting quietly in the shed.
So the purpose of this dual-gauge stretch is quite simple:
1. to let the narrow-gauge commercial trains pass through, and
2. to give standard-gauge trains a path in and out of the yard when they’re not in service.
For a rail fan like me, small scenes like these always feel like hidden treasures. I can’t help but stop and watch for a moment. Perhaps you feel a little of that excitement too?
