Tempoku Line
The Tempoku Line was a railway line most recently operated by Hokkaido Railway Company in Hokkaidō, Japan. The 148.9 kilometres line connected from Otoineppu to Minami-Wakkanai via Nakatonbetsu, Hamatonbetsu and Sarufutsu until its closure in 1989. This railway line was named after Teshio Province and Kitami Province.
Naming
The line got its name to the two former provinces that it went through: Teshio and Kitami. The first character of Teshio can also be read as "ten", and the first character of Kitami can also be read as "hoku". By Japanese orthography, putting "ten" and "hoku" together makes "Tempoku".History
The first section from Otoineppu to Shō-Tombetsu was opened in 1914. All section was opened in 1922, as the first railway line for Wakkanai. In 1926, Teshio line via Horonobe was opened. From Otoineppu to Wakkanai, the distance of this line was longer than Teshio line. In 1930, Teshio line was integrated into Sōya Main Line, and this line was separated from it and renamed Kitami line.In 1961, Kitami line was renamed to Tempoku line. In 1987, JNR was privatized, and this line was inherited by JR Hokkaido, but abandoned on 1 May 1989.