CONDITIONS AT THE CH'ONGJIN RAILROAD STATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004600430010-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 8, 2007
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: August 2, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/08/08 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA004600430010-6
SUBJECT Conditions at the Ch'ongjin
Railroad Station
This Document contains Information affecting the N.-
tlunal Defense of the United State., within the mean-
ing of Title it. Sections 7p end 7M. of the U.S. Ood.. W
.mended. Its tr.non Wm or n..btlm of N. contents
to or receipt by .U Unauthorised Person Is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form I. Prohibited.
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 2 August 1954
NO. OF PAGES
25X1
DATE OF INFO. REQUIREMENT NO. RD
PLACE ACQUI REFERENCES
This is UNEVALUATED 640aP2
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(POR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. The Ch'ongiin (N 4l-47, E 129-48)(E56626) railroad station has been rebuilt
into a one-story, wood and cement building. The roundhouse (EB668255),
formerly a concrete structure, which bad been almost completely destroyed.,
has been rebtdlt into a one-story wood structure with a wooden roof. The 25X1
tracks in the railroad yard (EB665263) are completely repaired and in good
condition.
2. Between 12 and 17 ltr!h 1954 a total of 150 loaded freight cars were observed
in the railroad yard. Rolling stock included flatoare, tank cars, boxcars,
gondolas, standard-type steam engines, and Csechoslovakian-made steam engines.
The freight cars appeared to be very old, any bearing Chinese characters
which indicated that they date back to the Japanese occupation. The standard
steam engines also looked old, some showing rust, and the wheels seemed old
and worn. The Czechoslovakian engines looked new, had a long, low silhouette,
and were equipped with an automatic stoker. The latter were used primarily
for passenger trains. Red wooden plaques attached to the side of sac car
indicated that they were destined for Kilchu and Kimch'aek (8ongjin). The
care have a carrying capacity of between 28 and 30 tons. The following freight
was observed:
a. Twenty-five care labeled "relief," half of them boxcars, the other half
gondolas, were loaded with bales of clothing, tied with straw rope, and
with wooden packing cases. The wooden cases measured about one meter
square, the bales of clothing about 1 x 1 x 1.5 meters.
c. Fifty flatcars with heavy lumber similar to that used for railroad ties
or for bridge construction. The lumber. was an estimated 9 to 12 inches
square and 4 to 5 meters long.
 d. Twenty cars labeled "provisions" and loaded with grain in straw and hemp
sacks. Each sack was filled with an estimated 90 kilograms of grain.
e. Fourteen flatcars, each with eight I-beam type heavy steel girders about
20 by .7 by .4 meters in size.
f. Three flatcars each loaded with two truss constructign girders. A cable
and a hook were banging from the end of each girder. Each girder
measured about 12 by .8 by 1.5 meters.
g. Five flatcars loaded with steel railroad rails about 20 meters long.
h. Three gondolas, labeled machinery, were loaded with crates.
3. A commuter-type train leaves Ch'ongjin for Nanam (EB5818), Kangdok ($B6024),
and Susong (EB6131) at 7 a.m. and at 5 p.m. The round trip takes an esti-
mated 1-1/2 hours. In the morning the train goes directly to Nanam, and in
the afternoon it goes through Susong enroute to Nanam. The through train
between Pyongyang and Navin (N 42-15, E 130-17)(FB0678) stops in Ch'ongjin
for 15 to 20 minutes. It arr ves from Navin at about 10 p.m. and from
Pyongyang at about 4:30 a.m.4
4. There are no regular guard forces at the Ch'angjin station nor fences at the
railroad yard, although certain railroad employees are responsible for watching
the cargoes and, as a safety measure, for preventing civilians from crossing
the yard. It is difficult to obtain employment at the station since the
majority of the employees have worked on the railroad for a long time, and
there are few openings. labor Party approval is necessary in order to gain
employment. Although many of the present employees are not labor Party
members, they hold their positions because of their seniority and skill. The
Ch ongjin station master is HONG T'ae-il (3163/3141/2480), about 50 years of
age and a labor Party member. He has worked at the station any years.
5. The following are classes of employment and description of duties of various
railroad personnel:5
POSITION DUTIES
Station master (First-class station)6 Responsible for all aspects of
station management and operation.
Assistant station master Assists the station master in his
(First-class station) duties. May also act as station
master in a second-class station.
Station master (Third-class station) Responsible for station management
and operation. May also act as
assistant station master in a
second-class station.
Assistant station master Assists the station master in his
(Third-class station) duties.
Usually has a seat reserved for him
in the last car of a passenger train.
He controls the train with flag
signals. He may also, if necessary,
work on a freight train.
 Squad leader
Senior employee
Employee
Rides in the last car of a freight
train and gives the flag signals
necessary for the operation of the
train. He may, when necessary, act
as a train master on a passenger
train.
Supervises the employees who keep
the train clean.
Similar to a porter. Cleans the
train.
should not be taken as confirmation.
2. Comment. In 1951 the city of Songjin was renamed Kim Ch'aek after
the ormer vice premier who died during the Korean war.
3.Jomment. These girders were possibly parts of cranes.
4. Comment. According to available information, the train is scheduled
ive from Navin at 6:19 a.m., and from Pyongyang at 11:30 p.m.
5~L Comment. Station masters wear insignia similar to that of North
Korean Army officers and are regarded as railroad officer personnel.
Their insignia is yellow with brown stripes and gold-colored, metal
stars. The insignia of employees and train masters is like that of am
enlisted personnel. It is dull orange with yellow stripes. Railroad
personnel wear a five-pointed star on their caps. See attachment.
Gent. Cities such as Pl and Ch'6ngJin have first-class
s onsj Unggi (N 42-21, E 130-24 (FB1589), second-claeej and Oneong
(N 42-5T, E 129-59) (EC8055), third-class. In 1950 the population of
Onsong was about 8,000.
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 Approved For Release 2007/08/08 : CIA-RDP80-00810A004600430010-6
1. 1
ATPACHMEWI
SHOULDER-BOARD INSIGNIA WORN BY RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
Station Master, First-class Station
Assistant Station Master,.
First-class Station
Assistant Station Master,
Third-class Station
Junior Train Master
H
Approved For Release 2007/08/08 : CIA-RDP80-00810A004600430010-6