[1][2] Construction of the line was planned during the Pacific War to provide transportation for the military supply factories located in the area.

[1] Some of the former Kumagaya Line track remains in situ between Kumagaya and Kami-Kumagaya on the Chichibu Main Line, as does one of the concrete piers for the planned Tone River bridge, on the Gunma Prefecture side of the river.

[3] Source: [2] Notes: The line was initially operated using Class B2 (ex-JNR Class 5300) Beyer, Peacock & Company-built steam locomotives (numbers 27 and 28, ex-JNR 5312 and 5313) hauling former DeHa 1 electric cars converted to non-powered passenger coaches.

[3] A fleet of three new KiHa 2000 series diesel railcars built by Tokyu Car was introduced from February 1954.

[2] These were initially painted in Japanese National Railways-style blue and cream, but from June 1963, they were repainted into the Tobu livery of "royal beige" and "international orange".