Service began between Sapporo and Temiya on 28 November 1880, via "Yoshitsune" and "Benkei". The following year, on 30 August 1881, Emperor Meiji rode the line, called "Kaitakushi-gō" (開拓使号, "Settlement Envoy"). Pulling nine cars in poor weather, the train arrived late, but this was said to be acceptable; it is not clear which locomotive was used. The line was extended in 1882 to connect Sapporo with Horonai, and "Hirafu" and "Mitsukuni" were obtained. "Nobuhiro" and "Shizuka" were purchased soon afterwards, and in 1887 a Baldwin Locomotive Works 1-C tender engine was also purchased, which was given the class number 7170. When the last of the H.K. Porter locomotives were purchased, the trains' ordinals were rearranged to group the Porters together.