Restored Steam Trains of Japan

SL Minakami D51-498 leaves Minakami station, during May 1995. Near Minakami, during May 1996. Takasaki depot, during steam active year 1967 The Jouetsu line is the arterious line which a part of connects Tokyo and Niigata. It was fully opened during September 1931 with the opening of the long 9 Km Shimizu tunnel. It was the longest tunnel in Japan at that time. The tunnel section, between Minakami and Echigo-Yuzawa (Ishiuchi) station was opened with electrification from its very beginning. Other sections, between Takasaki and Minakami, and Echigo-Yuzawa to Nagaoka were operated by the Takasaki and Nagaoka depot's steam engines Class D50, D51 and C57, but they were retired early during 1947s more expansive electrification. During 1982, Jouetsu Shinkansen opened, Jouetsu line lost it's arterious line position. The restored steam train saw service from December 1988 with D51-498 as the Jouetsu area's sightseeing attraction. The Minakami area has a large number of tourists during any time of the year and season, with mountain climbing, skiing, viewing colorful autumn leaves and hot springs. Switching in Minakami station 1995. Near Minakami 1996. Service JR East, Jyoetu line Takasaki - Minakami Steam Engine Class D51 No.498 Official site JR East (Japanese) Minakami town (Japanese) Date of Service in 2009 October 3 4 10-12 17 18 24 25 31 November 1 3 7 8 14 15 21-23 28 29

SL Banetsu Monogatari (Steam Train, the Story of Banetsu) West-Banetsu line's steam during active years. Mar 1960 D50-261 at the Koriyama station (Photo credit to S.Sumino) The West-Banetsu line connects Fukushima and Niigata prefecture, and was opened during November of 1914. The line ran between Koriyama and Niitsu, but the service was separated midway of Aizu-Wakamatsu. During the 1960s, the line was operated by the Aizu-Wakamatsu depot's steam D50 D51s, and the Niitsu depot's C57 D51s. On the 15th of June 1967, the section of the Koriyama - Aize-Wakamatsu - Kitakata saw electrification, and steam trains were retired on this section. Between Koriyama and Niitsu dieselization occurred during September 1969, but a few steam freight trains were left up to September 1972. The restored steam train started service from the 29th of April 1999 with the C57-180. There are many famous sightseeing spots around the beautiful castle town of Aizu-Wakamatsu ..... such as, Mt. Bandai, Lake Inawashiro ..... tourists can also enjoy the trip on that steam train.

Service JR-East West-Banetsu line, Aizu-Wakamatsu - Niigata Steam Engine Class C57 No.180 Official site JR East (Japanese) Nigata city Steam train promotion committee. (Japanese) Date of Service in 2009 October : 11 12 17 18 24 25 31 November : 1 3 7 8 21-23 28 29

Moka Railway C12-66 Steam train after restoration during 1988. C12-66

Service Moka Railway Shimodate - Mashiko Steam Engine Class C11 No.325 Class C12 No.66 Official site Moka Railway (Japanese) Official Photo page Date of Service in 2009-2010 October 3 4 10-12 17 18 24 25 31 November 1 3 7-9 14 15 21-23 28 29 December 5 6 12 13 19 20 23 24 January 2010 9 10 11 16 17 23 24 30 31 February 2010 6 7 11 13 14 20 21 27 28 March 2010 6 7 13 14 20 21 22 27 28 C12-66 during 1987. C12-66 in 1988.

Oigawa Railway Company

The Oigawa Railway Company was Shizuoka prefecture's private railway company, and was established during 1925. The Oigawa Railway has two lines, one is the Oigawa main line between Kanaya on the Tokaido line and Senzu, another line is the Ikawa line between Senzu and Ikawa. Restored steam trains saw service on the Oigawa main line. The Oigawa line was fully opened during December 1931, and a total of five steam engines were active up to 1950. Oigawa lines electrification was completed during December 1949, and started electric locomotive trains. Afterward, passenger train services gradually changed to electric car trains from August 1951. The Oigawa Railway began collecting historical vehicles from around 1970. These were gathered and preserved at the Senzu yard, and of these, some engines were restored. They were ; Class 2100 No.2109 (Currently, it is kept in the college of the Nippon Institute of Technology), Class 10 No.15 (Currently preserved at the Numata town museum in Hokkaido), Class 1275 No.1275 (Currently, preserved at the Plaza Loco SL Museum near Shin-Kanaya station). They saw service as short-range restored steam trains. These trains probably saw Test-Runs before beginning full train service. During 1976, Oigawa Railway bought a C11-227 from JNR. Restored steam train full services were started on the 9th of July 1976. This was the main line's first restored steam train service by a private railway company. At the present time, Oigawa Railway has five engines in four classes (One engine, C12-164 was entrusted from another company, and it's out of service at the present time.). This number of steam engines are the largest in Japan except for JR Umekoji museum. Before, there was one more restored engine, Class C11 No.312, but she was retired during September 2007. The Oigawa Railway has regular steam service runs, almost daily, during the summer and other seasonal holidays. Oigawa Line C11 during 1988 Inactive-preservation engine Class 9600 No.49616 Senzu yard. Service Oigawa Railway Kanaya - Senzu Steam Engine Class C10 No.8, Class C11 No.190, No.227, Class C56 No.44, (Class C12 No.164) Official site Oigawa Railway Co. (Japanese) Date of Service in 2009 - 2010 December 1-7 9, Dec 2009 - 12, Mar 2010 Everyday, except Tuesday and Thursday C11 in 1986.

West Japan Railway Company

SL Yamaguchi Here we see a C57-1 after restored during 1986 near Tsuwano. The Markings of the "SL Yamaguchi" on its head.

D51 train run near Tsuwano during active year 1970 Yamaguchi line has the most famous restored steam train in Japan and it is running in Yamaguchi prefecture. The Yamaguchi line is the sub-main line which connects Yamaguchi prefecture's Shin-Yamaguchi station and Shimane prefecture's Masuda station. There are two very popular destinations for tourists in the Yamaguchi area, they are Tsuwano and Hagi city. Both are old quiet castle towns. Additionally, nearby, there is Japan's largest limestone cave "Shuhodo". The steam trains name is the " SL Yamaguchi" and it makes the 62.9 kilometer run in 2 hours between Shin-Yamaguchi and Tsuwano on the Yamaguchi line. The Original Yamaguchi line was a narrow gauged private railroad company. It was called the "Dai-Nippon-Kido Co. Yamaguchi" between Shinmachi and Yuda, and it was opened during October 1908. But, this small railway was closed when the government railway Yamaguch line between Ogori and Yamaguchi was opened during February 1913. Later, JGR Yamaguchi line was fully opened on the 1st of April 1923. After WW2, Yamaguchi line saw service by Tsuwano depot's class D60s, but they were replaced by the class D51 during 1966. (You can see the preserved first D60 in the Yamaguchi Museum even now.) A while later, Yamaguchi line's steam operations with D51s all disappeared by the 30th of September 1973. In August 1979 a restored steam train was put into service to provide rides on practically all weekends. After Japan's regular steam operation was closed, this was the first case of a steam train being restored in Japan. The service was started by Umekoji museum's class C57 No.1. 2009 is the 30th anniversary for steam train restoration.

Service JR-West, Yamaguch line Shin-Yamaguch - Tsuwano Steam Engine C57-1 (C56-160) Official site JR-West (Japanese), Yamaguchi prefecture Steam Train bureau. (Japanese) Date of Service in 2009 Out of service until spring. Near Oghori C571 1986. Near Tuwano C571 1986.

Restored Steam Engines