The new schedule was updated on 1st of March 2012
Index
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East Japan Railway Company
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| SL Minakami etc (Jyoetsu line)
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D51-498 leaves Minakami station,
during May 1995.
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Near Minakami, during May 1996.
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* Photo of Steams Working Years *
Takasaki depot 1967.
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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.
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| Switching in Minakami station 1995.
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| Near Minakami 1996.
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| Service
| JR East, Jyoetu line
Takasaki - Minakami
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| Steam Engine
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D51-498 C61-20
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| Official site
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JR East (Japanese)
Minakami town (Japanese)
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| Date of Service 2012
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| March : 24 25
| April : 1 7 21
| May : 3-6
| June : 2 3 9 16 23 30
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note :
White : D51-498
Yellow : C61-20
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SL Usui etc (Shinetsu line)
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* Photo of Steams Working Years *
Doubleheader D51 on the Shinetsu line
Matsuida Jul 1958
(Photo credit to S.Sumino)
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The Shinetsu line between Takasaki and Niigata was fully opened during April 1893 as a connection
between Tokyo and Niigata through Takasaki, Yokokawa, Karuizawa, Nagano, Naoetsu, Nagaoka and Niitsu.
The first opened part was Takasaki to Yokokawa during October 1885.
Between Yokokawa and Karuizawa was first electrified as a Japanese main line during May 1912.
(Consult please Saitama Railway museum's ED40-10)
But during September 1931, after Jouetsu line opened,
Shinetsu line ended a role of connection between Tokyo and Niigata city,
and the line role changed to connect Tokyo and Hokuriku area through Nagano.
The mainly used steam engines during 1960's were ;
Takasaki - Yokokawa ..... Takasaki depot's class D50 D51
Karuizawa - Naoetsu .... Ueda, Nagano and Naoetsu depot's class D50 D51
Naoetsu - Niigata ... Naoetsu, Nagaoka, Niitsu and Niigata depot's class D50 D51 C51 C57
(Yokokawa - Karuizawa ... Yokokawa depot's class ED42 electric locomotive)
These steams were abolished by electrification as follows ;
Nagaoka - Niigata .... May 1962, Takasaki - Yokokawa ..... July 1962, Karuizawa - Nagano .... Jun 1963,
Nagano -Naoetsu .... Aug 1966, Naoetsu - Nagaoka .... Aug 1969
During October 1997, Yokokawa - Karuizawa section was closed with the Nagano Shinkansen opening, herewith,
Shinetsu line was split into two sections as Takasaki - Yokokawa and Karuizawa - Nagano - Niigata.
And also Karuizawa - Nagano (Shinonoi) section was relegated to the third-sector company of Shinano-Tetsudo.
During April 1999, restored steam train service started between Takasaki and Yokokawa with the opening of
the ' Usui Tetsudo Bunka mura ' railway museum on the site of the Yokokawa depot.
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| Service
| JR-East Shinetsu line,
Takasaki - Yokokawa
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| Steam Engine
| D51-498
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| Official site
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| Date of Service 2012
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| March : 3 4 10 11 17 18 20
| April : 14 15 28-30
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SL Banetsu Monogatari
(Steam Train, the Story of Banetsu)
* Photo of Steams Working Years *
West-Banetsu line Mar 1960
D50-261 at the Koriyama station
(Photo credit to S.Sumino)
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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 - Aizu Wakamatsu - Kitakata saw electrification,
and steam trains were retired on this section.
Between Aizu-Wakamatsu 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.
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| Service
| JR-East West-Banetsu line,
Aizu Wakamatsu - Niigata
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| Steam Engine
| C57-180
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| Official site
| JR East Niigata BO (Japanese),
Nigata city Steam train promotion committee. (Japanese)
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| Date of Service 2012
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| April | 1 7 8 14 15 21 22 28 29 30
| May | 3-6 12 13 19 20 26
| June | 2 3 9 10 16 17 30
| July | 1 7 8 14-16 21 22 28 29
| August | 4 5 11-15 18 19 25 26
| September | 1 8 9 15-17 22 23 29 30
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| SL Umasa Gittshiri Syonai
(Steam Train, yummy compacted in the Shonai)
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* Photo of Steams Working Years *
D51 and Japanese sea on the Uetsu line
Kuwakawa Dec 1969
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| Service
| JR-East Uetsu line,
Murakami - Sakata
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| Steam Engine
| Class C57 No.180
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| Official site
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| Date of Service 2012
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Jun : 23 (Murakami to Sakata)
| Jun : 24 (Sakata to Murakami)
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| SL Murakami Hina-Kaido
(Steam Train, Hina-Doll Way)
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SL Hana Kairo
(Steam Locomotive, Flower Cloister)
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* Photo of Steams Working Years *
Aterazawa line's C11-359
Yonezawa depot during 1971.
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The Moka Railway Company's history is very old.
Originally, it first opened between Shimodate and Moka on the 1st of April 1912,
as the Moka Narrow Gauge Railway, and fully opened between Shimodate and Motegi during December 1920.
During 1954, all passenger trains were dieselized.
Afterward, Moka line's steam saw service only as freight trains by the Oyama depot's C12.
And all steam were retired during March 1970.
During September 1984, JNR decided on the closing of the Moka line which was in the red.
Afterward, Moka line was inherited from the JNR by the JR-East,
JR-East decided on the restart of the Moka line as a third-sector company.
Therefore, Moka Railway company was established on the 11th of April 1988.
The Moka Railway started the Restored Steam Train "SL Moka"
from the 27th of March 1994 with the C12-66 as the Mashiko area's (the town famous for pottery) sightseeing attraction.
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| Moka Railway
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C12-66 Steam train after restoration during 1988.
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C12-66
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| Service
| Moka Railway
Shimodate -
Mashiko
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| Steam Engine
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Class C11 No.325
Class C12 No.66
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| Official site
| Moka Railway (Japanese)
Official Photo page
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Date of Service
2012
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| Mar | 3 4 10 11 17 18 20 24 25 31
| Apr | 1 7 8 14 15 21 22 28-30
| May | 3-6 12 13 19 20 26 27
| Jun | 2 3 9 10 16 17 23 24 30
| Jul | 1 7 8 14-16 21 22 27-29
| Aug | 3-5 10-12 17-19 24-26
| Sep | 1 2 8 9 15-17 22 23 29 30
| Oct | 6-8 13 14 20 21 27 28
| Nov | 3 4 10 11 17 18 23-25
| Dec | 1 2 8 9 15 16 22-24
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| C12-66 during 1987.
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| C12-66 in 1988.
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In the Kanto's mid-sized private railroad, the Chichibu Railway's first section, between Kumagaya and Yorii was opened on the 7th of October 1901.
Originally the company was started as the Jobu Railway Co. with one C-Tank steam engine (Chichibu Railway's No.1, manufactured by Dubs Co.).
The company name was changed to the Chichibu Railway Co. during March 1916.
Chichibu Railway had a total of thirteen steam engines (Two were borrowed) in nine classes.
Chichibu Railway was electrified during 1922, at this time, the company owned six steam engines.
These engines were retired by 1923, and sold or transferred to other railway companies.
But a few engines remained as spare engines up to Jun 1934.
Electric railway company's Chichibu Railway didn't have steam engines for the next 54 years.
Half a century later, a restored steam train was started from March 1988 by the C58-363.
The train saw service between Kumagaya and Mitsumineguchi section.
The nearest restored steam engine from Tokyo is the Paleo-Express.
There are many beauty spots on the "Nagatoro" river bank along the railroad line.
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| Service
| Chichibu Railway
Kumagaya -
Mitumine Guchi
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| Steam Engine
| Class C58 No.363
| Official site
| Chichibu Railway (Japanese)
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| Date of Service 2012
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| Apr | 21 22 28-30
| May | 3-6 12 13 20 26 27
| Jun | 2 3 9 10 16 17 23 24 30
| Jul | 1 7 8 14-16 20-22 27-29
| Aug | 3-6 10-13 15 16 18 19 23-26
| Sep | 1 2 8 9 15-17 22 23 29 30
| Oct | 6-8 13 14 20 21 27 28
| Nov | 3 4 10 11 14 17 18 23-25
| Dec | 1-3
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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.
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C11 during 1988
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Inactive-preservation engine Class 9600 No.49616
Senzu yard.
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| C11 in 1986.
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West Japan Railway Company
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| SL Yamaguchi
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Here we see a C57-1
after restored during 1986 near Tsuwano.
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The Markings of the "SL Yamaguchi"
on its head.
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* Photo of Steams Working Years *
D51-194 Yamaguchi station during 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.
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| Service
| JR-West, Yamaguch line
Shin Yamaguch - Tsuwano
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| Steam Engine
| C57-1
C56-160
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| Official site
| JR-West (Japanese),
Yamaguchi prefecture Steam Train bureau. (Japanese)
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Date of Service 2012
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| Mar | 24 25 30 31
| Apr | 1 6-8 14 15 21 22 28-30
| May | 3-6 12 13 19 20 26 27
| Jun | 2 3 9 10 16 17 23 24 30
| Jul | 1 7 8 14-16 21 22 28 29
| Aug | 1 3-5 10-19 24-26
| Sep | 1 2 8 9 15-17 22 23 29 30
| Oct | 6-8 13 14 20 21 27 28
| Nov | 3 4 10 11 17
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| note : 29 Sept to 21 Oct, C56 + C57 doubleheader
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| Near Oghori C571 1986.
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| Near Tuwano C571 1986.
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| SL Hitoyoshi
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| Service
| JR-Kyushu Hisatsu line,
Kumamoto - Hitoyoshi
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| Steam Engine
| Class 8620 No.58654
| Official site
| JR Kyushu Kumamoto BO (Japanese)
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| Date of Service 2012
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| April | 1-3 5-9 13-16 20-23 27-30
| May | 1-7 11-13 18-20 25-27
| June | 1-3 8-10 15-17 22-24 29 30
| July | 1 7-9 13-17 19-24 26-30
| August | 2-7 9-14 16-21 23-28 30 31
| September | 1-3 7-10 14-18 21-24 28-30
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| SL Fuyu no Shitsugen
(Steam Train, Winter Moor)
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| SL Hakodate Onuma
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* Photo of Steams Working Years *
C62-16 leaving Onuma station.
During Mar 1971.
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Restored Steam Engine
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