Japanese Railway has 10 Live Steam locomotive. In Japan, a steam locomotive is called 'SL'.They are operating focusing on a weekend and weekday on vacation season.

This page are information about japanese SL for overseas railfan. I want you to use reference of a next travel.
C56
C56 are tender type locomotive. He called "Pony" from japanese fan
They was manufactured 165 locomotive by Japan National railway(J.N.R) and private railway in 1930s.
Ususaly operation for local train and cargo within all japan aera.
90 C56 was mobilized by World War2.They worked in Thailand or Myanmar "Thai-Burma Railway" .
After War, sme C56s ware work Thailand railway and Myanmar railway.

Now live in JR West-Japan and OIGAWA Railway.
OIGAWA Railway C56 was back from Thailand at 1979.

Vital Statistics
Weight: 65.53 t
Length: 14,325 mm
Height: 3,900 mm
Wheel 2-6-0/1C
Wheel Length: 1,400 mm
Gauge 1,067mm
Fuel: Coal
Boiler Pressure: 14.0 kg/cm2

Oigawa Railway
C56-44

Oigawa Railway has C56-44. He was checkered life was followed.He went to Thailand for construction thai-Burma Railway at 1941
He back from Thailand at 1979. However, the state of a boiler is bad. He can not pull over 4 coach.
He was retired at 2003. But He is historically interesting. Oigawa Railway restored to the original Thailand style at 2007. Its "The 120th Anniversary of Japan-Thailand Diplomatic Relations, 2007"

He work Thailand style until 2010.Then He was gone back up in Japanese style.

They use scheduled train SL Express"KAWANEJI" run between SHINKANAYA and SENZU about 40Km.
If He pull over 4 coach,need join Electric locomotive behind a train.

Train schedule and the timetable are here
C56-44 Thai Style SL Express 'KAWANEJI'
C56-44 Thai Style SL Express 'KAWANEJI'
C56-44 Thai Style SL Express 'KAWANEJI'
MJR West-Japan
C56-160

JR West Japan have a C56-160. His home at UMEKOUJI Steam Locomotive Museum since 1970.
He do not have regular scheduled train. But some time work for "KITABIWAKO" or "YAMAGUCHI".

Double header operation of C57-1 and C56-160 is in autumn every year in YAMAGUCHI.
1986 Special train at AICHI YAMAGUCHI Double header YAMAGUCHI Double header
(Push from behind a train)
<<BACK >>