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 hope you to use reference of a next travel.
C57
C57 are tender type locomotive for main route express. She called "KIFUJIN" from japanese fan. Its meaning 'Beautiful woman'.

They was manufactured 215 locomotive by Japan National railway(J.N.R) in 1930-1940.
Ususaly operation for main route experss train within all japan aera.
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Now, 2 C57 Locomotive are live in japan.

Vital Statistics
Weight: 115.50 t
Length: 20,280 mm
Height: 3,945 mm
Wheel 4-6-2/2C2/Pacific
Wheel Length: 1,750 mm
Gauge 1,067mm
Fuel: Coal
Boiler Pressure: 16.0 kg/cm2

JR West-Japan
C57-1

First lot of C57.
She was manufactured in 1932. She join SL preservation project at UMEKOUJI Steam Locomotive Museum in 1972.

In 1979,Japan national railway re start operation of SL at YMAGUCHI Line.She was come back for train operation. And equips a chimney protection instrument mostly. But Occasionally removes chimney protection.

She has scheduled train "SL YAMAGUCHI" run between SHIYAMAGUCHI and TSUWANO about 63Km from spring to autumn every year.
Double header operation with C56-160 in autum every year. Train schedule and the timetable are here

In winter season, back to UMEKOUJI Steam Locomotive Museum for maintenance.She may go to 'KITABIWAKO' in winter very rarely. (May be once a 5 year)
C57-1 +C56-160Double header 'YAMAGUCHI'
C57-1 'KITABIWAKO' in UMEKOUJI
C57-1 chimney protection Style
MJR East-Japan
C57-180

JR East Japan repair C57-180 at 1999. Her homebase is at NIITSU Lcomotive Depo.
She has scheduled train "SL BANETSU-MONOGATARI" between NIIGATA to AIZU WAKAMATSU.

A few time a year, She run special train with in NIIGATA area.
C57-180 BANETSU MONOGATARI C57-180 BANETSU MONOGATARI SL UMASA GISHIRI SYOUNAI
(Special train)
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