SLNET Time Traveler(Japanese Steam Locomotives)

Welcome to the photo gallery of the Japanese steam locomotive.

	You are the th traveler. (Since Sep,1996)
	You are the th traveler. (Since Sep,1996)	Japanese	Chinese	Korea

Last-Updated: 6 December,2009 Added　A movie

These steam locomotives once ran with power and charm through the beautiful scenery of Japan. They were operated by the engineer and the assistant engineer, with the important support of many people who performed the routine maintenance of the railroad tracks. All of these people loved the steam locomotive dearly. They gladly carried passengers ... people with joy, with sorrow, with hopeful expectation ... safely to their destinations. These photos of steam locomotives, I hope, will refresh your memories of the good old days for other people. And, while the days of the steam locomotive may be gone, still they live on in our hearts.

	Yamaguchi line by a movie. As for the Internet, a high-speed line is the mainstream.I want all of you to watch a Japanese steam locomotive by a movie.
	Smoke and Steam Please see the powerful smoke of the departure and lonely smoke, the smoke which takes a rest.
	Working on the Railroad 2 The contents are the exchange of tablet, a turn table, the check of the rail and supply water.
	The Heroes of Kure Line. The larger locomotives of the C59 and C62 types were seen on the Kure Line.
	"Kurohime" is one of my favorites I visited "Kurohime" in Itoigawa.
	Let's work together In areas of steep grades two or three steam locomotives pulled a long line of freight cars. They might be in tandem, in a triple pull, or in a pull-push [one at each end] formation.
	The locomotives running in the highlands A locomotive is a dramatic sight in the beautiful Japanese countryside.
	Working on the Railroad The trains were operated by three people: the Engineer, Assistant Engineer, and the Conductor.
	Drifting Ice of the Okhotsk Sea In this photo a steam locomotive is shown, with drift ice of the Okhotsk Sea in the foreground.
	Hokkaido Steam locomotives worked in the severe cold inside of coal mine shafts.
	Honshu Mountains covered with snow, with cherry blossoms and susuki (sword grass).
	Kyushu The older C12 and B20 types are seen here at the foot of Mt Aso.
	Japanese autumn Please enjoy these beautiful photos of Japan in autumn.
	The Niseko Express You see here the magnificent sight of a C62 working in a snowstorm.
	The steam whistle(real audio 45KB) It always signals the departure. The steam whistle(wav 390KB)
	Commemoration tickets and platform tickets (1965-1996) On special occasions "Commemoration Tickets" were sold for predetermined source and destination stations. Platform tickets: if you bought one you were allowed to pass through the gate and go to the platform beside the train to see the people off.
	Links If you have your own webpage or if you know of any interesting steam locomotive related homepages around the world, please let me know by e-mail.

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A steam locomotive first ran on Japanese railroads on October 14, 1872, when the first steam locomotive ran from Shinbashi to Yokohama. In 1946 5958 steam locomotives were use in use throughout Japan. But the number decreased to only 1893 units in 1969. And by 1976, all of the steam locomotives had disappered except for a few which were luckily preserved. A World Exposition was held in Osaka in 1970. This Exposition symbolized the rapid and dynamic economic growth of Japan in the period from the late 1950's through the early 1970's. During this period of strong economic growth the steam locomotives were steadily replaced by the newer diesel-electric and electric locomotives. It was during this period that I fell in love with the ageing steam locomotives, travelling all over Japan to see and take pictures of them. I was just like a fan of a rock music group who follows them all over the country from concert to concert. Sometimes people ask me, "What is the charm of the steam locomotive for you?" "Well," I answer, "I just like them." To me, they have much more character than the electic units. And they have this sense of power, too. But, actually, I suppose the real reason I fell in love with the steamers is a mystery. Just like Romeo falls in love with Juliet, there is no particular reason at all. I just fell in love with them, and I can't give you a good reason why. If you love steam locomotives too, then you understand ... you don't need a reason. Whenever I got a vacation or holiday I went out to various places all over Japan to take these photos of the steam locomotives in action, on the job, and pulling loads, in the forefront of railway service, because I wanted to meet her, my lover.
At that time I felt no sorrow for her leaving the scene.

Yoshihiko Kawaguchi. Osaka, Japan

osaka@slnet.gr.jp

Reproduction can't be done if my permission is not in this homepage.

Working on the Railroad 2 The contents are the exchange of tablet, a turn table, the check of the rail and supply water.

Let's work together In areas of steep grades two or three steam locomotives pulled a long line of freight cars. They might be in tandem, in a triple pull, or in a pull-push [one at each end] formation.

The locomotives running in the highlands A locomotive is a dramatic sight in the beautiful Japanese countryside.

Drifting Ice of the Okhotsk Sea In this photo a steam locomotive is shown, with drift ice of the Okhotsk Sea in the foreground.

Japanese autumn Please enjoy these beautiful photos of Japan in autumn.

The steam whistle(real audio 45KB) It always signals the departure. The steam whistle(wav 390KB)

The steam whistle(real audio 45KB) It always signals the departure.
The steam whistle(wav 390KB)