International Railroad Discussion > SL D51 chase (take #1-Minakami)

Today I tried to intercept the SL D51 498 before it arrived at Iwamoto station in the Tonegawa canyon in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As I arrived at my chosen spot I was still driving and saw all the railfans already in position as the train exited a tunnel and crossed a bridge. I never caught up with the train as speed limits on highway 17 are 40-50 kilometers. I could smell the smoke all the way to Minakami where they had already turned the locomotive and the crew had left for lunch. Still I got a few shots and I will be back in a few days.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/14 03:22 by Railpax71.

---

---

---

4. Stuffed and mounted D51 475 at Minakami.
5. Photo ops with crew in uniforms
6. Finished service and off to lunch

---

---

---

Fine looking engine, hope you get some more shots to share!

Is this a 2-8-0 or what? First Elesco feedwater heater I have seen on foreign engines.

tomstp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is this a 2-8-0 or what? First Elesco feedwater
> heater I have seen on foreign engines.

tom,

The d51's were 2-8-2's. JNR was very fond of Elesco's.

J.

One more to show the wheel arrangement.

---

I rode behind very similar Japanese steam engines from Bankok,Thailand in 2006 on a short public steam excursion. I noted Elesco feed water heaters on them too.

eminence_grise Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I rode behind very similar Japanese steam engines
> from Bankok,Thailand in 2006 on a short public
> steam excursion. I noted Elesco feed water heaters
> on them too.

That one could have been #953, which might be the only Japanese-made 2-8-2 in operable condition in Thailand. There are 4 more Japanese steam in working condition there, pair of 2-6-0s (#713, #715) and pair of 4-6-2s (#824, #850). Quick search on the Internet mentions the 953 and 824 pulling excursions around 2006-2007. Thailand uses a slightly narrower 1000mm gauge ("meter gauge"), instead of Japan's 1067mm.

Glad you finally nabbed the "Degoichi" in action near Minakami, John! I'm going through my old photo and video archives to see if I can post a report of the D51-498 in action going back about 10-12 years, in addition to the two train-chasing-train trips I did in March and April of this year.