International Railroad Discussion > Japan--Kumamoto

Three more shots from the summer of 1972

#1   #69616 under coaling tower

#2   D51 #255 at engine house

#3  #79602

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Love that second shot.

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

glibby Wrote:
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> Three more shots from the summer of 1972
>
> #1   #69616 under coaling tower
>
> #2   D51 #255 at engine house
>
> #3  #79602

Second the like for the second shot. D51-255 is not listed as a preserved locomotive, so it's very likely scrapped already.

DMU to the left of D51-255 is the Kiha 52, a double-engine version of the Kiha 20 and its derivatives. Both are similar in appearance from that angle, so I had to do a good amount of research to find out that a pair of Kiha 52s were stationed at Kumamoto around 1972-1973, but no Kiha 20s were there.

Good number of Japanese railfans are pursuing these classic DMUs, where all of them were retired from JR Group of railroads the past 5-6 years, and some have gone on to smaller, indepedent short lines. However, the remaining ones are now facing permanent retirement. Think of Budd RDC foamers here in the U.S.

Nice caboose shot on #3!