International Railroad Discussion > Trivia Q: What country has cats as station masters?

In the US, cats at depots are not uncommon.  However, cats as station masters?

Q: What country has cats as station masters?

A: Japan

https://www.answers.org/crossword-clues/what-country-has-appointed-cats-as-train-station-masters.html

Travel Trivia questions are e-mailed to me daily.  I thought it would be fun to share this on Trainorders.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/21 11:22 by RuleG.

I'd say Cat-Man-Do.... Or maybe CAT-a- Lina!!! (I know, I know...Lighten up, Francis!) Or how about CAT-A- GONIA!  (SOMEBODY STOP ME!!!)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/21 20:59 by patd3985.

I suspect Hiroshi and cchan will know the answer.

ORNHOO Wrote:
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> I suspect Hiroshi and cchan will know the answer.

Bakersfielddave first posted about Tama in 2015. The successor feline station master Nitama is discussed in this thread, with more details on where it is in Japan:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?6,3815741

cchan006 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ORNHOO Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I suspect Hiroshi and cchan will know the
> answer.
>
> Bakersfielddave first posted about Tama in 2015.
> The successor feline station master Nitama is
> discussed in this thread, with more details on
> where it is in Japan:
>
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?6,
> 3815741

Thanks, cchan006.  Prior to posting, I did a search using "cats" to see if this topic was previously posted in the International Railroad forum.  Nothing relevant came up.

Nitama has had an assistant stationmaster since 2017, named Yontama:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tama_(cat)

RuleG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks, cchan006.  Prior to posting, I did a
> search using "cats" to see if this topic was
> previously posted in the International Railroad
> forum.  Nothing relevant came up.

Here's another cat-related story from Japan, the "Cat Cafe Cars":

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?6,4376991

I can't access Yoro Railway's web site right now (no response), so I can't verify whether this was a one time event in 2017, or they ran more "Cat Cafe Trains" later, but this may all be part of Japan's recent love affair with cats, known as "Nekonomics" (Neko is cat in Japanese), play on the word "Abenomics," economic policies of then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Thank you, again cchan006.

That cat car seemed like a lot of fun!

Then there's Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat,  from  T. S. Eliot's 1939 book of poetry  Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.  Great scene in Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical "Cats" where the train can't leave the station until Skimby gives the signal.

Don't forget Felix and Bolt at Huddersfield in Yorkshire, England

https://www.facebook.com/FelixandBoltHuddersfieldStationCats/