International Railroad Discussion > A bit of foreign steam - 1967

Way back in 1967 I was serving with the Army's 459th Signal Battalion in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and had purchased a Canon 7s 35mm rangefinder camera at the air base PX.  There wasn't much railroading in Nha Trang but my very first rail photo with the Canon was this shot of a French built (?) 4-6-2 probably stored out of service.  The slide processing date shows April 1967.  I do recall hearing what sure sounded like a steam whistle once in a while, so the Pacific may have been used every now and then. 

Photos 2 and 3 were taken later that year in Hiroshima, Japan, while a buddy and I were on "R&R" from 'Nam.  The first one is a Japanese National class C58 2-6-2, the second a C62 4-6-4.  Shortly after taking these shots we were politely escorted out of the engine servicing area!  On that trip we rode the New Tokaido high-speed line and it was neat to see steam working on the adjacent secondary lines.  We even rode behind a 4-6-4 on an overnight sleeper train out of Hiroshima to a location that I can't remember but it had a lot of active steam including 2-8-2's in helper service. 

Quite a few JNR 2-6-2's and a few 4-6-4's were preserved but according to records the ones we photographed that day weren't among them. 
 

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bobdavis Wrote:
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> Quite a few JNR 2-6-2's and a few 4-6-4's were
> preserved but according to records the ones we
> photographed that day weren't among them. 

Enjoyed the photos!

There are at least two C58s in service today. #363 and #239 are the ones I caught and posted a report here on TO many years ago.

Japan's die hard steam fans (railroaders AND railfans) have wanted to see a C62 restored for mainline service ever since #3 was retired in the mid-1990s. #2 is still running but confined to the Kyoto Railway Museum grounds - I'll be posting a video of that in the future.

C62 symbolized the apex of Japan's steam railroading, pulling fast limited express trains and setting speed records for 1067 mm gauge. #17 is displayed along side Shinkansen and Maglev prototypes at SCMaglev & Railway Park to commemorate the speed record.

A 2-6-2, Class C58 Number 27 was built on the 10th  of October 1938 by Kawasaki Sharyo (Hyogo Facility).
Immediately after, it was assigned to Naokata Engine Facility in Kyusho.
After a few reassignments in Kyusho, it came to Shomyoichi Engine Facility serving in Sanin Mainline.
In 1948, it was reassigned to Bigo Tokyaichi, then to Geibisen Kanrijyo in 1966.
It was retired on the 26th of May, 1969.
A 4-6-4, Class C62 Number 5 was built on the 20th of July 1948 by Hitachi (Kasado Facility).
A 2-8-2, Class D52 Number 349 donated its boiler to build this engine.
On the 8th of Sept., 1948, it was assigned to Shizuoka Engine Facility.
Reassigned to Maebara in 1949, then to Hamamatsu in 1950.
Another one brought it to Hiroshima engine facility
In 1958 to Shimonoseki. Then back to Hiroshima in 1964.
Another reassignment brought it to Itozai in 1965.
On the 20th of Jan., 1968, LUBO at Itozaki and retired on the 15th of Feb., 1968.

Hope this helps,

Hiroshi



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/25 05:47 by Hiroshi.

The secondary line is called Kure line. But it was good enough to handle heavy 4-6-2s and 4-6-4s.
These were C59s and C62s respectively.  Engineers preferred C59s over C62s to operate trains over Kure line.
Named Express train was called "Aki."
Later it became an overnite sleeper express "Aki" between Tokyo and Hiroshima (Train 37 and 38).
A 13-car consist train was all made up with Class 10 sleepers.

Hope this helps.

bobdavis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Way back in 1967 I was serving with the Army's
> 459th Signal Battalion in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and
> had purchased a Canon 7s 35mm rangefinder camera
> at the air base PX.  There wasn't much
> railroading in Nha Trang but my very first rail
> photo with the Canon was this shot of a French
> built (?) 4-6-2 probably stored out of service. 
> The slide processing date shows April 1967.  I do
> recall hearing what sure sounded like a steam
> whistle once in a while, so the Pacific may have
> been used every now and then. 
>
> Photos 2 and 3 were taken later that year in
> Hiroshima, Japan, while a buddy and I were on
> "R&R" from 'Nam.  The first one is a Japanese
> National class C58 2-6-2, the second a C62
> 4-6-4.  Shortly after taking these shots we were
> politely escorted out of the engine servicing
> area!  On that trip we rode the New Tokaido
> high-speed line and it was neat to see steam
> working on the adjacent secondary lines.  We even
> rode behind a 4-6-4 on an overnight sleeper train
> out of Hiroshima to a location that I can't
> remember but it had a lot of active steam
> including 2-8-2's in helper service. 
>
> Quite a few JNR 2-6-2's and a few 4-6-4's were
> preserved but according to records the ones we
> photographed that day weren't among them. 
>