International Railroad Discussion > Transportation Museum Memories (Tokyo, Japan)

Before the wonderful Railway Museum opened in Omiya (suburb north of Tokyo) on October 14, 2007 (Railroad Day), train-related exhibits were located at the Transportation Museum, located inside the triangle of Ochanomizu, Kanda, and Akihabara in central Tokyo. As the name suggests, the museum housed other transportation exhibits - planes, trains, and automobiles.

The museum complex was much smaller than the Railway Museum at Omiya, so only a small number of historical artifacts fit inside the complex. There were cars (Subaru 360), a bus, a helicopter (Bell 47G) and a small airplane, but no ships. Many of the exhibits were cut sections (front section of trains), or models.

Still, I thought the museum was quite comprehensive in displaying and educating the public about the transportation history in Japan.

The actual location of the museum was at what's called Manseibashi, or Mansei Bridge, which like the nearby famous Hijiri Bridge at Ochanomizu, crossed the Kanda River. 

I could not find the photo of the entrance of the Transportation Museum i took, so I borrowed one for the first image, which closely resembles the composition I remember. I got it from the following Japanese blog:

http://chiyoda.main.jp/seisiga/kobetsu/kotsuhak.html

The author has posted numerous photos of the museum before it closed. Even if you don't know Japanese, the photos speak for themselves - I highly recommend you follow the link. Anyway, the first couple of images show the cut section of D51 steam locomotive, and Class 0 Shinkansen.

- Entrance is to the left of the cut D51 steam locomotive.
- Japan's first steam locomotive, imported from England.
- Description. Same "#1 locomotive" is now at the Railway Museum in Omiya.

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I visited the Transportation Museum in January of 2006, knowing from media announcements that its days were numbered at Manseibashi.

In the first image are steam locomotives 9856 (left) and C57-135 (right). 9856 is the only remaining example of a Japanese mallet, and C57-135 is one of several 4-6-2s preserved. Both are now displayed at the Railway Museum in Omiya.

Second image is an O scale model of the first "Kokuden" or EMU - Class De963. While the model looks like a streetcar, it was capable of running as a 2 car set, hence categorized as EMU. De963 started service in 1904 on Koubu Railway, predecessor to JNR's (and JR East's) Chuo Line. Koubu Railway ran between Ochanomizu and Hachioji. When it got nationalized in 1906, it became what is now known as the Chuo Line.

The HO scale layout in the third image was VERY popular in its day. When the model trains ran, it was often very crowded, difficult to get front row view. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/16/25 01:05 by cchan006.

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I did some "railfanning" from and around the museum complex, to document the Chuo Line Class 201 EMUs running by the museum. In the first two photos, I'm facing west toward Ochanomizu. We have TO "Ochanomizu Foamers" who should be able to recognize the buildings and the distant bridge.

Between the 2 track main is what looks like an old platform with overgrown grass. 7 years later, a cafe/restaurant was built on the old Manseibashi Station platform:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?6,3565898

- Inbound Chuo Line train to Tokyo.
- Outbound Special Rapid to Takao.
- Walking south from Akihabara, just past Kanda River.

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