April 20, 2012 Kyoto

I first noticed this the Umekokji Steam Locomotive Museum over 10 years ago, when I was returning to Narita from Osaka. I finally got back. The museum has expanded and is now know as the Kotyo Railway Museum

One enters the museum through the former Nijo Station House. This is the oldest wooden railway station in Japan; it has been moved from its original location to the museum. There are some nice exhibits in the old station house to see, before one makes their way back to the the locomotives.

The roundhouse contains a awesome collection of steam locomotives.

The only down side to this visit was that it rained the entire time I was there.


The twenty stall roundhouse was built in 1914.

10.jpg

This museum has 17 steam locomotives, with some of them operational. Three time a day, a short 10 minute steam ride is offered.


Locomotives in the roundhouse

Stalls one through seven are used for locomotive restoration.

Stall Number

Car Number

 

Configuration

Weight

Gauge

Driver Size

More Information

Operational

8

Cll64

8.jpg

2-6-4

66 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1520mm
(4ft 11in)

The locomotive was built by Kawasaki Rolling Stock Manufacturing, in 1935.
More information
Information on Class C11

No

9

9633

9.jpg

2-8-0

60 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1250mm
(4ft 1in)

The locomotive, in class 9600 was built by Kawasaki Shipbuilding, in 1914.
More information
Information on Class 9600

No

10

B210

10.jpg

0-4-0

20 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

860mm
(2ft 10in)

The locomotive was built by Tateyama Heavy Industries, in 1946.
More information
Information on Class B20

Yes

10

1080

4-4-2

 

 

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

 

 

This locomotive number 1080, used on the Tokido line was manufactured by Dubs Co. in 1901.
More information
Outside view

No

11

C622

2-6-2

88 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1750mm
(5ft 9in)

This locomotive was built in 1921.
More information
Information on Class C62

Yes

12

Empty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

Empty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

C551

4-6-2

66 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1750mm
(5ft 9in)

This locomotive was built by Kawasaki Rolling Stock, in 1934.
More information
Information on Class C55

No

15

C581

2-6-2

59 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1520mm
(4ft 11in)

This locomotive was built by Kisya Seizo, in 1938.
More information
Information on Class C58

No

16

D50 140

2-8-2

78 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1400mm
(4ft 7in)

This locomotive was built by Hitachi, in 1925.
More information
Information on Class D50

No

17

D52 468

2-8-2

85 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1400mm
(4ft 7in)

This locomotive was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, in 1945.
More information
Information on Class D52

No

18

C59164

2-8-2

80 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1750mm
(5ft 9in)

This locomotive was built by Hitachi, in 1946.
More information
Information on Class C59

No

19

C5345

2-8-2

81 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1750mm
(5ft 9in)

This three cylinder locomotive was built by Kisya Seizo, in 1928.
More information
Information on Class C53

No

20

C51239

2-8-2

70 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1750mm
(5ft 9in)

This locomotive was built by Kisya Seizo, in 1927.
More information
Information on Class C51

No

Locomotives outside the roundhouse

Car Number

 

Configuration

Weight

Gauge

Driver Size

More Information

Operational

8630

11.jpg

2-6-0

48 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1600mm
(5ft 3in)

This locomotive was built in 1914 by the Kisya Seizo Company.
More information
Information on Class 8620

Yes

C621

11.jpg

4-6-4

88 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1750mm
(5ft 9in)

This locomotive was built by Hitachi, in 1947.
More information
Information on Class C62

No

C612

11.jpg

4-6-4

88 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1750mm
(5ft 8in)

This locomotive was by Hitachi, in 1947.
More information
Information on Class C62

Yes

D511

2-8-2

78 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1400mm
(4ft 7in)

This locomotive was built by Kawasaki Rolling Stock in 1936.
More information
Information on Class D51

No

D51200

2-8-2

78 tons

1067mm
(3ft 6in)

1400mm
(4ft 7in)

This locomotive was built in the Government Railway's Hamamatsu works in 1938.
More information
Information on Class D51

Yes


Videos of 8630

Steaming up

Coming back into the station

It is hard to hold an umbrella and keep the video camera steady!

Brochure from the museum

Links

Home page of the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum
Excellent web page on the locomotives at the Umekoji Museum