Updated 18 October 2000
Narita Yume Bokujo Railway is a 610 mm/2ft. narrow gauge preserved site run by volunteers close to Narita Airport.
The Yume Rass Preservation group had a steam weekend 14-15 October 2000. Both #3 and #6 were in steam.
Apart from the detail differences (boiler, chimney and pipework), these are identical Kusuki 0-4-0T locos originally exported from Japan to Taiwan for the Keelung Coalmine located near Wudu on the expressway from Taipei to Keelung. In Taiwan, they ran with side tanks as can be seen in Charles Smallās classic ĪRails to the Mines.
In addition to the 2 Kusukiās, one diesel was in action on a demonstration train.
The volunteer group are currently working on a Decauville-type Japanese 0-4-0T which is now a rolling chassis. This loco should be back in action within a year or so. The group have a web site at <http://www06.u-page.so-net.ne.jp/qa2/jiro-a/rass/>
If you or your computer are challenged when it comes to Japanese, access <http://www.teletranslator.com:8080/> first and then input the Rass URL. This should allow you to get a rough translation of the site in English. Steaming dates are one thing that should be easy to read.Here is another picture on #6 in action with the currently inactive Muff Potter (vb 0-4-0) in the background.
And here is another chance to compare #6 (first) and #3 (second).
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The original report follows:
Location: In a tourist farm called Narita Yume Bokujo
Directions: Take the Yume Bokujo private bus (free) from Namegawa Station which is 2 stops from JR Narita (town) not Narita Airport station on a stopping train to Choshi. A taxi from Narita station costs Yen5,500.
General information: Yume Bokujo is open throughout the year. The railway operates a diesel service usually, and steam engines infrequently. Now they have 3 working locomotives, the steam service should become more frequent.
The operation: A circle of track about 300 metres long with one station. The line will eventually be extended on a spur line to the main gate of the farm which will add a 600 metre main line. Points are already in place for this. The locomotives and rolling stock are owned by Rasuchijin Railway Society, established in 1973, and the track was laid by the members.
Locomotives:
Steam
Operational locos:
No. 3 0-4-0 3.5 ton loco builder Kusuki returned from Wudu (Keelung Coal Mine), Taiwan. Built in 1938 and returned to Japan in 1972.
Muff Potter 0-4-0 VB chain drive Rasu Works, Tokyo No. 11 (build in 1983) coal fired
Muff Potter
Injun Joe 4-4-0 VB belt drive Kashiwa Works No. 3 1981 wood fired
(Both locos were assembled by Yukihiro Tsunoda from various existing parts. Muff Potter has a Japanese boiler and German driving mechanism. Injun Joe has a Polish driving mechanism, the cylinders (two) are the reversing gear from a Russian steam ship.)
Injun Joe
Other Steam Locos:
No. 6 0-4-0 3.5 ton loco built by Kusuki in 1938 and returned from Wudu (Keelung Coal Mine), Taiwan to Japan in 1975 and the frame but no boiler parts from a Japanese 5 tons loco from the same site are also here. These locos (along with No. 3) were formerly preserved at Oigawa Rly, and then in Niigata Prefecture.
Kusuki No. 6
Diesel locomotives
1x Kato 4 wheel diesel
3x Sakai 4 wheel diesels (one works the tourist train) from Tateyama Sand Arrestration* line of the Construction Ministry (*to stop the inland movement of sand dunes)
Rolling stock: 3 trucks equipped with seats form the tourist train stock. Various hopper wagons, a snow plow and a passengar car are on site.
The line has a small group of active volunteers including Mr Tsunoda and still needs more support from Japanese enthusiasts. It is the first and only Japanese volunteer railway group to have successfully started a steam railway. All other railway operations in Japan are commercial (and in the main run by Japan Railways or a 3rd Sector private line).
Update:
I was invited along for one of No. 3's first working days since being restored. Both No. 3 and Muff Potter were in steam when we arrived and were working turn about on the popular 3 truck passenger train and a 4 tipper freight train. No diesels were in use this day (24 November). At lunch time I was asked to be on standby for 'my turn'. I was then invited to drive No. 3 which I duly did (without any fare paying passengers attached). Regulator, drain cocks, reversing gear and whistle were all mine to play with for several circuits of the track as Mr Tsunoda instructed and watched the pressure gauge, fire, injectors and blower and had his hand on the brake. Not many preserved sites offer you this!
Trainee Engine Driver Talbot (left) and Raby (cab)
Return to John Raby's home page <index.html>
.Go to Rob Dickinson's international steam page <http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/steam/internat.htm>.
There's much, much more about railways in Japan at the Japanese Railway Society <http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~mt5h-nitu/jrs.htm>as well as links to other pages of interest.
