A Long-Awaited Whistle: Tobu Railway's Steam Service Revival

Overview

From August 2017, TOBU Railway started operating "SL TAIJU"; a tourist steam train and the first steam service on the railway for 50 years. TOBU Railway discontinued steam services in 1966, leaving them no equipment or facilities, so 8 railway companies across Japan helped out. The Class C11 loco was lent by JR Hokkaido, the passenger cars by other JR companies, while training was done in cooperation with railway companies operating steam locos. See the revival project and the fantastic new "SL TAIJU".