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■Tour Highlights
・Riding one of the oldest steam locomotive in Japan on both driver's cabin and carriage.
・Learn the history watching 1884 steam locomotive "Shizuka" and dioramas of railroad of its early stage.
・Watching inside of roundhouse No.3 (national important cultural property) and the oldest existing Japan made steam locomotive "Taishogo".
・Learn the history watching 1884 steam locomotive "Shizuka" and dioramas of railroad of its early stage.
・Watching inside of roundhouse No.3 (national important cultural property) and the oldest existing Japan made steam locomotive "Taishogo".
Starts at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 28th, Japan time
■Iron Horse the steam locomotive
A US built steam locomotive
"Iron Horse", H.K.Porter 4514 is still running in the Otaru Museum in the northern island of Japan, Hokkaido. Iron Horse built in 1909 in Pittsburgh is one of the oldest steam locomotives still operating in Japan.
There is a reason why this locomotive is in this place.
"Iron Horse", H.K.Porter 4514 is still running in the Otaru Museum in the northern island of Japan, Hokkaido. Iron Horse built in 1909 in Pittsburgh is one of the oldest steam locomotives still operating in Japan.There is a reason why this locomotive is in this place.
Japan started its modernization in 1868 when the power changed hands from Shogun to Emperor. Following year a government office "Hokkaido Development Commission" was founded to develop Hokkaido. The commission invited foreign specialists in various fields for help especially from the United State. A geologist among them found coal in central Hokkaido.
In order to transport the coal to the port of Otaru, Hokkaido's first railroad was laid between Otaru and Sapporo in 1880 and then extended to the coal mine in 1882.
This railroad was built by an American engineer Joseph Crawford and the first steam locomotives were imported from the US. They were manufactured by H.K.Porter Company.
One of the first steam locomotives "Shizuka" is now on display at the Museum. Because of this relations H.K.Porter 4514 was imported and is running in this museum.
■The tour
The tour starts at the statue of Joseph Crawford who helped build the first railroad in Hokkaido.
We will look at some of the exhibits the museum offers, 1884 steam locomotive "Shizuka" and dioramas of early days of the railroad.
Then we will walk out of the museum building into a vast yard with 50 locomotives and railroad carriages. "Iron Horse" is waiting for us full of steam and ready to go.
On the way out we will ride in driver's cabin, feeling the sound and vibration of the 112 year old steam locomotive.
Once we arrived the next station we get off the train and watch the locomotive is detached from carriage and then turned around on the turntable.
"Iron horse" enjoys the ride without carriage on the sub track then comes back to the carriage to be connected again. On the way back we enjoy the scenery with cherry blossoms!
We will also watch a 1919 turntable set the "Iron Horse" to come back to its roundhouse. The turntable and the roundhouse are designated as Important Cultural Property of Japan.
▼LIVE Travelers Crew
The former director of Otaru Museum. Operating mainly in Hokkaido, he now works as a guide for tourists to Japan.
He hopes to show visitors from all over the world the unique, charming aspects of Hokkaido and Japan.
He hopes to show visitors from all over the world the unique, charming aspects of Hokkaido and Japan.
■Detail of the tour
The tour starts at the statue of Joseph Crawford who helped to build the first railroad in Hokkaido between Otaru and Sapporo in 1880.
We will enter the museum building and will be welcomed by "Shizuka", one of the first steam locomotives imported from the US. Then we look at dioramas of the railroad here in the early days in late 19th century.
Finally we go out to the museum yard to get on the "Iron Horse", 1909 H.K.Porter 4514. On the way out we will ride in the driver cabin watching how this steam locomotive is driven. Feel the sound and vibration ! On the way back we will enjoy the scenery from the passenger carriage viewing cherry blossoms !
In the end we will watch the historic 1919 turntable turn the locomotive back to its roundhouse. We will also look inside of Japan's oldest existing railroad roundhouse to see another interesting steam locomotive.
We will enter the museum building and will be welcomed by "Shizuka", one of the first steam locomotives imported from the US. Then we look at dioramas of the railroad here in the early days in late 19th century.
Finally we go out to the museum yard to get on the "Iron Horse", 1909 H.K.Porter 4514. On the way out we will ride in the driver cabin watching how this steam locomotive is driven. Feel the sound and vibration ! On the way back we will enjoy the scenery from the passenger carriage viewing cherry blossoms !
In the end we will watch the historic 1919 turntable turn the locomotive back to its roundhouse. We will also look inside of Japan's oldest existing railroad roundhouse to see another interesting steam locomotive.
■Location
Otaru Museum https://www.facebook.com/otaru.museum/
・Public museum run by Otaru city. Main building exhibits history of railroad of Otaru. Annex building near Otaru canal exhibits general history and natural history of Otaru.
・This tour will be held in main building of the Otaru Museum.
・Public museum run by Otaru city. Main building exhibits history of railroad of Otaru. Annex building near Otaru canal exhibits general history and natural history of Otaru.
・This tour will be held in main building of the Otaru Museum.
