Class C10: A Super-Rare Working Steam Locomotive

Unit 8 of the Class C10 steam locomotive standing at Shin-Kanaya Station

I recently had a chance to visit the Tokai region with my family for the first time in six years. The Tokai area is relatively warm, allowing visitors to enjoy autumn colors for a long period. Since it was a family trip, I had been refraining from trainspotting. However, when I saw an extremely rare working steam locomotive at Shin-Kanaya Station on the Ōigawa (Ooigawa) Railway, I couldn’t help immersing myself in photographing it.

Please take a look at the top photo. Here it is — Unit 8 of the Class C10 steam locomotive (hereafter C10 8). It is neither preserved nor on display; it is still very much active on the tracks. How beautifully maintained it is!

The Class C10 debuted in 1930 to replace the Japanese Government Railways’ aging locomotives. It is a 2-6-4 tank locomotive (Whyte notation), and a total of 23 units were built. C10 8 was manufactured by Kawasaki Sharyō. The Class C10 looks similar to its younger colleague, the Class C11, but for example, the bottom of the driver’s cab door on the C10 is higher than that of the C11 (see the photo below). More importantly, the C10 has a larger axle load than the C11, so the Class C10 locomotives were mainly operated on trunk lines.

After 31 years of service, C10 8 was retired from the Japanese National Railways (formerly the Japanese Government Railways) in 1961 and was transferred to the Ōigawa Railway in 1997. Today, C10 8 is the only surviving Class C10 steam locomotive. None have been preserved or exhibited in museums or parks.

C10 8 filling up with water at Ieyama Station

Related link:

・Official information by Ōigawa (Ooigawa) Railway (in Japanese)

Mt. Takao: A Mountain Where Tengu Live

Funicular Aoba climbing the Takao Tozan Railway Line

Mt. Takao is a popular sightseeing spot near downtown Tokyo. It takes less than two hours to reach the 599-meter summit from Shinjuku, one of the sub-centers of the city. In this season, visitors can admire beautiful autumn foliage—maples, beeches, ginkgo trees, and more.

But there is more to the highlights of Mt. Takao. This mountain is also known as a sacred place for Shugendō, a form of Japanese mountain asceticism. Practitioners of Shugendō belong to Yakuoin Temple, which was established in 704, and they undergo rigorous training in the mountains. It is said that Tengu, legendary long-nosed creatures, protect these practitioners on Mt. Takao.

If you would like to know what Tengu look like, please take a look at the photo below. Here they are—statues of winged, long-nosed figures standing within the Yakuoin Temple grounds. Don’t you find them a bit mysterious, perhaps even slightly creepy?

To visit Yakuoin Temple, the Takao Tozan Railway is very convenient. As I wrote before, this funicular line was constructed in 1927. Connecting Kiyotaki Station and Takaozan Station, its route length is 1,020 meters with a height difference of 271 meters. The track gauge is 1,067 millimeters, and trains operate every 15 minutes. The ride from Kiyotaki to Takaozan takes about six minutes.

Although the line is short, it is famous as the steepest railway in Japan, with a maximum gradient of 31 degrees 18 minutes. In the photo below, you can see the funicular Aoba climbing the track, backed by the early autumn colors.

I truly enjoyed both the beautiful autumn scenery and the mysterious Tengu legends on Mt. Takao.

Statues of Tengu in the Yakuoin Temple grounds

Official information by Takao Tozan Railway (in Japanese):

https://www.takaotozan.co.jp/

Arigato, the 7000 Series EMU in Indonesia

Set 7123 of the 7000 Series EMU exhibited at Jakarta Kota Station

(Photo: Faris Fadhli)

This post is a continuation of my previous one. Once again, my thanks go to Faris Fadhli, who kindly shared his recent photos with me.

Please take a look at the photo above. One of the trains exhibited at the farewell event for former Japanese rolling stock in Jakarta was Set 7123 of the 7000 series EMU. Its red, white, and dark blue stripes are visually striking. You can also see a special round headmark on the front reading “ARIGATO, TERIMA KASIH, 2010–2025”—beautiful!

Set 7123 was built in 1983 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The 7000 series is an EMU designed for 1,500 V DC and a 1,067-millimeter gauge. In Japan, it was operated as a 10-car train with six motorcars (6M4T). The electric control system was an armature chopper combined with regenerative braking. Air conditioners were not equipped at first, but were later installed in 1988.

After nearly 27 years of service on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line, Set 7123 was transferred to Indonesia in 2010 along with its comrades—Sets 7117, 7121, and 7122. In Indonesia, the 7000 series began service as 8-car trains with four motorcars (4M4T). As of 2011, the 7000 series including Set 7123 carried red, yellow, and white stripes (see the photo below). It was very eye-catching. I also remember that one women-only car was provided on this series. Trains in Jakarta during rush hours were just as crowded as those in Tokyo.

Set 7123 and the 7000 series EMUs… thank you, terima kasih, and arigato. I will never forget you all.

Set 7123 of the 7000 Series EMU arriving at Gambir Station in Jakarta, Indonesia

(February 12, 2011)

Arigato, My Memorable Trains in Indonesia

The 8500 series (left) and 203 series (right) EMUs exhibited at Jakarta Kota Station

(Photo: Faris Fadhli)

I recently received some news from an Indonesian railfan. My thanks go to Faris Fadhli, who kindly sent me his recent photos.

On November 11th, PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) held a farewell event for the 8500 series, 7000 series, and 203 series EMUs at Jakarta Kota Station.

I knew this day would come sooner or later, but it has finally arrived. These EMUs are unforgettable trains for me—both in Indonesia and in Japan. The 8500 series is the former Tokyu 8500 series, the 7000 series is the former Tokyo Metro 7000 series, and the 203 series is the former JR East 203 series. They were transferred from Japan to Indonesia between 2006 and 2011. After nearly 20 years of service in Indonesia, they have now reached their final chapter.

As I have written several times, I was stationed in Jakarta from 2007 to 2011 as an exploration geologist for a petroleum and natural gas company, living away from my family. Even when work was tough, nothing made me happier than spending weekends enjoying the railways with local railfans. These trains truly gave me energy. Thank you. Terima kasih. Arigato!

I also would like to express my gratitude to Indonesian railway employees and railfans. I was moved to see the EMUs beautifully decorated with farewell stickers. On top of that, I was surprised and touched that the above railfan, Faris Fadhli, and his friend Adam held an exhibition inside an 8500 series EMU. Their enthusiasm really impressed me.

From the next post, I will introduce the trains that were exhibited, along with my own memories. To be continued…

A precious historical photo taken by Faris Fadhli, exhibited inside the 8500 series

(Photo: Faris Fadhli)

Special Wrapped Train on the Blue Line

GREEN×EXPO 2027 wrapped train, Set 3321 of the 3000N series EMU

This is a continuation of my previous post. On my way back home from Seseragi Park, I happened to come across a special wrapped train at Nakamachidai Station on the Blue Line of the Yokohama Municipal Subway.

Please take a look at the photo above. Here it is — the GREEN×EXPO 2027 special wrapped train, Set 3321 of the 3000N series EMU. GREEN×EXPO 2027 is the International Horticultural Exposition to be held in Yokohama City in 2027. The event aims to propose solutions to global environmental challenges and to explore ways to create sustainable future societies. This wrapped train is designed to support and promote this forthcoming major event.

I was captivated by the colorful design of the train. Please also look at the photo below — the interior is just as vibrant. In the center, you can see the EXPO’s mascot character, Tunk Tunk, with its cute pink, heart-shaped face. Along with Keio’s former Sanrio Characters Wrapping Train and Tobu’s Ikebukuro–Kawagoe Art Train, this GREEN×EXPO 2027 train has become one of my favorite wrapped trains in recent years.

For your reference, the Yokohama Municipal Subway 3000N series EMU made its debut in 1999 to enhance transport capacity on the Blue Line. A total of seven sets, comprising 42 cars, were built. The train is equipped with an IGBT variable-frequency drive system. If you have a moment, please take a look at my previous post, where I introduced Set 3321 as the Hamarin Poster Train in 2016.

It was a pleasant surprise to encounter this special train by chance on my way home. Encounters like this always remind me that even an ordinary journey can bring small moments of delight.

Interior of the GREEN×EXPO 2027 wrapped train, with Tunk Tunk in the center

(photographed on another day)

News release by Transportation Bureau, City of Yokohama (in Japanese):

https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/city-info/koho-kocho/press/green/2025/1028train.files/0002_20251028.pdf