JR West SL D51 200 Restoration for Mainline duty

[katoftw]

So I found a snippet of information that this engine is being refurbished for mainline duties. I guess sharing duties with C56 160 at Lake Biwako and C57 1 at Yamaguchi.

 

Another SL running around is a good thing. But another D51 since there is only one operation currently is even better.

 

I couldn't find info about it in english pages. Any links or other info others might have?

Edited January 23, 2016 by cteno4

[Kiha_120]

Here's a nice recent You Tube video

 

 

and...........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeQ7y83cfp4

Edited August 10, 2015 by Kiha_120

[Sacto1985]

Given the large production run of JNR Class D51's, I'm surprised more units aren't back in operation hauling tourist trains. I'd love to see one run on the JR East Ban'etsu East Line from Koriyama to Iwaki.

[katoftw]

https://www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/2014/10/page_6307.html

 

If I can read this correctly.  The D51 is replacing the C56 and the C56 is being retired.

 

Also something else regards a SL workshop to be built next to the next JRW museum, and visitors can have access to it via a walkway?

[miyakoji]

Does anyone have the March issue of Tetsudou Journal?  There's an article (link below) about JR West restoring D51 200 to a condition suitable for main line running.  As far as I know it had been moving a short tourist train (a ride for kids, basically) back and forth within the yard limits of Umekoji for quite a while.  It would be awesome to see this and a few cars at speed around Osaka and Kobe.  I assume they won't be running it on the Tozai Line :).

 

http://railf.jp/japan_railfan_magazine/point/659/659-086.html

 

 

[bikkuri bahn]

It's in the March issue of Tetsudo Fan. I don't usually buy that magazine so I took a look at it at the bookstore this evening. Basically the boiler is being rebuilt and tested by outside contractor Sappa Ironworks of Osaka. The boiler is scheduled to be delivered to Umekoji next month.

[miyakoji]

According to Wikipedia, 7 people work there :)

 

http://www.sappaboiler.co.jp

https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/サッパボイラ

[katoftw]

Episode 7 of The Railway Journal has a small piece on the Sappa Ironworks being done in relation to the D51-200.  It is about 7 minutes into the episode.

Edited January 25, 2016 by katoftw