Sakahilin Railway - Russian 1067mm

[Socimi]

Sakahilin is a Russian island located north of Hokkaido. Originally part of the Russian Empire, after the Russo-Japanese war of 1905, the southern half of the island was handed over to Japan, but after World War 2, the southern part changed hands again, retourning to the Soviet Union. Nowdays it's part of the Russian Federation.

 

But what is interesting for us?

 

Seems familiar right?

 

http://photos.wikimapia.org/p/00/03/67/34/00_big.jpg

 

Well, from the early 1900s to 1945, the Japanese built a 700Km 1067mm gauge railway network in their part of the island.

 

In 1948, the Soviet Railways lacked of cape gauge equipment, so they brougth 30 2nd-hand D51 from the JGR.

They were used until 1979, 7 years after Japanese Railways stopped using steam trains, replaced by TG16 double-section diesel-electric locomotives built by Lydunovo works.

 

In 1993, another second-hand Japanese train made it's debut on the Sakahilin railway, this time a DMU, the KiHa 58.

 

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/9066/43672373.18/0_b9210_932cd8e4_XXL.jpg

 

Built between 1961 and 1969by Nippon Sharyo, Fuji Heavy Ind., Tokyu Car Corp. and many others. After the replacement with KiHa 110s in the early 90s, 29 Units were sold by JR East to the financially struggling island railways.

Classified "K1 class" They were in use on suburban and commuter services around Yuzno-Sakahilinsk, temporarily replacing the spare-parts awaiting D2 (Fuji Heavy industries, 1985 - even if it resembles a Soviet train down to the bone).

With spare parts avaible, the K1 were phased out in favor of the D2, and they all ceased service by 2000.

Atleast one (the one pictured) has been preserved in the island railway museum.

 

More infos:

 

English Wikipedia

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakhalin_Railway

 

Japanese Wikipedia

 

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B5%E3%83%8F%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%81%AE%E9%89%84%E9%81%93

 

KiHa 58 - Russian Wikipedia

 

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%B058

 

Now, if you always secretly dreamed of mixing Soviet Ladas and JNR KiHas, here is the prototype for you!

Edited August 7, 2017 by cteno4

[marknewton]

That poor old D51 looks odd with its Russian-style front end.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[westfalen]

I read somewhere that is the loco Hiro from Thomas and Friends​ is based on, including the red driving wheels.