Cat 'station master' to take vacation

[bill937ca]

 

Cat 'station master' to take vacation

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

 

2010/1/18

 

 

 

KINOKAWA, Wakayama Prefecture--Kishi "station master" Tama, a calico cat who was appointed an executive of Wakayama Electric Railway Co. on Jan. 3, will take a winter vacation from Jan. 24 until the end of February, the company said over the weekend.

 

Tama, who has been the nominal station master since January 2007, will live away from the station on the Kishigawa Line while it is renovated, including construction of a facade resembling the cat's face.

 

Tama's promotion was approved unanimously in November by the entire board of directors, who lauded her ability to attract more customers to the station.

 

While Tama reportedly declined a pay rise in the form of additional cat food, she will get her own room in the new station, according to the company. An employee said, "I envy such a long vacation (besides the recent promotion)."

 

 

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY201001170230.html

[David]

And this is why American will not get a real high speed rail network.

 

Even Japan's cats know more about managing a railway company.

[to2leo]

And this is why American will not get a real high speed rail network.

 

Even Japan's cats know more about managing a railway company.

 

 

 

I wonder if Tomix, Kato or others will release a limited edition of the trains running on the line to celebrate the new expansion of the station?

[Kabutoni]

Seems like a job for Tomytec and the Tetsudou Collection Maybe even include a bonus figure of Tama-chan in a special package, as they do with e.g. the Choushi RR trains. (include tickets and other memorabilia).

[David]

Unfortunately we would never get that painted train except through ebay - the only way they could get Wakayama railway to agree to licence the image and likeness would be if it was exclusively sold through the gift shop at the station, since Tama souvenirs sold there are already the big draw.

[westfalen]

Does this cat know how hard it was for me to get vacations when I was a station master.

 

Maybe Queensland Rail would run better if some of our managers were replaced by cats.

[to2leo]

Does this cat know how hard it was for me to get vacations when I was a station master.

 

Maybe Queensland Rail would run better if some of our managers were replaced by cats.

 

Be careful of what you wish for, if they are mean, you might have 9 lives to deal with!

[Guest ___]

Here is the official reply I received from the railways last week:

 

Hello Mr.Heiner.

Thank you for your mail-letter.

I'm grad to hear that you are interested in “Tama”  the station master at Kishi.

We hope you'll have no problem to meet “Tama”  in the end of March. Kishi Station will be open during the reconstruction time, even Jan－July. “Tama”　won't be at the station until around the end of February for fear she may catch cold, but she will be at the station afterwards. If you have any other question, please mail me any time.

 

I wish you a pleasant journey. Thank you.

 

************************************************

(Ms) Miyako Taniyama

General Affairs Division

WAKAYAMA ELECTRIC RAILWAY Co.

73, Idakiso

Wakayama-shi Wakayama 640-0361

Japan

 

TEL 073-478-0110 FAX 073-466-3577

E-mail taniyama@wakayama-dentetsu.co.jp

************************************************

[Guest ___]

And this is why American will not get a real high speed rail network.

 

Even Japan's cats know more about managing a railway company.

 

 

 

I wonder if Tomix, Kato or others will release a limited edition of the trains running on the line to celebrate the new expansion of the station?

 

IDK. As of right now they have special trains, the Tama train, the Strawberry train and the Kids train. I'd suspect Micro-Ace might be the one to do it.

 

Baindai does have B-train shorty versions of all three special trains.

[Krackel Hopper]

Bandai does have B-train shorty versions of all three special trains.

 

Are these exclusively sold at the station?  I've been looking online to track this down, but I can't even find a picture of them.  If I could track one down, I'd love to have one.

 

Thanks!

Jon

[disturbman]

Like pay Aaron so he could buy and some us some? I won't be against that idea. 

[bill937ca]

Bandai does have B-train shorty versions of all three special trains.

 

Are these exclusively sold at the station?  I've been looking online to track this down, but I can't even find a picture of them.  If I could track one down, I'd love to have one.

 

 

Bandai does many B-train issues for various railways that are only sold at train stations or railway department stores.  You have to visit the station (and pay a fare or admission) to get one.

 

http://ichigoec.com/pict.php?pic=http://cart-imgs-1.fc2.com/user_img/i/ichigoec/213_4_36.JPG?943887600

 

http://ichigoec.com/pict.php?pic=http://cart-imgs-1.fc2.com/user_img/i/ichigoec/213_5_36.JPG?943887600

 

http://ichigoec.com/ca5/213/p-r-s/

[bill937ca]

This is the old Super Stationmaster Room.  A ticket booth type room with glass walls and cat beds on at least two levels.

 

http://file.6mmbbjohnny.blog.shinobi.jp/f9472507.jpg

 

http://6mmbbjohnny.blog.shinobi.jp/Date/20090709/

 

More photos with some trains too.

 

http://www.biwako.ne.jp/~beaver/garelly/photo/ssm_tama/ssm_tama.htm

 

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/smilepeace_v/22529094.html

[Kabutoni]

If you're really hardcore, you get yourself a paper model of the train; resize the cats to a N-gauge format on the train; print it on adhesive/sticker paper and make your own Tama-Den. That is if you happen to own a model of a Nankai 22000 Series and are willing to 'pimp' it.

[disturbman]

Bandai does many B-train issues for various railways that are only sold at train stations or railway department stores.  You have to visit the station (and pay a fare or admission) to get one.

 

http://ichigoec.com/pict.php?pic=http://cart-imgs-1.fc2.com/user_img/i/ichigoec/213_4_36.JPG?943887600

 

http://ichigoec.com/pict.php?pic=http://cart-imgs-1.fc2.com/user_img/i/ichigoec/213_5_36.JPG?943887600

 

Oh, yeah... I want one!!!  :grin

[Guest ___]

I'm buying one of each. My entire trip to Japan this year is based along my love of trains and cats, so you know I'm getting a lot of stuff at Kishi Station this year. and to boot, I got a deal from one of my contracts with the press to have a Tama-related article run through the wire.