Tobu Railway, Yagan Railway, Aizu Railway, and JR East will operate Tobu Railway’s steam locomotive (SL) train “Taiju” between Shimo-Imaichi and Aizu-Wakamatsu stations. This will be the first time in 52 years, since 1974, that an SL has operated north of Aizu-Tajima on the former Japanese National Railways (JNR) Aizu Line in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
The section between Shimo-Imaichi and Shin-Fujiwara stations uses the Tobu Kinugawa Line; between Shin-Fujiwara and Aizu-Kogen-Ozeguchi stations it runs on the Yagan Railway Aizu-Kinugawa Line; between Aizu-Kogen-Ozeguchi and Nishi-Wakamatsu stations it runs on the Aizu Railway Aizu Line; and between Nishi-Wakamatsu and Aizu-Wakamatsu stations it enters JR East’s Tadami Line. This is a “four-operator through service.” The train is named “SL Taiju ‘Hani-tsu’,” derived from Hani-tsu Shrine (Hani-tsu Jinja) in Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
The operating dates are June 27 and 28. On the 27th, it will run one way from Shimo-Imaichi to Aizu-Wakamatsu, departing Shimo-Imaichi at 9:33 a.m. and arriving at Aizu-Wakamatsu at 4:53 p.m. The return service will run from Aizu-Wakamatsu to Shimo-Imaichi, departing Aizu-Wakamatsu at 9:30 a.m. and arriving at Shimo-Imaichi at 5:19 p.m.
For both the outbound and return journeys, between Shimo-Imaichi and Aizu-Tajima the formation will be a diesel locomotive (DL), SL, guard’s van, and three passenger coaches, with the DL hauling the train. Between Aizu-Tajima and Aizu-Wakamatsu, the formation will be SL, guard’s van, three passenger coaches, and DL, with the SL at the head of the train.
The service will be sold as a tour product by JR East View Travel & Sales (View Tourism & Sales) and Club Tourism. Details such as the sales start date will be announced later.
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