Photo/Illutration The Class DD51 diesel-hydraulic locomotive on March 12 in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture (Takeshi Iwashita)

A type of diesel train was retired on March 12 due to changes in train timetables at Japan Freight Railway Company, a JR Group unit.

The Class DD51 diesel-hydraulic locomotive was in service for nearly 60 years since the era of the former Japanese National Railways.

The Class DD51 replaced steam locomotives as the workhorse of the state-run railway company and then was relegated to a support role when electric train cars became mainstream.

The DD51 will be remembered for the important role it played immediately after the March 11, 2011, disasters.

The diesel locomotive was used for emergency transport of gasoline and diesel fuel to the northeastern Tohoku region, where the supply network was disrupted due to serious damage caused to railways and roads by the massive earthquake and tsunami.

The locomotive ran on East Japan Railway Co.’s (JR East) Banetsusai line, which links Niigata Prefecture with Fukushima Prefecture. DD51 locomotives were deployed from lines in Hokkaido and Kyushu for the mission in Tohoku since electric trains could not be used because some sections of the line are not electrified.

Four JR East employees based in Koriyama operated the diesels in the Fukushima section. The oldest of them was Katsuyoshi Watanabe, 69, a veteran driver who had spent decades operating diesel cars.

He was chosen to stand in for a young employee who was affected by the disaster. Watanabe says he was surprised to be called in because he was already 59.

Even though it was his first time in more than 10 years operating a diesel car, he found that he still knew the ropes. But his work did not go off without a hitch.

On the first day, the train’s wheels started slipping on an upward slope, making it difficult to advance. When he managed to get the train under control and drive it to the destination, he found an “Arigato” (thank you) handwritten on cardboard. An unknown local resident standing alongside the tracks was holding the message.

On another day, one of the train engines started emitting white smoke while Watanabe was operating it. The Banetsusai line, which snakes along Mount Bandai, has many steep slopes and sharp curves. The old diesel locomotives required a lot of maintenance work to accomplish their tasks.

“I learned the importance of the mission of public transportation. It was an unforgettable experience,” Watanabe says.

Dispatching the DD51, which carried vital supplies to disaster-stricken areas for three weeks, could be likened to a senior corporate employee--a crowning achievement to adorn his long career just before his retirement.

I would like to give a big thanks to the DD51 for its many years of service, which were marked by many ups and downs.

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 14

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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