By GO TAKAHASHI/ Staff Writer
September 30, 2021 at 08:00 JST
The SL Yamaguchi sightseeing train is pulled by a D51 steam locomotive in Yamaguchi on Oct. 24, 2020. (Go Takahashi)
YAMAGUCHI--West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) plans to resume operations of the SL Yamaguchi sightseeing train service on the JR Yamaguchi Line starting on Oct. 23 and will offer the service until later in the year than usual.
Pulled by a D51-200 steam locomotive, the sightseeing train will make a round trip between Shin-Yamaguchi Station in Yamaguchi and Tsuwano Station in Tsuwano, Shimane Prefecture, on Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 19.
The D51-200 train underwent a regular inspection at JR West's Umekoji railway yard in Kyoto.
Meanwhile, a C57 steam locomotive nicknamed "Kifujin" (noble lady), the other mainstay train for the sightseeing service, remains under repair after abnormal noises were heard during operation in October last year.
JR West had operated the DL Yamaguchi sightseeing train led by a diesel locomotive in the same section for a limited time until Sept. 20.
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