Photo/Illutration Rail fans take photos of a C57-180 steam locomotive with a special emblem celebrating "kiju," or 77th anniversary of its birth, at JR Niitsu Station in Niigata on July 29. (Yoshinobu Motegi)

NIIGATA--For the first time in almost a year, the SL Banetsu Monogatari sightseeing train has resumed regular service, much to the delight of rail fans.

The C57-180 steam locomotive, nicknamed "Kifujin" (noble lady), runs between Niitsu Station here and Aizu-Wakamatsu Station in Fukushima Prefecture on the JR Banetsu-sai Line.

The excursion service suspended operation after a bridge in Kitakata in Fukushima Prefecture collapsed due to torrential rain on Aug. 3 last year. Without resuming operations, the locomotive started to undergo a regular inspection and maintenance in the fall.

Operation of the entire Banetsu-sai Line resumed in April. The regular inspection of the steam locomotive finished in July. 

The departure ceremony was held at Niitsu Station on July 29, celebrating the resumption of the SL Banetsu Monogatari by splitting open a pinata-like "kusudama" ball.

Pulling the seven-car train, the locomotive left the station at 10:03 a.m. with a long whistle as rail buffs waved and took photos on the platform.

In tribute to the steam engine built in 1946, the train will operate with a special emblem celebrating "kiju," or 77th anniversary of its birth, during this fiscal year.

The sightseeing service will make a daily round trip for a total of 19 days mainly on weekends until Sept. 30, running about 111 kilometers each way in about three and a half hours.

All seats are reserved.

For detailed information, go to (https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/joyful/c57.html).

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