Kyoto Railway Museum SL Steam Train Joyride (JNR Class C62) Train Review

Aside from static displays in Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto Railway Museum offers the SL Steam Train Joyride activity to take a short train joyride, pushed and hauled by a real steam locomotive. Kyoto Railway Museum has a short in-house line heading out to Umekoji Park where the SL Steam Train Joyride goes to.

Kyoto Railway Museum Steam Locomotive Plaza

After going through the exhibits, the route leads out to the Steam Locomotive Plaza, Turntable, and Roundhouse.

Kyoto Railway Museum has a wide collection of steam locomotives, after all it was previously called the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum before it was modernised with other trains and systems on display.

Kyoto Railway Museum has 4 steam locomotives for the SL Steam Train Joyride which operate on rotation: C56-160, C61-2, C62-2, and 8620-8630.

On the day of my visit, C62-2 was on duty for the SL Steam Train Joyride. C62 is Japan’s iconic passenger train steam locomotive made in 1948 (Showa 23) and still has the Tsubame limited express logo on it.

The Tsubame today is a Kyushu Shinkansen train service.

Beside the SL Steam Train Joyride, there is a playground area for children.

Warning signs are around the SL Steam Train Joyride tracks for steam and soot. I guess many forgot that steam locomotives produces steam.

SL Steam Train Joyride Platform

Heading to the SL Steam Train Joyride platform to buy my ticket. This is an additional cost to the Kyoto Railway Museum entrance ticket.

SL Steam Train Joyride Ticket

Adult tickets are sold at 300 yen for the SL Steam Train Joyride.

Tickets can be purchased from the vending machine by cash only.

Seat availability information is provided on a TV screen beside the ticket vending machines, just like a limited express train at normal stations.

My ticket for the 2pm SL Steam Train Joyride with C62-2.

Heading up to the SL Steam Locomotive boarding platform.

Another warning informs all passengers that the steam locomotive emits smoke and steam, and the steam whistle is extremely loud. I wonder what was the back story of all these signs, or it’s a safety and health regulation to display as such.

The queue for the SL Steam Train Joyride goes along the sheltered platform.

Due to pandemic regulations, contactless ticket checks are in place and passengers drop tickets into the box provided before joining the sheltered queue.

I guess this won’t be a souvenir for me.

Dropping my ticket into the trust box. Tickets weren’t checked for the price, the staff simply glanced occasionally to see if passengers were dropping tickets into the box. But being Japan, I doubt anyone tried to cheat on the fare here.

Boarding

Queuing up for boarding.

The SL Steam Train Joyride train cars are specially designed for this joyride with open-air bay seating in sections.

The doors are level with the platform making boarding easy.

Boarding is direct to the train cars, like a theme park ride.

I headed to the front end of the train for a better view.

SL Steam Train Joyride Train Cars

A conductor’s cab is located at the opposite (now front) end of the train from the locomotive. The conductor communicates with the driving crew in the locomotive when the train is travelling in this direction, all at shunting speeds.

I found myself in the Sakura section of the train car. Each section bears a name of a former Blue Train service.

The seat benches also bear the Sakura motif on it.

While the train is free seating, seat numbers are indicated to show the type of view as the train travels along.

The front-most section is reserved for passengers in wheelchairs, as the benches can fold up to offer more space for passengers in wheelchairs. They are not used in normal operations without a passenger in wheelchair, which is unfortunate as it offers the best view.

In case of rain, the SL Steam Train Joyride probably will not run, but sliding PVC curtains are available to keep the rain out.

Once the SL Steam Train Joyride is ready for departure, the conductor closes each individual train door from the outside.

C62-2 is chugging up.

The conductor observes the line throughout the onward journey.

The platform staff waves goodbye to everyone as the SL Steam Train Joyride departs from the platform.

I can only see and hear the steam from C62-2 from here.

Announcements are made by the conductor as the SL Steam Train Joyride train moves along. Unfortunately for me, they were all in Japanese.

Passing by the sidings at Kyoto Freight Station which is actively used by stabling trains from Kyoto Station.

Heading under the Sagano Line tracks.

Getting easily overtaken by a Sagano Line train.

Heading along the joyride line between the railway line and Umekoji Park.

Heading parallel with the Sagano Line and Kyoto Line.

Umekoji Park

Passing by Umekoji Park.

Towards the end of the line, the SL Steam Train Joyride line offers a good view of the Sagano Line and Kyoto Line tracks.

Approaching the buffer stop.

The SL Steam Train Joyride train stops short of the buffer stop at the end of the line. As the SL Steam Train Joyride had been pushed so far, no shunting is necessary for the train to return back to Kyoto Railway Museum, now with C62-2 hauling the SL Steam Train Joyride train.

The SL Steam Train Joyride train stopped for a while, and many trains on the live main lines zoomed past.

With the bay seating, all passengers will experience forward and reverse travelling.

The sound of the Tokaido Shinkansen zipping by can also be heard from here.

Heading back to Kyoto Railway Museum.

Heading under the Sagano Line tracks.

Looking back at a Sagano Line train passing over the SL Steam Train Joyride tracks.

Kyoto Railway Museum SL Steam Train Joyride Platform

Arriving back at the SL Steam Train Joyride platform.

Many children and families stopped playing at the playground to watch the arrival of my SL Steam Train Joyride train.

Doors are opened once again by the conductor.

Disembarking from the SL Steam Train Joyride train.

With the passengers cleared out, it’s time for some better interior shots of the SL Steam Train Joyride train.

The end section is reserved for passengers in wheelchairs with tip-up benches to create more space.

The section I was in was branded with Limited Express Sakura.

The next section is Limited Express Fuji. Limited Express Fuji is now in Malaysia, though rotting away.

The benches also have Mount Fuji motifs on them.

Many other Blue Trains are featured in all other sections of seats.

The locomotive crew bid all passengers goodbye at the platform upon arrival.

Walking past C62-2 to head out of the platform.

Walking down the staircase at the end of the platform.

C62-2 with the SL Steam Train Joyride train in Kyoto Railway Museum.

Roundhouse Platform

The path continues to the Roundhouse Platform, and thereafter Former Nijo Station House for the final few exhibits and a gift shop, before the exit of Kyoto Railway Museum. A path is also available back to the Promenade to visit Kyoto Railway Museum again.

Conclusion

The SL Steam Train Joyride brings history to life in Kyoto Railway Museum, showing that the steam locomotives on display aren’t just things to see, but have once transported thousands of passengers, and still going strong today with short transport within the museum. It shows Kyoto Railway Museum’s commitment of showcasing accurate information and artefacts, even taking great care to ensure that some are in full working order.