（３５２） Ｉ ｍｅｔ ＳＬ ａｔ Ｋｉｒａｋｕｙａｍａ
文字数 2,627文字
The SL (steam locomotive) was in service until 1975.
As of 2023, in Japan, there are SLs preserved (moving preservation) in an operational state for sightseeing on the Oigawa Railway(大井川鉄道), Moka Railway(真岡鉄道), Chichibu Railway(秩父鉄道), and Tobu Railway(東武鉄道).
Some of the retired steam locomotives were exhibited in parks and other places, but in the case of exhibits without roofs, the SLs are deteriorating, and recently an increasing number of SLs are being scrapped.
There are 7 SLs in Ibaraki prefecture.
・9667, next to Takahama Sports Square, Takahagi City
・C12187, in front of Hitachi Daigo Station on the JR Suigun Line, Daigo Town
・D51515, "D51 parking lot" on the west side of Lake Senba, Mito City
・C58275, next to Kasama Civic Gym, Kasama City
・D5170, Sakura Kotsu Park, Tsukuba City
・PL2248, Kirakuyama Fureai no Oka, Tsukubamirai City
・Ryugasaki Railway No. 4, Ryugasaki City Museum of History and Folklore, Ryugasaki City
Sakura Kotsu Park, which is in Tsukuba City and near my house, has a fine SL, but there is a problem. It is the only park in Tsukuba that doesn’t allow pets ( ；∀；).
So, we went to see another SL at “Kirakuyama Fureai no Oka(きらくやま ふれあいの丘)”, which is the second closest to my house.
This SL was manufactured by Nippon Sharyo in 1935 and was used to transport goods and passengers in the northeast region of China for 60 years until 1995.
Volunteers purchased this SL from China in January 1997 and Tsukubamirai City has stored it in Kirakuyama Fureai no Oka.
Until around 2008, it was possible to enter the interior of this SL using the stairs, but now the deterioration is severe, and the interior is off-limits.
There are 3 large driving wheels, 1 leading wheel, and 1 trailing wheel behind the driving wheel. The order of the leading wheel, driving wheels, and trailing wheel is 1-3-1, and this arrangement was called the Prairie in the U.S.
In its name PL2248, “PL2” means the second type of Prairie. “248” means the 248th machine.
This SL is the only SL in Japan that was running on the South Manchurian Railway.
① This is the SL in Sakura Kotsu Park in Tsukuba City.
② We’ve arrived at Kirakuyama Fureai no Oka.
③ When Dad saw it in 2020, the SL was so badly degraded that he was worried that it would be removed. Now, he is relieved that SL is still there.
④ This is a picture of the same SL that Dad took in 2020. This color is SL-like.
⑤ I’m approaching the SL.
⑥ I’ve turned forward.
⑦ I am in front of the driving wheel. There is a rope and entry is prohibited.
⑧ From right to left, there is 1 leading wheel, 3 driving wheels, and 1 trailing wheel, making it 1-3-1.
⑨ It’s about time to go home.
As of 2023, in Japan, there are SLs preserved (moving preservation) in an operational state for sightseeing on the Oigawa Railway(大井川鉄道), Moka Railway(真岡鉄道), Chichibu Railway(秩父鉄道), and Tobu Railway(東武鉄道).
Some of the retired steam locomotives were exhibited in parks and other places, but in the case of exhibits without roofs, the SLs are deteriorating, and recently an increasing number of SLs are being scrapped.
There are 7 SLs in Ibaraki prefecture.
・9667, next to Takahama Sports Square, Takahagi City
・C12187, in front of Hitachi Daigo Station on the JR Suigun Line, Daigo Town
・D51515, "D51 parking lot" on the west side of Lake Senba, Mito City
・C58275, next to Kasama Civic Gym, Kasama City
・D5170, Sakura Kotsu Park, Tsukuba City
・PL2248, Kirakuyama Fureai no Oka, Tsukubamirai City
・Ryugasaki Railway No. 4, Ryugasaki City Museum of History and Folklore, Ryugasaki City
Sakura Kotsu Park, which is in Tsukuba City and near my house, has a fine SL, but there is a problem. It is the only park in Tsukuba that doesn’t allow pets ( ；∀；).
So, we went to see another SL at “Kirakuyama Fureai no Oka(きらくやま ふれあいの丘)”, which is the second closest to my house.
This SL was manufactured by Nippon Sharyo in 1935 and was used to transport goods and passengers in the northeast region of China for 60 years until 1995.
Volunteers purchased this SL from China in January 1997 and Tsukubamirai City has stored it in Kirakuyama Fureai no Oka.
Until around 2008, it was possible to enter the interior of this SL using the stairs, but now the deterioration is severe, and the interior is off-limits.
There are 3 large driving wheels, 1 leading wheel, and 1 trailing wheel behind the driving wheel. The order of the leading wheel, driving wheels, and trailing wheel is 1-3-1, and this arrangement was called the Prairie in the U.S.
In its name PL2248, “PL2” means the second type of Prairie. “248” means the 248th machine.
This SL is the only SL in Japan that was running on the South Manchurian Railway.
① This is the SL in Sakura Kotsu Park in Tsukuba City.
② We’ve arrived at Kirakuyama Fureai no Oka.
③ When Dad saw it in 2020, the SL was so badly degraded that he was worried that it would be removed. Now, he is relieved that SL is still there.
④ This is a picture of the same SL that Dad took in 2020. This color is SL-like.
⑤ I’m approaching the SL.
⑥ I’ve turned forward.
⑦ I am in front of the driving wheel. There is a rope and entry is prohibited.
⑧ From right to left, there is 1 leading wheel, 3 driving wheels, and 1 trailing wheel, making it 1-3-1.
⑨ It’s about time to go home.
