Mikasa-class Steam Locomotive of the Korean National Railway
In April 1982, I traveled to South Korea to photograph a tourist train reportedly hauled by a Mikasa-class steam locomotive between Busan and Gyeongju. This service is said to have operated from the autumn of 1981 through 1983. The Mikasa class was originally a freight locomotive type of the Railway Bureau of the Government-General of Korea. The main dimensions were drawn up in 1925 under the direction of Vehicle Chief Sadaharu Fukumi, and the design was carried out by Gousuke Kato of the Kisha Seizo Kaisha. Tailored to the railway conditions of the Korean Peninsula, the locomotive demonstrated outstanding performance after its introduction, and it was subsequently adopted as the standard freight locomotive in colonial Korea. More than 300 units were built by Kisha Seizo, Nippon Sharyo, Kawasaki, Hitachi, and the Gyeongseong Works until 1944. The Mikasa class also saw service not only on the Government-General Railways but also on the Central Railway of Northwest Korea (now North Korea) and the Huazhong Railway in China, proving its versatility and reliability.
Mikasa No. 161 at Busan Depot
At Busan, the departure point of the tourist train, Mikasa No. 161 was being prepared at the depot. The locomotive was well maintained, and the rods and wheel centers were decorated. It was unusual to see the rods and wheels painted white.
Withdrawn Locomotives and Mikasa No. 177 at Busan Depot
Mikasa No. 177 was being kept as a backup locomotive. Unlike No. 161, it had no decorative painting on the rods, wheel centers, or running boards. Several withdrawn locomotives could be seen in the distance, but they were not accessible for close inspection, so their types remain unknown.
Between Busan and Gyeongju (Outbound)
After departing Busan, the train passed through the urban area, crossed a bridge, and entered the countryside. Although it was already April, the air was still cold with no signs of spring. The distance between Busan and Gyeongju is about 280 km, and since the train ran at a relatively slow pace, I was able to get ahead of it several times using a microbus and take multiple shots. Gyeongju, the final destination, is an ancient capital known for its Silla Dynasty heritage. There was not much elevation difference between the two cities. While the locomotive did climb some hills, the overall gradient was gentle.
Turntable at Gyeongju Depot
At the Gyeongju depot, the locomotive was turned manually on a turntable. Although the Mikasa weighed nearly 150 tons in working order, it was rotated by just two people. The roundhouse behind the turntable appeared unused, with no locomotives inside.
From Gyeongju to Busan (Return)
On the return trip, the train ran at a higher speed, so I was only able to photograph it twice along the route. Mr. S., who accompanied me, boarded the train and reported that the interior was quite crowded.
Mikasa No. 161 Preserved at the Korea Railroad Museum
Although the Mikasa-hauled tourist train operation lasted only about three years, Mikasa No. 161 is now preserved at the Korea Railroad Museum located in Uiwang City, Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul. Afterward, Korea imported SY-class locomotives from China, manufactured in 1994, for use on tourist trains. However, those services also ended in 2012.