HOME | DD

Description
This N-scale diorama of the Japanese National Railways (JNR) Umekoji locomotive depot's roundhouse as it appeared during the steam era was on display at the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum in Kyoto, and will hopefully go on display at the new Kyoto Railway Museum next spring. In the 1950s, most of the roundhouse's 20 bays were occupied by Pacific (4-6-2) and Hudson (4-6-4) locomotives for Tokaido Main Line express passenger trains and Mikado (2-8-2) freight engines, though some C11-class 2-6-4 tank engines were assigned to Umekoji as shunters and commuter-train power. I am not sure if any Mogul (2-6-0) or Prairie (2-6-2) locomotives would have been kept here. The turntable and bays were large enough to hold one locomotive per track, while the railyard opposite the roundhouse could hold two locomotives per track. American railfans such as myself might see a mild resemblance to the Southern Railway's Spencer depot and roundhouse, which is now the North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM).

Description
This N-scale diorama of the Japanese National Railways (JNR) Umekoji locomotive depot's roundhouse as it appeared during the steam era was on display at the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum in Kyoto, and will hopefully go on display at the new Kyoto Railway Museum next spring. In the 1950s, most of the roundhouse's 20 bays were occupied by Pacific (4-6-2) and Hudson (4-6-4) locomotives for Tokaido Main Line express passenger trains and Mikado (2-8-2) freight engines, though some C11-class 2-6-4 tank engines were assigned to Umekoji as shunters and commuter-train power. I am not sure if any Mogul (2-6-0) or Prairie (2-6-2) locomotives would have been kept here. The turntable and bays were large enough to hold one locomotive per track, while the railyard opposite the roundhouse could hold two locomotives per track. American railfans such as myself might see a mild resemblance to the Southern Railway's Spencer depot and roundhouse, which is now the North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM).