Steam Locomotive EX Vol. 64 Released: Featuring 'The Battle Against the Gradients of the Tsuruga Engine Depot on the Old Hokuriku Main Line'

Ikaros Publications Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Akihiro Yamate), part of the Impress Group, which handles media businesses in the aviation and railway sectors, released the quarterly railway hobby magazine 'Steam Locomotive EX' Vol. 64 on March 27, 2026.

■ Special Feature: The Battle Against the Gradients of the Tsuruga Engine Depot on the Old Hokuriku Main Line I

The special feature is titled 'The Battle Against the Gradients of the Tsuruga Engine Depot I.' The old Hokuriku Main Line was a narrow, difficult route characterized by steep gradients and small-diameter tunnels. Through documents, photographs, and testimonies from the field, author Isao Nishimura examines the struggles of steam locomotive crews on sections like the Yanagase and Yamanaka crossings. This first installment covers the era from the B6 locomotives to the introduction of the D51.

■ Iron Horses and Warriors: Crossing the Nemuro Main Line's Karikatsu Pass

The old Karikatsu Pass on the Nemuro Main Line was once counted among the 'Three Great Train Views of Japan,' alongside the old Hokuriku Main Line and the Yatate crossing on the Hisatsu Line. Despite the spectacular scenery, the line featured long gradients and sharp curves with the Karikatsu Tunnel as its summit, posing a significant challenge to crews. Toshiyuki Shiihashi documents the crossing based on accounts from former Shintoku Engine Depot staff.

■ Retiring 'SL Yamaguchi' Veteran Engineer & The Resurrection of C57 1

We look back on the railway career and experiences of a veteran engineer who retired last summer after years of operating C57 and D51 locomotives on the 'SL Yamaguchi' service on the Yamaguchi Line. Additionally, we continue our report on the general inspection of the C57 1, which is scheduled to resume commercial operation in October 2026 (Reiwa 8).

■ This magazine is recommended for:

• Steam locomotive fans
• Japanese National Railways (JNR) fans
• Railway history enthusiasts
• Model railway fans