{"product_id":"d51_hisatsu_170","title":"11100 D51 Steam Locomotive (Hisatsu Line Heavy Equippment Version, No.170)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eD51 Class No.170 Heavy Equipment Version – Hisatsu Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe D51 Class is the most famous and widely recognized steam locomotive in Japanese railway history. Introduced in 1936, it was developed as a new freight locomotive to meet the growing transportation demands of pre-war Japan. Featuring the proven 2-8-2 \"Mikado\" wheel arrangement inherited from the earlier D50 Class, the D51 incorporated modern engineering innovations such as electric-welded construction and box-type driving wheels. These improvements produced a locomotive that was lighter, more compact, and highly reliable while maintaining excellent hauling power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween 1936 and 1945, a total of 1,115 D51 locomotives were built, making it the largest steam locomotive class ever produced in Japan. Including locomotives constructed for overseas territories and post-war exports, total production reached 1,184 units. Because they served throughout the country under widely varying operating conditions, individual locomotives were modified extensively, creating numerous distinctive variations that continue to fascinate railway enthusiasts and model collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the most impressive were the locomotives assigned to the famous Hisatsu Line in Kyushu. This spectacular mountain railway connects Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture with Hayato in Kagoshima Prefecture via Hitoyoshi. Originally part of the Kagoshima Main Line, it is renowned for its steep gradients, sharp curves, tunnels, and dramatic scenery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe section between Hitoyoshi and Yoshimatsu presented one of the most difficult operating environments for steam locomotives in Japan. Trains climbed approximately 430 meters in elevation over just 20 kilometers before descending through equally challenging terrain. The line includes gradients as steep as 30.3‰ (3.03%), numerous tunnels—including the 2,096-meter Yatake No.1 Tunnel—and switchbacks with a loop line at Okoba Station, engineering features that have made the route famous among railway enthusiasts around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo conquer these demanding conditions, the D51 locomotives assigned to the Hisatsu Line received distinctive heavy-duty modifications. These included smoke deflecting equipment to improve crew visibility in tunnels and heavy-oil auxiliary fuel tanks that supplemented coal firing during difficult climbs. Their rugged appearance made them some of the most iconic members of the D51 family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite sharing the same purpose, each locomotive developed its own unique appearance through maintenance and rebuilding. Some heavy-equipped locomotives originated as wartime-built engines produced in 1944, retaining simplified wartime features such as the characteristic \"kamaboko\" (rounded-top) steam dome and frame-less \"boat-shaped\" tender while receiving replacement boilers and additional equipment for mountain service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSteam operation on the Hisatsu Line came to an end in March 1972 as diesel locomotives replaced steam power. Today, D51 No.170 has been carefully preserved at the Hitoyoshi City Steam Locomotive Museum near Yatake Station. It remains one of the finest surviving examples of an early-production D51 and preserves many of its original design characteristics while showcasing the distinctive heavy equipment that defined Hisatsu Line operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis model faithfully reproduces D51 No.170 in its heavy-equipped Hisatsu Line configuration, capturing the locomotive's powerful appearance and unique details. From its specialized mountain-service equipment to its distinctive silhouette, it represents one of the most fascinating chapters in Japanese steam locomotive history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn excellent addition for collectors of Japanese steam locomotives, brass model trains, and HO scale railways, this model celebrates the legendary \"Degoichi\" and the extraordinary engineering required to operate one of Japan's most challenging mountain railways.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tenshodo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48093440802981,"sku":"200000024356","price":620000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0496\/8156\/3813\/files\/90024356_01.jpg?v=1785985225","url":"https:\/\/shop.tenshodo.co.jp\/fr\/products\/d51_hisatsu_170","provider":"Tenshodo Online Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}