April 15 was the 50th anniversary of the closure of Yubetsu Railway, which carried coal in Kushiro, eastern Hokkaido, amid Japan's energy shift to oil.
An old steam locomotive that used to carry coal — dubbed "black diamonds" — and local passengers between Kushiro and Yubetsu Coal Mine in the city's Akan district will be brought to the Kanto region and restored as a tourist attraction.
Former locomotive drivers of the railway say they can’t wait to see it looking as grandiose as it used to.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.