Chichibu Railway will extend the operating area of the steam locomotive (SL)-pulled tourist train “SL Paleo Express” and operate a special service departing from Gyoda City Station on August 30 (Sat), 2025.
Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture’s first “Japan Heritage”
The Chichibu Railway SL train began in March 1988 when the retired C58 No. 363, which had been active in the former Japanese National Railways, was revived and began operation in conjunction with the Saitama Expo held in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture. The train is affectionately known as the “Paleo Express” after the marine mammal Paleoparadoxia, which is said to have lived in the Chichibu region about 20 million years ago.
Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, has many tourist attractions, including the Sakitama Kofun Group, one of the largest collections of ancient tombs in the country and the origin of the prefecture’s name, and the ruins of Oshi Castle, one of the Seven Famous Castles of the Kanto Region. It is also known as one of Japan’s leading producers of tabi socks, and the landscape, with its many historical buildings such as tabi storehouses, has been certified as the prefecture’s first “Japan Heritage Site.” The Paleo Express usually runs between Kumagaya Station and Mitsumineguchi Station, but in cooperation with Gyoda City, which is seeking to attract more tourists, the service has been extended to Gyoda-shi Station and Kumagaya Station for the first time in 37 years since the service began.
An early “SL test ride”
In order to operate on a section where SLs have never run before, the track was closed at night when commercial operations would not be affected and a test run was conducted, and it was confirmed that the extension could be performed without any problems. On August 30 (Sat), the “SL Japan Heritage City Gyoda-go” will be the first to operate a special train from Gyoda-shi Station (departing at 9:55) to Mitsumineguchi Station (the return train will depart from Mitsumineguchi Station and head to Kumagaya Station). A departure ceremony will be held at Gyoda-shi Station, and an event to promote tourism in Gyoda City and sell local products will be held on the outbound train.
The method of purchasing and boarding the special SL train and the fares will be different from normal times, and details will be announced on the official website in mid-July. In addition, a test ride event is planned for Gyoda City residents, including junior high school students and younger, and the SL will run round trips between Gyoda-shi Station and Kumagaya Station on July 22 (Tue), carrying invitees selected by lottery.
