Nov 26 (NHK) - Railway fans have gathered in western Japan to see a steam locomotive get chugging again for the first time in 44 years.
The much-loved D-51 engine got back on track on the JR Yamaguchi Line on Saturday. It will run through Sunday as part of a tourism campaign by the railway operator and the Yamaguchi prefectural government.
About 800 people saw the train off at 10:50 AM after a ceremony at Shin-Yamaguchi Station. It was bound for the station of Tsuwano in neighboring Shimane Prefecture.
A visitor with a family said the locomotive is big and impressive and they were lucky they were able to get tickets for the event.