Even for locals, Yokohama Honmoku Station may not sound familiar. Located next to Negishi Station, this freight-only depot’s scope extends far beyond just Yokohama. It acts as a hub for distributing cargo from all over Japan both domestically and internationally. For serious rail fans, just watching the passing container-laden freight trains may be entertaining, but what’s more appealing about this station is the Class C56 steam locomotive, which has been kept in good condition and is now open to the public.
When Hideki Murai came to Yokohama Honmoku Station as a stationmaster in 2008, the steam locomotive, a.k.a. “Pony”, was hidden away in its garage. Built in 1938, it was in service in Hokkaido, Kyushu and Kanagawa. Murai, who is a fan of steam locomotives, decided to make this beautiful train accessible to the public.
Originally from Wassam Town, Hokkaido, Murai grew up near a train station and was always surrounded by family and neighbors in railway jobs. His father worked for Japanese National Railways and was a conductor at the station near Murai’s home. “I felt like my father was always watching over me when I used his station to go to school every day,” he says with a smile. With this background, it seemed quite natural for him to seek a related job. He left Hokkaido after high school to take a job at Kanagawa Seaside Railway. The thought of any other field of work never crossed his mind.
Currently, Murai manages three stations on the Honmoku Line: Yokohama Honmoku, Negishi, and Honmoku-Futo. While keeping himself busy as stationmaster, he welcomes anyone interested in the steam locomotive, from neighborhood schoolchildren to railway enthusiasts from afar, with a big smile. “All parts were meticulously made by hand. I hope guests can see the amazing craftsmanship for themselves,” says Murai while affectionately patting Pony. Fellow rail buffs would surely notice the sincerity in his eyes.