Kyoto Railway Museum, Japan
With trains being such a vital part of the Japanese island and culture, as far back as 1967 they were looking at creating a museum to the railway in an old roundhouse in Kyoto at the Umekoji Depot. The president of Japanese National Rail was even involved, and in 1972 they opened it with just static displays of older steam engines.In 2014, a major expansion was completed, and exhibits from nearby Osaka Modern Transportation Museum were moved in also.
Connected to the still incredibly active main lines, it actually has revolving modern and current items as well as historical.
The Arrival
I was walking from my hotel to an ancient temple and saw a park, which I was hoping would have some fall colors as the warmth of the unusually late autumn was messing with the changing of leaves. As I got near the gardens in the park, I saw a sign, in English, for the Railway Museum. Honestly, I had no idea it was there and just notified everyone texting me I would be unavailable for hours, and in I went!Promenade
Rather in your face as you come through the entrance, the promenade contains trains that represent the long travel and comfort aspect of railways that are becoming themselves an endangered species. Seating, sleeping, speed and eating all combined.First Floor
More big engines, mainly examples of significant evolution of the locomotive power represented, cars and interesting equipment inside the main building on the first floor. This has direct access to main lines and they can bring in all kinds of cool old and current stock.Second Floor
The second floor contains more on the operations of railways including models of trains,Roundhouse and Outside
The 1920s roundhouse is still standing and filled with steam engines (and a couple automobiles, I'm still not quite sure what that is about). Parts of it are still a working roundhouse, and this is where they also have steam engines running excursions towards the Kyoto station.Shop
And the old train station converted to more displays and the gift shop for incredibly hyperactive over-stimulated children (this seems universal to our species).
The original rail speedster, Shinkansen 0 series
The cockpit of the bullet train, seems mighty simplistic
A dining car, used for... dining
Where the special is prepared
And that special is ice cream!
One thing that doesn't seem alien here to me
With exciting names like EF52-1, Japan made its way to the electric age
The Kuha 181, a named streamliner electric from the 60s'
Various control and safety lights in use
As you can see, a large space.
The newest? They are making new ones all of the time, but another Shinkansen that can do 186mph
Over the years, uniforms of the onboard workers
Various onboard service items over the years
Here you can use the same training real drivers have
Evolution of the bullet train
Model trains demonstrating control stop systems
Tons of HO Scale Japanese model trains
And more model trains
Massive day/night switching train set you can actually control some of
How they used to monitor and control train traffic (this is one very small section)
"Time for some food? I don't know why, but I might have been too excited to be hungry
"More excitingly named engines like C61 and D51, here are the steamers
Take a train ride. Very popular
The Emperor's personal train
The current operating rails west in Kyoto
The original Nijo Station from 1897
Of course, now it contains the shop
Summary
What a train museum. I was very excited and impressed. Such a well-done set of displays and hands-on activities. From 50 full sized engines to items, experiences, and a very diverse exposure to every aspect of railroading that I could even think of.For kids of every age (this is mostly men aged 4-90 it seems). You really should go here, find a day to get from anywhere in the Kansai region to come!