160901-0007 - Imperial Train

Commemorative photo of railway workers in front of a Class 8620 (8620形) steam locomotive with the number 58699.

Between 1914 (Taisho 3) and 1929 (Showa 4), some 672 of these 2-6-0 type steam locomotives were built in Japan, which were used domestically and in Japan’s colonies.

The 58699 was manufactured at the Kisha Seizo Co. (汽車製造株式会社) in 1922 (Taisho 11). The company was founded in 1896 (Meiji 29) and merged with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (川崎重工業株式会社) in 1972 (Showa 47).

The photo is dated August 12, 1931 (Showa 6). According to the photo’s caption, the locomotive was used to pull the imperial train of Takahito, Prince Mikasa (三笠宮崇仁親王, 1915–2016).