JNR’s steam locomotive C57 is a model that was based on the design of the C55, with an improved boiler. As many as 201 cars were manufactured from 1937 to 1947 to pull express trains, etc. on main lines and sub-main lines across Japan. The locomotive was known under the nickname “Noble Lady,” and it was so popular that many of them were preserved in museums or are still operated as event trains.
Twelve cars (no. 190 - 201) of the C57 4th model belong to the final group produced from 1946. This model has a different appearance in that it has a slightly thicker boiler, corner-cut smoke deflectors, a cab with doors, and a tender with a round bottom, and trucks with roller bearing wheels.
In the last age of steam locomotives, this model was deployed to the Miyazaki engine zone, etc. and became the last locomotive to pull the express train “Nichinan No. 3” until it was taken out of service in 1974. The express used to depart from Kyoto and travel nearly 1,000 km on the Sanyo line in Japan proper and on the Nippon Main line in Kyushu island southward to Oita, Miyazaki, and Miyakonojo.
The CT270, last steam locomotive ever which pulled passenger trains in Taiwan, is based on the model of the C57. Six cars of the CT270 were manufactured by Kawasaki and Hitachi in 1942 and 1943 before the war and eight cars were additionally manufactured by Hitachi under assistance from the USA so that a total of 14 cars were operated until trains became electrified.
This is a model suitable for any scene that asks for a steam locomotive train. When it was still in active service, it pulled not only freight trains but also long passenger trains as an express and local train. Because of this, various kinds of scale model train consists can be recreated with it. You can even recreate triple-heading operations as seen on the Bantan line with this model.
