C56 31

C56 31 was the 31st of the Class C56 steam locomotives produced by Japanese Government Railways (JGR). It was manufactured by Nippon Sharyo in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1936.^[1] C56 31 was the first train to run on the Thai-Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway. It operated there during the war, after which it was used in Thailand. After the war it was brought back to Japan and restored, and is now displayed in the Yūshūkan, the museum attached to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. It is displayed without reference to the deaths during the construction of the railway, which are estimated at around 100,000.^[2][3][4][5]

Wartime use

In 1942, C56 31 was shipped to Thailand.^[6] It was one of 90 Japanese steam locomotives sent south to regions occupied by Japan. It was used in the opening ceremony for the Thai-Burma railway and was the first train to officially run on the railway.

Postwar use and return to Japan

After the war it was used by the State Railway of Thailand. It was due to be retired in 1977, when plans were made to return it to Japan by an association of Southern Army Field Railway Corps officials. In 1979 it was returned to Japan.

Display at Yūshūkan museum

It has been displayed at the Yūshūkan museum at Yasukuni Shrine since 1979. There is a volunteer group dedicated to preserving it.^[7] It is displayed without references to the atrocities carried on on the Thai-Burma railway, which has attracted criticism, particularly from people from Australian and the US.^{[8][9][10][11]}

References