Iyotetsu Class Kō 1

The Iyotetsu Class Kō 1, nicknamed the Botchan Train, is a 0-4-0WT Switcher-type well tank steam locomotive operated by the Iyo Railway from October 1888 to February 1954.
==History==
The Class Kō 1 was one of the earliest steam locomotives operated in Japan. The type was ordered by the Iyo Railway as their first locomotives to operate on a stretch of line between Matsuyama and Mitsu, now part of what is now known as the Takahama Line. The first two locomotives, Nos. 1 and 2, were built by Krauss at their factory in Sendling in May 1888; these were given the internal designation of 4kk by Krauss. Nos. 1 and 2 were imported into Japan by Sasga Shōkai, Krauss's official distributor in Japan, arriving at Matsuyama in August 1888. Both locomotives entered service on 28 October 1888 with the opening of the stretch of line, being the first steam locomotives on the Iyo Railway; these were not originally classified as there was no need to distinguish locomotive classes at the time. Two additional locomotives, Nos. 3 and 4, were manufactured by Krauss in November 1891; given the internal designation of 4bc by Krauss, Nos. 3 and 4 arrived in Matsuyama in March 1892.
With the mergers of the Dōgo Railway and Nan'yo Railway, the Iyo Railway also inherited all of their rolling stock and as a result there was now a need to classify the locomotives; they were given the designation Kō 1, with their numbers unchanged. The locomotives were put out of service on the line in 1931 due to track regauging works (762 mm to 1,067 mm/2 ft 6 in to 3 ft 6 in) on that stretch of track; all four locomotives would also be regauged accordingly and returned to service. With the abolition of usage of steam power on the Iyo Railway on 1 February 1954, the locomotives were withdrawn from service and replaced with Class DB-1 diesel locomotives.
No. 1 is the only surviving member of the class; No. 3 was also preserved in the past but has since been scrapped, with Nos. 2 and 4 being scrapped soon after they were replaced with diesel locomotives. After No. 1 was withdrawn in 1953, the locomotive was regauged back to 762 mm and placed on display at Dōgo Park with a replica period-correct Ha 1 passenger car; No. 3 was donated to the Ehime University Faculty of Engineering. Being preserved out in the open, No. 1 had many of its parts stolen as a result by thieves, with the locomotive falling into disrepair; No. 3 was ultimately bought back by the Iyo Railway from Ehime University and cannibalized of parts to restore No. 1. After restoration, No. 1 was moved to the Baishinji Garden in Umezu-dera Park, where it remains today.
==Preservation==
The following Class Kō 1 locomotives have been preserved:
Number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Serial number	Date withdrawn	Location 	Notes
1 	Krauss 	May 1888 	1774 	1953 	Baishinji Garden, Ehime, Shikoku, Japan	Displayed under shelter coupled to replica Ha 1 passenger car
The following Class Kō 1 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Serial number	Date withdrawn	Last location 	Notes
3 	Krauss 	November 1891 	2585 	February 1954 	Ehime University Faculty of Engineering, Ehime, Shikoku, Japan	Donated after withdrawal; bought back by Iyotetsu in 1965, cannibalized for parts to cosmetically restore 1, remaining parts used to construct replica of 1
===Replicas===
Being an iconic locomotive in Shikoku's railway history as well as its appearances in various forms of Japanese media, the Class Kō 1 remains a popular locomotive, with replicas being constructed. This section will detail four replicas, all depicting No. 1.
The first replica was constructed by the Iyo Railway. This replica used parts from No. 3, which had been cannibalized for parts to repair No. 1 on display; No. 3's boiler shell, undercarriage and wheels were used for the construction of this replica; other parts that were required for this build were fabricated from scratch. After exhibition at the Ehime Prefectural Science Museum, the locomotive was moved to the Iyo Railway's headquarters for display. The replica was later moved into the Botchan Train Museum, situated within the Iyo Railway's headquarters, in 2016.
A second replica was constructed by local manufacturing company Yoneyama Kōgyō in 1977; this replica is a fully functional steam locomotive. The replica was operated by the Iyo Railway from 1988 to 2001 for use on the Matsuyama City Line before it was replaced with a new replica mainly due to environmental concerns. It is currently stored at Yoneyama Kōgyō's headquarters and may be rented for ¥150,000 (USD 964 in 2024 dollars); prior to this the locomotive was on display at a parking lot.
A third replica was constructed for display at the Ehime Prefectural Science Museum; it is displayed indoors. Few details of this replica are known, including when it was constructed or who manufactured the replica.
A fourth replica was constructed by Niigata Tekkō in 2002 and used by the Iyo Railway on their Botchan Ressha services around the Matsuyama City Line; it operates alongside a replica of No. 14. Niigata Tekkō calls the locomotive the Class D1. Unlike the Yoneyama Kōgyō replica this replica is diesel-powered. The locomotive is operated by two Iyotetsu staff members dressed as a driver and a fireman and is coupled to two replica Ha 1 passenger cars, also manufactured by Niigata Tekkō. The locomotive features an external speaker playing sounds of steam exhaust while an air compressor is installed to play the whistle; a steam generator is also installed to simulate smoke using water vapor. The Botchan Ressha service was temporarily suspended from 1 November 2023 due to a shortage of staff; operations resumed on 20 March 2024.
==Gallery==
Kō 1 Replica 2023.jpg|Iyotetsu replica of No. 1 in the Botchan Train Museum in November 2023
Yoneyama Kogyo 1 1993.jpg|Yoneyama Kōgyō Botchan Ressha replica in May 1993
Ehime Museum 1 2022.jpg|Ehime Prefectural Science Museum replica in February 2022
Botchan Ressha 1 2023.jpg|Niigata Tekkõ Botchan Ressha replica in October 2023
==Trivia==
*These were the first Krauss locomotives imported into Japan.
*The class is nicknamed the Botchan Train due to its appearance in the novel Botchan written by Japanese author Sōseki Natsume. The class is also personified as Iyo, a character in the anime series Rail Romanesque.
==References==
Category:Locomotives
Category:Iyotetsu locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:0-4-0 locomotives
Category:0-4-0 steam locomotives
Category:0-4-0WT steam locomotives
Category:Krauss locomotives
Category:Japanese steam locomotives
Category:Sole survivor
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Well tank locomotives