Daitō Sugar Class 1

The Daitō Sugar Class 1 is a 0-6-0T Switcher-type narrow gauge side tank steam locomotive operated by the Daitō Sugar Railway from 1917 to April 1956.
==History==
The line that operated on Minamidaitōjima is known by various names; among them are "Minamidaitōjima Sugar Railway" (南大東島砂糖鉄道, Minamidaitōjima Satō Tetsudō) and "Minamidaitōjima's Sugar Train" (南大東島のシュガートレイン, Minamidaitōjima no Shugā Torein). The first rails laid down in Okinawa, they included lines that encircled the island and others that relayed traffic to the harbor. The tracks exceeded 30 km in length. In addition to hauling sugar cane, they also conveyed passengers and mails.
In the Meiji period, Minamidaitōjima was uninhabited, but in 1900, Tamaoki Shokai began to develop the island, and started both the sugar refinery and the handcar railway in 1902. In 1917 the commercial rights passed to Toyo Sugar Refining. The railway was converted to a gauge of 762 mm and began seriously hauling sugar cane. In 1927, Toyo merged with Dainippon Sugar Refining.
During World War II, aerial attacks destroyed the railway, but in 1950, Daitō Sugar Refining restored it to operation. It served through the 1983 spring season, and thereafter, trucks replaced the railway for the transportation of sugar cane.
The upgrade of the gauge to 762 mm permitted the use of steam locomotives, and in 1956, diesel locomotives were introduced. At present, steam and diesel locomotives, passenger and freight cars have been preserved on Minamidaitō.
Naha also has a diesel locomotive from the Prefectural Yohabaru Line.
==Preservation==
The following Daitō Sugar Class 1 locomotives have been preserved:
Number	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Serial number	Date withdrawn	Location 	Notes
2 	Dai-Nippon Kidō Tekkōbu	1917 	Unknown 	April 1956 	Minamidaitō Village Furusato Cultural Center, Minamidaitō, Okinawa, Japan	Displayed under enclosed shelter, poor cosmetic condition; displayed next to Daitō Sugar No. 8
==Gallery==
File:OkinawaSugar2.jpg
File:OkinawaSugar3.jpg
==References==
Category:Locomotives
Category:Daitō Sugar locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:0-6-0 steam locomotives
Category:0-6-0T locomotives
Category:Amemiya locomotives
Category:Four-coupled locomotives
Category:0-6-0 locomotives
Category:0-6-0T steam locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Japanese steam locomotives