ALONG THE HAKODATE MAIN LINE: NISEKO RAIL STATION

Next to Niseko Station, a railway station served by the JR Hakodate Main Line that has a bad taste building, you can find a preserved Class 9600 steam locomotive and an old railway turntable. Both sit there as if they are completely forgotten. This particular locomotive 9643 was built in 1914. It was used on national railway routes in Hokkaido, later on a coal mine rail road in the northern part of Hokkaido. 

趣味の悪い駅舎を持ったJR函館本線ニセコ駅の隣に、9600形蒸気機関車が保存されている。横には古い転車台が。どちらも完全に忘れ去られたような感じでそこにある。この機関車は1914年製。北海道の国有鉄道路線で働いたあと、道北の炭鉱鉄道で使われていた。