JAPANESE RAILWAY TRAVEL.

Northern Advocate, 18 December 1911, Page 2

JAPANESE RAILWAY TRAVEL.

"Japanese engineers favor the English type of locomotive principally because the centre of gravity is considerable lower, and they feel -it is safer on their curves with the narrow gauge. I understand," says a writer in the Railway Age Gazette, "that the most satisfactory locomotives ever 'operated in Japan were built in America from English designs. That first order of fiity locomotives was followed by orders for some five hundred of the same type, and they proved very * satisfactory.

Locomotive and car works have recently been established and much new work is done at home.

"Station platforms in Japan as in England and Europe ,are level with the car steps. The station master is quite a, dignified official, has a uni-

form and carries a on special occasions. The uniform consi«ts oi the ordinary regulation blue, with gilt and gold braid, and a bright scarlet band around his cap. He is rather a showy individual --when he gets it on, and as he walks, along the platform, things move. When there ir a celebrated dignitary passing through such as the Emperor or a member of Parliament, he buckles on

his sword,

About 130 pounds of free baggage is allowed on each first-class ticket, and baggage willfbe delivered by station porters within a radius of four miles at 2y 2 cents, apiece. Trains are in charge of a guard. Tickets are •punched when passengers pass through the wicket on the platform, and given up vhen passing out at destination. All ■ tickets are good 'for stopovers at most stations within the limits of expiration datef all that is necessary being to show your ticket to the collector at the wicket and pass out.

'Special platform tickets are issued at one cent, each to accommodate those coming with or to meat friends. In that way they take advantage, in a financial sense at least, of the feelings of the people, which in Japan l?ad them to appear in large numbers when their friends leave or when they wish to welcome someone coming. It is my own recollection that when I left Kure, the naval station, homeward bound, upward of a hundred appeared and lined up on the platform to say good-bye in their best English. It is considered a mark of very great disrespect in Japan not to go to the station to see your friends off."