Choo choo! Here comes a cute little train 🚂 A smiling steam locomotive puffs along the tracks. Color it red, blue, yellow or any color you like and make a train that is all your own!
What is the difference between a steam train and an electric train?
A steam train is pulled by a steam locomotive, which burns coal or wood to heat water into steam and uses the power of that steam to move. An electric train runs on electricity instead. Today almost all trains in Japan are electric or diesel, and steam locomotives run mainly as special tourist trains.
What is puffing out of the steam train’s chimney?
The fire inside a steam locomotive burns coal to boil water into steam. After the steam has pushed the pistons that turn the wheels, it is sent up the chimney together with the smoke from the fire. That is why the puffs look white (lots of steam) or dark gray and black (lots of coal smoke). For many older people in Japan, a puffing steam train brings back memories of railway stations in the Showa era (1926–1989).
