November 2025 Kato New Trains

The C62, which was active in Hokkaido, was equipped with heavy cold- and snow-resistant equipment to cope with the harsh winter climate, and was used to pull passenger trains such as the express "Niseko". Among them, the No. 2 locomotive has a "swallow mark" on the deflector (smoke deflector) and is bordered with stainless steel around the deflector, and was affectionately nicknamed "Swallow Angel". On the Hakodate Main Line, commonly known as the "Mountain Line", it was also operated in multiple units with an auxiliary engine attached to the front, which made it very popular. The last C62 triple-unit farewell run on September 15, 1971 was the last run before the cars were retired. C62 No. 2 was preserved in working order at the Kyoto Railway Museum, and C62 No. 3 was in service until the smokeless version was introduced on September 30, 1973, after which it was scrapped and preserved. However, when the line was privatized by JR, it was revived in 1987 and operated as the "C62 Niseko" until November 1995. It is currently preserved in static form at JR Hokkaido's Naebo Factory Railway Technology Museum.