0514 40 Fans to Welcome 'Doctor Yellow' Train to New Home
In January, the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) retired its iconic "Doctor Yellow" train. This has left just one other Doctor Yellow train in Japan — the one used by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West), which is expected to retire by 2027.
Doctor Yellow trains have been used since Japan's first Shinkansen line for bullet trains opened in 1964. The eye-catching yellow trains check the tracks for problems as they run.
But they only run about once every 10 days, and the schedule is not shared with the public, so they have always been a rare sight. Some even say that seeing a Doctor Yellow train will bring you happiness!
However, there will be no new Doctor Yellow trains in the future, because regular passenger trains will be given track-checking equipment instead.
JR Central's T4 edition Doctor Yellow entered service in 2001. And while it may have ended its days of traveling between Tokyo and Fukuoka, it will be getting a new life at the SCMaglev and Railway Park in Nagoya.
And on June 7, 40 train fans will have a chance to help welcome Doctor Yellow into its new home.
They will even get to help as staff push the train into its display area. Then they will take a photo in front of the train, and enjoy a "Doctor Yellow lunch box" in the dining car of a different train at the park.
However, guests won't be able to go inside Doctor Yellow until the exhibit officially opens on June 14.
Applications to attend the event were open until May 14, and the 40 people will be chosen by lottery.
On June 4, there will also be a farewell event for the railway park's existing T3 edition Doctor Yellow, which will be moved to Train Park Hakusan in Ishikawa prefecture. The T3 was manufactured in 1979 and used until 2005.