Craig's Guided Rail Tours

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Craig's Guided Rail Tours I'm conducting a series of personally guided enthusiast tours to Japan and Taiwan where we explore remarkable railways rarely visited by Western tourists.
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A railway in the clouds? Early Train-ing for Taiwanese kids!
24/06/2024

A railway in the clouds? Early Train-ing for Taiwanese kids!

What is it about Girls & Trains? This group of Uni Students from Taipei kindly let me snap their photo as they posed on ...
23/06/2024

What is it about Girls & Trains? This group of Uni Students from Taipei kindly let me snap their photo as they posed on the end platform of a renovated 2'6" gauge passenger coach that once plied the short stretch of railway that linked Tuchang With the main line at Luodong Log Transfer station near Yilan City in Taiwan. This was part of the vast Taipingshan Forest Railway complex.

23/06/2024
Early morning Taiwan arrival!We flew north along the eastern edge of the emerald isle where I could make out some of the...
22/06/2024

Early morning Taiwan arrival!

We flew north along the eastern edge of the emerald isle where I could make out some of the more famous mountain peaks in the distance. I mentioned to the young Taiwanese lady seated next to me that there was a group of hikers who trekked the famous '100 Peaks of Taiwan' challenge. She looked at me whimsically and exclaimed in perfect English: "Yes and I have scaled 30 of them!" Who knew...

We're flying off to Taiwan this week to explore more of the remarkable mountain forest railway remains and hopefully, fi...
20/06/2024

We're flying off to Taiwan this week to explore more of the remarkable mountain forest railway remains and hopefully, film some aspects of the re-opening Celebrations for the famous Alishan Forest Railway in early July. Stay tuned!

Just publish with English Subtitles:
18/05/2024

Just publish with English Subtitles:

If the great Tateyama Caldera in the Southern Alps of Japan were to collapse, the coastal city of Toyama below would lik...
14/05/2024

If the great Tateyama Caldera in the Southern Alps of Japan were to collapse, the coastal city of Toyama below would likely drown under more than 2m of mud. To prevent such a cataclysm, arguably the World's greatest Zig Zag railway was built to assist in construction of numerous Sabo Dams or mudslide prevention works.

This rare video documents a cab view climb along the 18 switchbacks of the 600mm gauge railway!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaNYY5Kx4-0&t=552s

Translation: "We received special permission to install a camera on the Tateyama Sabo Trolley personnel transport vehicle, which is on a construction track. We will show you the scenery along the line, including the longest 18-step continuous switchback in Japan, an unexcavated tunnel, and an erosion control dam, as well as the driver's skillful driving techniques."

工事専用軌道の「立山砂防トロッコ」の人員輸送車に特別な許可をもらってカメラを設置。日本一の18段連続スイッチバックや素掘りのトンネル、砂防ダムなどの沿線風景と運転士の巧みな運転技術を映像でお届けします。0...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0FaYYCyFlQ
12/05/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0FaYYCyFlQ

Double heading two historic steam locomotives, the Blue Mountain's Flyer roars through Blackheath Station's equally historic island platform on her way to Mo...

Locomotive 1072 climbs Middle Road on the Zig Zag Railway, Easter 1985. Photo: Warwick Hallinan
09/05/2024

Locomotive 1072 climbs Middle Road on the Zig Zag Railway, Easter 1985. Photo: Warwick Hallinan

Alishan Forest Railway's Shay SL31 (oil fired) is on a training run:
05/05/2024

Alishan Forest Railway's Shay SL31 (oil fired) is on a training run:

This special train was specially run to training drivers to operate steam locomotives. The original train departed from Alishan Station and arrived at Chaopi...

First test train all the way up from Chiayi on Taiwan's Alishan Forest Railway after the massive landslide broke the lin...
02/05/2024

First test train all the way up from Chiayi on Taiwan's Alishan Forest Railway after the massive landslide broke the line in 2009.

A test train running up the mountain from the urban areas of Chiayi.Video recorded on May 1, 2024.

Not withstanding speed restrictions due to new axle bearings, 218 made a good show for her first run of the day last Fri...
27/04/2024

Not withstanding speed restrictions due to new axle bearings, 218 made a good show for her first run of the day last Friday on the Great Lithgow Zig Zag:

The Great Lithgow Zig Zag or Zig Zag Railway. This early morning capture was a test shoot with our recently acquired Sony FS7 Mk II set up in the more Ccinem...

A big edit! Follow us on a full day's walk along Japan's last working forest railway on remote Yakushima Island:
27/04/2024

A big edit! Follow us on a full day's walk along Japan's last working forest railway on remote Yakushima Island:

After travelling to remote Yakushima Island off the southern coast of Japan as deck cargo on an overnight frieghter, we set off before dawn to explore the An...

Just completed my Sakamoto, Japan edit. Shot back in 2017, mostly on the DJI Osmo
09/02/2024

Just completed my Sakamoto, Japan edit. Shot back in 2017, mostly on the DJI Osmo

In October 2017, we travelled by subway tram from Kyoto to Otsu then Sakamoto Station on the shores of Lake Biwa. After a scenic walk along ancient stone lin...

Whilst the famous Japanese temples of Mt Koyasan remain a mecca for locals & tourists alike, few would know of the aband...
29/01/2024

Whilst the famous Japanese temples of Mt Koyasan remain a mecca for locals & tourists alike, few would know of the abandoned Forest Railway which parallels today's railway & cable car to the top. Complete with deep cuttings and several tunnels, much of the original path can readily be followed today. This intrepid explorer took just one long day to traverse the route (I'd overnight on the mountain!) so follow his adventures (and route map) here:
https://yamap.com/activities/14794928

1905（明治38）年に九度山～椎出（高野下）間が開業した高野山森林鉄道。いくつもの支線を有し最盛期には幹線・支線合わせて総延長45kmにも及ぶ大規模な森林鉄道でしたが、1959（昭和34）年に全線が廃止されました。今回.....

just because I could!
28/01/2024

just because I could!

Back in the bad old days of hand-cranked film cameras! Why? Because we could! A few tricks employed in DaVinci Resolve post production software to add film g...

Today's early morning's 4K video capture using a high speed shutter:
27/01/2024

Today's early morning's 4K video capture using a high speed shutter:

21/01/2024

We travel Japan's infamous Gono Line from Akita to Aomori and back in just a day. Although we were blessed with spectacular weather, this remarkable coastal ...

20/01/2024

The perfect day trip out of Toyama, this scenic 762mm electric railway was built to service several hydro electric dams along one of the world's steepest V-s...

Abandoned Miyanoura Forest Railway - from our out 2019 trip to Yakushima Island:
19/01/2024

Abandoned Miyanoura Forest Railway - from our out 2019 trip to Yakushima Island:

After a tiring 600m ridge climb on remote Yakushima Island, we discover remains of the abandoned Miyanoura Forest Railway. Contrary to popular knowledge, the...

Here is the final Zig Zag Railway No 1 Viaduct test video under yesterday's perfect conditions for a Polarising Filter:
13/01/2024

Here is the final Zig Zag Railway No 1 Viaduct test video under yesterday's perfect conditions for a Polarising Filter:

For this video test clip, we set the Sony FS5 to capture internal 4K (8bit 4:2:0) at a shutter speed of 1/300th for stills image capture. The lens we used wa...

Testing the 7Artisans 12mm Cinema Prime & Glass Plate CPL Filter: This morning's video sequence test at #1 Viaduct on t...
13/01/2024

Testing the 7Artisans 12mm Cinema Prime & Glass Plate CPL Filter:

This morning's video sequence test at #1 Viaduct on the Zig Zag Railway:
Camera: Sony FS5
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Shutter: 1/300th
Lens: 7Artisans 12mm Cinema Prime @ T11
Filter: NiSi True Colour 4x5.65" CPL in the matte box
Grade: DaVinci Resolve

New Release!
01/01/2024

New Release!

A selection of interviews with passengers & volunteers captured over an 18 month period on the Zig Zag Railway which finally re-opened in 2023 after nearly 1...

The challenging Narrow Gauge forest railways of Japan! This particular 'work line' accessed valuable Hinoki & Cypress in...
31/12/2023

The challenging Narrow Gauge forest railways of Japan! This particular 'work line' accessed valuable Hinoki & Cypress in the upper reaches of the Yanase Forest Railway near Kochi on Shikoku Island.

Initially, the Yanase F/R used dogs to haul the up the empty log carts where brave men rode the fully loaded log cars down to the 'main lines' in the valley floor. Eventually steam locomotives were introduced but today, most of the old railway remains flooded by the deep Yanase Dam. For more photo & detail, see: https://sikokumori.exblog.jp/19958482/?fbclid=IwAR3x9oD0prMVI8GCnVkDGJf19-kkf1JXb2u2p3i9zGk0ZwR6stLNlPtKPqo

Exploring Japan's Abandoned Forest Railways.To make navigation easier, Yokki Ren has published a map of his explorations...
26/12/2023

Exploring Japan's Abandoned Forest Railways.

To make navigation easier, Yokki Ren has published a map of his explorations with links to the reports:

http://yamaiga.com/

This Social Media Christmas Santa Train video was published last week so I thought I'd share it here now.
24/12/2023

This Social Media Christmas Santa Train video was published last week so I thought I'd share it here now.

Santa takes a ride on Sydney’s iconic railway before Christmas

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Videos

Japan's famous 'SL Hitoyoshi' departs Kumamoto for Hitoyoshi
Japan's famous 'SL Hitoyoshi' departs Kumamoto for Hitoyoshi

Kyushu's famous 'SL Hitoyoshi' steam train departs Kumamoto Station to follow the steem Kama River valley upstream to Hitoyoshi, an historic village onced ruled by a single Clan for 27 generations.

'Flowers in the Sky' - Taiwan's stunning Rail and Mountain Vistas! “天空中的花朵” - 台湾令人惊叹的铁路和山脉景观！
'Flowers in the Sky' - Taiwan's stunning Rail and Mountain Vistas! “天空中的花朵” - 台湾令人惊叹的铁路和山脉景观！

'Flowers in the Sky' - Taiwan's stunning Rail and Mountain Vistas! “天空中的花朵” - 台湾令人惊叹的铁路和山脉景观！ Forming part of my 'Taiwan' presentation to the 2019 Australian Narrow Gauge Convention, 'Flowers in the Sky' is a five minute audio/video highlighting some of the best pictures from Taiwan's famous Alishan Forest Railway along with some of the country's most spectacular mountain scenery. Thanks to Paul Mac for his excellent music, Daniel Chien for his stunning Alishan aerials and Henri Chen for his exhausting 'speed hiking' videos.

Keisuke & Olga's Japanese Cooking Class - Hokkaido, Japan
Keisuke & Olga's Japanese Cooking Class - Hokkaido, Japan

On our November 2018 tour of Japan and Taiwan, we booked into a private cooking class on Hokkaido Island with Keisuke and Olga, a great couple based in the coastal village of Shiraoi, just a short train ride out of Sapporo. We booked this class through AirBnB Experiences and it proved to be a very personalised, 5 star service. I'm guiding a series of small group, narrow gauge rail tours to Taiwan and Japan. Highlights of the Taiwan tour is a visit to the spectacular Alishan Forest Railway which climbs from sea level to 2.200m in just 75 kilometers and on special occasions, still operates a Shay geared locomotive! Check out OzSteam.com for more information as well as tour departure dates.

We found a 'Bong Bong' at Houtong! (Cat Village)
We found a 'Bong Bong' at Houtong! (Cat Village)

Once common across Taiwan, this small but agile Japanese designed and built timber and industrial locomotive survives today conducting tourist rides in the old coal mine at Houtong Leasure Park, Keelung River, Taiwan. Often referred to as a 'Bong Bong' train, some say this was the sound they made as they rocked along narrow gauge trackways of Taiwan's Cypress Forests but if you listen carefully, there is distinct Bong Bong note from the locomotive's exhaust...

A Railway in the Clouds! Taiwan's remarkable 'Bong Bong' Train.
A Railway in the Clouds! Taiwan's remarkable 'Bong Bong' Train.

Taiwan's recently renovated 'Bong Bong' train is located some 2000m above Yilan on the rugged East Coast where it remains the last operational section of a once vast network of 2'6" narrow gauge Cypress railways. Called 'Bong Bong' because of the unique exhaust note emanating from Kato's ubiquitous little 4.5 ton DL locomotive. Today, our tourist train is hauled by a modern 'Taipei Iron' diesel locomotive and travels the original route of the Japanese Kato DL powered cypress trains, following the contours at a steady 2% grade from Taipingshan Villa to Maosing, a distance of about six km. At Maosing Station, we alight to explore the land of the Giant Cypress, rotate our locomotive on the tiny hand turntable, then hold tight while we take a scenic Cab Ride for the short journey back to Taipingshan Villa. This video is also available in 4K on our Youtube Channel so please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1F5ByzMzLI

Track Crew 'Tie Replacement' on the 2'6" Alishan Forest Railway
Track Crew 'Tie Replacement' on the 2'6" Alishan Forest Railway

Back in 2015, we visted Fenqihu Village at 1403m (4600') on Taiwan's scenic 2'6" Alishan Forest Railway to the film track and maintenance activities. Whilst based in Fenquihu, we travelled by car and foot to the remote Jiaoliping Station at 997 meters (3000') where one of Alishan's Track Maintenance Crew arrived to replace one of the famous narrow gauge railway's aging cypress sleepers. (ties)

Taiwan's Preserved Shay Locomotives: Alishan's SL31 - Scheduled Maintenance
Taiwan's Preserved Shay Locomotives: Alishan's SL31 - Scheduled Maintenance

November 2018: one hundred year old American Shay locomotive 'SL31', one of only two Shays remaining 'In Steam' on Taiwan's scenic Alishan Forest Railway, undergoes her monthly scheduled maintenance at the Locomotive Workshop, Alishan Mountain, Taiwan. I'm guiding a series of small group, narrow gauge rail tours to Taiwan and Japan. Highlights of the Taiwan tour is a visit to the spectacular Alishan Forest Railway which climbs from sea level to 2.200m in just 75 kilometers and on special occasions, still operates a Shay geared locomotive!

Back from the the Stone Monkey!
Back from the the Stone Monkey!

Today, we walked out along the Alishan Forest Railway's abandoned 'Stone Monkey' line to traverse the giant landslide, climb the Rock then travel beyond the ruined Station until only the brave or foolish dare venture further. Captured stunning images which we will upload soon but here's a quick teaser shot on the way home.

Alishan's abandoned TaShan Branch Line
Alishan's abandoned TaShan Branch Line

Back up at Alishan (2400m) for this week. I'm exploring abandoned Alishan Forest Railway branch lines with Alishan 'local experts' Lu Ying and Yuan Chiao Liao. This afternoon, we set off toward the abandoned 'Stone Monkey' then rurned to follow remains of the old 2'6" TaShan Cypress branch line which has not felt the weight of any Shay locomotives since the early 1970s

The last train to TaShan
The last train to TaShan

Cab Ride on Taipingshan's Bong Bong Train
Cab Ride on Taipingshan's Bong Bong Train

A short unedited video clip shot from the cab of Taipei Iron diesel 0-4-0 'Bong Bong' train November 2018 as we descend from Maosing Station to Taipingshan Depot. (see 'Craig's Guided Rail Tours' Youtube Channel for the properly edited clip soon)

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I’m guiding rail based tours to Japan and Taiwan

For Western narrow gauge rail enthusiasts, Taiwan and Japan would have to be the World’s best kept secrets! Taiwan especially, with it’s combination of 4’ 81/2” 300km/hour HSR, 3’6” regular rail, 2’6” Forest Railways and 18” mine tramways remains one of the least visited yet scenically stunning railway locations outside Europe.