Families visiting the Oigawa Railway in Shimada City took commemorative photographs with the newly refurbished steam locomotive known as Percy [1, 2].
The introduction of the character-themed train is part of a strategy to increase tourism and revenue for the railway through high-profile attractions [3]. By converting existing machinery into recognizable characters, the railway aims to draw more families to Shizuoka Prefecture [3, 4].
The locomotive, based on the C10形8号機 model, began regular operation on March 7, 2026 [3]. The refurbishment transformed the steam locomotive into the character Percy, a friend of Thomas the Tank Engine [1, 4].
Visitors from across Japan gathered during the late-May Golden Week period to see the train in person [1, 4]. One parent from Saitama, who visited with their child, said the train was "cool" [5]. The parent said they were more moved than the child by the experience of seeing Percy for the first time [5].
The Oigawa Railway president, referred to as the Top-Hat Lord, said he expects the Percy locomotive to lead to new customer attraction and increased earnings [3]. The project follows a broader trend of the railway utilizing steam locomotive renovations to maintain its appeal as a heritage destination [3, 4].
“"I was more moved than my child by seeing Percy for the first time."”
The Oigawa Railway's investment in character-themed steam locomotives leverages the global popularity of the Thomas & Friends franchise to sustain rural tourism. By integrating nostalgic industrial machinery with modern intellectual property, the railway creates a multi-generational appeal that drives foot traffic during Japan's peak holiday windows, such as Golden Week.
