WI: The Steam Shinkhansen was built

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As early as 1940, the Japanese Government Railway (JGR) was planning to lay a 4'8.5" Shinkansen (New Main Line) that would permit high-speed rail service on the Tokaido route (Tokyo-Yokohama-Shizuoka-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka). Express passenger trains would have been pulled by streamlined 4-8-4 steam locomotives, designated as Class HD53, which were similar to the Asia Express streamlined Pacific (4-6-2) locomotives being used in Manchuria. Based on careful study of British, European, and American locomotives, they would have been capable of exceeding 100 miles per hour.

World War II prevented these plans for a steam-powered Shinkansen from being realized, but much of the initial research and basic concepts were eventually applied to the Tokaido Shinkansen that opened in 1964.

But what if the original idea came to be despite the war, or even after the war?
 
A great question, I just discovered this design about a month ago.

If the Steam Shinkansen came into service during the war it would’ve most likely ended up like there German cousins, a straffing target.

If the class was lucky and survived the war then at least one would’ve ended at Fort Eustis alongside other advanced steam locos like Class 19 or condensing Class 52.

If the Steam Shinkansen was built after the war and but 1960, it would have brought the same national prestige that the otl electric version produced. Highlighting the industrial spirt of the Japanese people, the benefits of a free market and the great pace that the rebuilding of their country is occurring at.

If the Japanese designers traded notes with Chapelon and Porta, pherpahs high speed steam traction could be found in other nations like Brazil, China, Argentina and South Africa/Rhodesia.
 

Kaze

Banned
If it was built before or during WW2 - expect it to be a bombing target. After WW2 - it would make a lot of money.
 
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