JGR Streamlined Pacific C55.20 Model

In the 1930s, the Japanese Government Railway (JGR) joined the international trend of streamlining, commissioning 21 streamlined C55-class Pacific (4-6-2) steam locomotives built by Kawasaki.  These streamliners looked quite modern and fast, but the body treatment offered no improvement in performance at JGR express-train speeds of 60 miles per hour or so, and crews hated having to inspect and maintain the streamliners, so they were returned to a normal appearance around World War II.    The remaining C55 Pacifics were built without streamlining.  A 1:10 scale model of C55.20 is on display at the Saitama Railway Museum.