YAMAGUCHI -- The steam locomotive "SL Yamaguchi" carrying some 200 passengers rolled to an unexpected halt about 4.5 kilometers from Niho Station in this western Japan city due to a malfunction.

The sightseeing train, which runs on the JR Yamaguchi Line between Shin-Yamaguchi Station in the city of Yamaguchi and Tsuwano Station in the Shimane Prefecture town of Tsuwano, stopped shortly after noon on Sept. 15.

The locomotive managed to return to Niho Station under its own power about three hours later, but all further operations were canceled for the day. Passengers were transported by buses arranged by West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) to Shin-Yamaguchi Station, Tsuwano Station and other destinations. No one was reportedly injured.

According to a JR West worker who was at the scene, the area near the locomotive's right driving wheel appeared to have badly overheated. At 5:30 p.m., the SL Yamaguchi was towed by a rescue locomotive from Niho Station and arrived at Shin-Yamaguchi Station around 6:40 p.m. JR West will inspect the train in the coming days.

The SL Yamaguchi consists of a Class D51 steam locomotive and five retro-style passenger cars. In 2025, it is scheduled to run primarily on weekends and public holidays through Dec. 21.

(Japanese original by Keiichi Sugiyama, Yamaguchi Bureau)