James:

That was indeed the web page to which I referred.

When I visited Korea in 2005, I asked at the Seoul station information desk about steam excursions between there and Uijongbu, but the nice lady behind the counter said no, no such train was then in service.

I asked again this May and received the same answer. On my way back to Seoul from Imjingang, as I passed the yard in Susaek, I saw what appeared to be the back end of a steam locomotive tender extending from the north end of a large concrete shelter building. (Imagine a huge soda can lying on its side, halfway buried in the earth, and you'll have a good idea of what it looks like. I've seen others elsewhere in the country and I suspect they were built during or after the war to protect rolling stock from aerial bombardment.) It's possible the Chinese steamer, no longer pulling excursions, is being kept there, but without further information, this is just a guess. When I go back in a couple of years, I'll see if I can visit the site and get more information. The building is well into the yard and a casual visitor is unlikely to be able to see anything from the street.

I did see other preserved steam locomotives while I was there. For example, there are two in the Children's Grand Park in Seoul (one narrow gauge, one standard) as well as another NG locomotive in the Science Museum in Seoul. (There's also the extra treat of a streetcar from Seoul's system that closed in November 1968.) Also, there are others on display at the KORAIL museum in Uiwang. (The nearby station was formerly called Pugok, but if you go today, look for Uiwang on the rail system map.) When I go back again, I hope to go around the country some more and possibly track down others on the list. The one on Cheju Island is certainly interesting because, as far as I know, the island has never had rail service, and the locomotive may have been placed there for tourism/display purposes. I hope to go there on a future visit and see for myself.

I'm lucky to have a Korean wife who can lead me to various rail-related sites and well as provide translation services as necessary. She's no rail buff, but she tolerates my interest, and that's a big plus.

Tim;

When you do, please take some pictures. My old website went away with the ISP in the days following Hurricane Rita; and my Surviving World Steam Project is currently on hold awaiting a rebuild/modernization. But I would still like to have some pictures.

James:

Just send me your email address and I'll send photos I took this year in Korea.