JR Kyushu holds railway auction to support Kumamoto earthquake recovery

JR Kyushu is organizing a railway memorabilia auction at Nagasaki Station on October 3 to support recovery efforts in Kumamoto following the Kumamoto earthquake. The auction, part of an event commemorating the fourth anniversary of the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, will feature 11 rare items, including a former Japanese National Railways driver's pocket watch, unused stickers from the Limited Express 'Huis Ten Bosch', and timetables for the SL Hitoyoshi.

All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Kumamoto Prefecture. The initiative follows the full resumption of Kyushu Shinkansen services on September 18, approximately 52 days after the earthquake caused significant damage to railway infrastructure.

To document the recovery process, JR Kyushu has released a documentary video titled ‘Kyushu Shinkansen: Full Resumption on the 52nd Day’ on its official YouTube channel. The film highlights the intensive repair work conducted by employees and partner companies, including heavy bridge girder adjustments and precision track welding performed under extreme summer heat and nighttime conditions to ensure safety and service restoration.