On the third day of travel, November 25th, I visited Shikoku Railway Cultural Center near Iyo-saijō Station.
The Center opened in 2007, consisting of the north and south buildings across the railway of Yosan Line. In the north building, shortened 0 Series Shinkansen and Class DF 50 diesel locomotive are exhibited. In the south building, a Class C57 steam locomotive, a Kiha 65 diesel carriage, a Class DE10 diesel locomotive, and a Gauge Changeable Train (open-air) are done, and a model train diorama is displayed.
First, I visited the north one, on the same side as the exit of Iyo-saijo Station. In front of the Center, a bust of Shinji Sogō (1884 - 1981, famous as the fourth president of the Japanese National Railways (JNR) and "the father of Shinkansen") is displayed.
In addition to the two carriages, the front signs of the old trains and the station staff uniforms in the period of JNR are displayed.
Entering the interior and sitting on a seat of the driver's cab of the two carriages is available. The visitors can light the headlights of both carriages with a switch at the cab.
Visitors can watch the overview of the north building from the top of the caracole.
Next to the north building, Shinji Sogō Museum stands. His life, accomplishments, and a video of the interview to him, are shown. Though Sogo had been born in Niihama, the neighbouring city of Saijo, he was made an honorary citizen because he had graduated from a school in Saijo and had worked as the mayor of Saijo before in place of the JNR president.
Crossing over the railway, I next visited the south building. The museums, Iyo-saijō Station, and Seto Ohashi Bridge on Seto Ohashi Line are copied and the model trains of 2000 Series diesel train (serving as "Uwakai" and "Ashizuri" limited express), 8000 Series electric train (serving as "Shiokaze" and "Ishizuchi" limited express), and Kiha 32 diesel train "The Railway Hobby Train", looking like 0 Series Shinkansen (serving as local trains on Yodo Line), are running in the diorama. The model train running show was held every 30 minutes. During the show, the fireworks and the moon were shown on the wall.
I have wanted to visit the Center since it opened because my last travel to Ehime Prefecture was before the opening. Fireworks on the wall of the diorama were impressive because I hadn't seen them at the other museums.