A pocket watch, which has a stamp indicating the Mito railway administration bureau under the former Japanese National Railways, is seen in this image provided by East Japan Railway Co.'s Mito branch.

       A signboard of the former Sanuki Station, which was recently renamed Ryugasakishi Station, is seen in this image provided by East Japan Railway Co.'s Mito branch.

       MITO -- East Japan Railway Co. (JR East)'s Mito branch will hold an event to sell antique railway-related goods that were actually used at stations and on trains on Dec. 4 at a public plaza on the premises of the branch office in this city northeast of Tokyo.

       According to the Mito branch, it will sell about 300 goods including a pocket watch once used by a driver, which has a stamp indicating the Mito railway administration bureau under the former Japanese National Railways, and a ticket punch used by station staff to cut passenger tickets. Each item will be sold for about 100 yen to 30,000 yen (roughly $0.87 to $260), and one person can purchase up to two items.

       Eight items will be put up for auction, including the signboard of the former Sanuki Station on the Joban Line, which was renamed Ryugasakishi Station in March 2020, and a destination display board that was attached to trains before digital ones became popular. There is no limit on the number of bids a person can make.

       The event will be held at Mito Sky Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 4. Due to expected congestion, each person will only be admitted to the venue for up to 30 minutes, and a ticket with a set time of entry will be issued through a lottery in front of the venue from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Those without the tickets can freely enter after 11:30 a.m.

       (Japanese original by Takashi Miyazaki, Mito Bureau)

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