Sentetsu Shiki class railcars

In 1923, Kisha Seizō of Japan built four steam railcars for Sentetsu, which were essentially a small tank steam locomotive with a 2-2-0 wheel arrangement built onto one end of a passenger carriage. Intended for use for commuter trains on the Gyeongin Line, the railcar pulled two passenger cars in active service. However, performance was far from satisfactory, with many complaints about excessive vibration being received. As a result, in 1924, after barely a year in service, one was scrapped, and the remaining three were converted to 2-2-0 tank locomotives by removing the integrated passenger compartment. A second one was scrapped in 1927, leaving only two locomotives.[1] These two remained in service until at least 1940,[1] but their subsequent fate is unknown.

Despite the poor experience with the first steam railcars, Sentetsu imported two geared steam railcars from Sentinel-Cammell in England in 1929. These had a vertical boiler generating superheated steam of 21.0 kgf/cm² (299 psi) pressure, which fed a single, horizontally mounted, 6-cylinder engine producing 30 hp (22 kW), and had a lightweight body integrated with the underframe. These steam railcars later proved very helpful in designing Sentetsu's first petrol-powered railcars. Both units remained in service until at least 1940, but their subsequent fate is unknown.[1]