This marks the inaugural inclusion of a picture book author in the “Unsung Heroes: The Faces Behind Track Maintenance” project since its inception. While numerous books delved into the world of railway vehicles, there are remarkably few that depict the Muliple Tie Tamper, vital railway maintenance machine. I was pleasantly surprised to come across this book. How does the picture book portray the Multiple Tie Tamper, and what is the backstory behind it? We will delve into these questions in our discussion with Mr. Ayumi Kamata, the author of “"Midnight Train Tracks" by Alicekan.

From the picture book "Midnight Train Tracks"

――Mr. Kamata, track maintenance is a nocturnal undertaking, a realm far removed from the enchanting world of children's picture books. Unlike the popular Shinkansen and 'Doctor Yellow,' which captivate children's imaginations, our machines lack the flashy allure to catch their eyes. How did the narrative of this storybook come into being?

From the picture book: The front measuring trolley is in place, and the operations are about to begin.

From the picture book: Ground workers you might encounter at a construction site.

Kamata： It's a midnight job that most people don't know about. Of course, the vehicles are cool, but the workers are all cool. They work quietly, keeping us safe in the middle of the night when we don't even realize it. Every face I saw during the field interview was a good face, full of confidence. Not only do they do physical work, but they also engage in desk work with their brains. I envy them because they have to do "real work" grounded in the soil every day. It's not like me, who just wanders around aimlessly (laughs). I wanted to let everyone know about this work through my picture book.

―― I am very happy to hear you say that. The people who work at the site always work late at night, so they work as inconspicuously as possible, like vampires. We sometimes get complaints about noise and vibration at work, but we don't often get complaints like Mr. Kamata's. Thank you very much.

――In the picture book, you refer to a tamping tool as a "stump" to harden the stone, and you replace technical terms with common ones to make them easier to understand. I assume you chose words with both expertise and ease of understanding in mind.

From the picture book: The Powerful Scene of Tamping Tool

Kamata：

Since I was a child, I have been in contact with some kind of machine within my reach, such as a motorcycle shop. It is not that I am particularly fond of machines, but since I grew up in such an era, machines have always been a part of my life, and I personally like geeky stories. However, there are plenty of such books for adults. What I create are picture books for children. I want them to be something that children can understand and that adults can appreciate.

To achieve that, I must never lose sight of what the machine is supposed to do. I had a hard time making it easy to understand that "a multiple tie tamper removes distortions in a railroad track." I cannot draw what I do not understand. I reviewed many photos I had taken through interviews and materials I found on the Internet. It was also crucial to choose what kind of expression to use, and I spent a lot of time thinking about the angles (composition) in the illustrations.

――Each composition is important because children will be reading it. The machines in the book are shown from different perspectives: diagonally, sideways, and frontally. The change of perspective creates tension, doesn't it?

 I didn't think about it when I read the picture book, but composition is very important. Do you draw on a PC? Or do you draw with your hands?

Kamata： I draw everything by hand. I do not use a computer. I wonder why. It's difficult to verbalize. I think it's because children see the finished picture book with their own eyes. Similar to how records can reproduce sound more realistically than CDs. Even in the world of picture books, there are things that can be conveyed because they are hand-drawn, which is analog. Even with digital tools, I prefer to redraw repeatedly. Drawing by hand ensures it doesn't become too mechanical.

From the picture book: Using different shades of gray to reproduce midnight. This was a significant challenge in the printing process.

――Allow me to make one final point. Most of the people reading this article are in the track maintenance industry. Do you have a message for them?

Kamata：As I mentioned earlier, I was very impressed by the remarkable things I saw during the field interviews with all of you. I would be happy if my picture book helped people understand a little more about the value of those responsible for the infrastructure of society. Picture books have a long life, so I hope they will continue to spread in various ways.