JNR Class C57

Summary

The Class C57 (C57形) is a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive built in Japan from 1937 to 1947. A total of 201 Class C57 locomotives were built and designed by Hideo Shima.[1][2] Another 14 Class C57 locomotives were built for export to Taiwan in 1942 and 1953.[citation needed]

JNR Class C57
Taiwan Railways Class CT270
C57 180 at Aizu Wakamatsu Station in 2007
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderKawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company, Kisha Seizō, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi
Build date1937–1947 (201 for JNR), 1953 (14 for TRA)
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-6-2 Pacific
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Driver dia.1,750 mm (5 ft 9 in)
Length20,280 mm (66 ft 6 in)
Height3,945 mm (12 ft 11.3 in)
Loco weight67.50 t (66.43 long tons; 74.41 short tons)
Total weight115.50 t (113.68 long tons; 127.32 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Firebox:
 • Grate area11.4 square metres (122.7 sq ft)
Boiler pressure227.5 psi (1,569 kPa)
Superheater:
 • Heating area41.4 square metres (445.6 sq ft)
Cylinderstwo
Cylinder size500 mm × 600 mm (20 in × 24 in)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output:
 • Starting1,290 PS (1,270 hp)
 • Continuous1,040 PS (1,030 hp)
Tractive effort12,820 kg (125.7 kN)
Factor of adh.10,330 kg (101.3 kN)
Career
RetiredDecember 1975 (Japan)
28 February 1983 (Taiwan)
DispositionFour operational among 32 preserved, remainder scrapped

The class was withdrawn from regular passenger service in December 1975.[2] The locomotives were numbered C57 1–C57 201 in Japan the TRA CT270 were numbered CT271–CT284.

Preserved examples and Static Display edit

As of 2014, 32 Class C57 locomotives have been preserved in Japan, of which two, C57 1 and C57 180, are preserved in working order.[3]

In Taiwan, locomotive number CT273 is preserved in working order.[citation needed]

C57 1 edit

 
C57 1 in service, November 2009

As of 2014, C57 1 was operated by JR West and based at Shimonoseki Depot.[3] As of 2018, it makes regular runs on the Yamaguchi line between Shin-Yamaguchi and Tsuwano[4] The service was suspended following the July 2018 heavy rains, with C57 1 making guest appearance as the leisure train locomotive at the Kyoto Railway Museum during the forced break. The service is set to resume at the end of September 2018.

C57 180 edit

C57 180 was restored to working order by JR East, and hauls special event trains on JR East lines mainly between Niigata, Aizu-Wakamatsu, and Kōriyama.

CT271 edit

CT271 was imported to Taiwan in 1943 as C57 1, and renumbered CT271 in 1949. Although involved in an accident in 1957, it was repaired and returned to service until it was withdrawn in 1983 and stored at a roundhouse in Chiayi until 1991 when the roundhouse was demolished. Keelung City applied to Taiwan Railways for preservation of CT271, and it was returned to Keelung Station in June 1991 and moved to Lover Lake Park, where it was publicly unveiled on October 25, 1994. Restoration of CT271 began in 2014 and completed in 2015.

CT273 edit

CT273 was imported to Taiwan in 1943 as C57 3, and renumbered CT273. It was withdrawn in 1983, and restored by the Taiwan Railway Administration in June 2014. [5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Inoue, Kōichi (1999). 国鉄機関車辞典 [JNR Locomotive Encyclopedia]. Japan: Sankaido. pp. 38–41. ISBN 4-381-10338-6.
  2. ^ a b JR機関車カタログ [JR Locomotive Catalogue] (in Japanese). Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. 20 June 2013. p. 120. ISBN 9784863207271.
  3. ^ a b Sasada, Masahiro (25 November 2014). 国鉄&JR保存車大全2015-2016 [JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide 2015-2016] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. p. 128. ISBN 978-4863209282.
  4. ^ "SL Yamaguchi Train Schedule for 2018". Shimane: Explore Unfamiliar Japan. Japan: Shimane Prefectural Government. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2018..
  5. ^ "'Queen' of locomotives back for a day". Retrieved 7 March 2019.