China Railways JF5 explained

China Railways JF5 (解放5)
Jichang Railway 500 class
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Kawasaki
Kisha Seizo
Builddate:1923
Whytetype:2-8-2
Driverdiameter:1370mm
Length:19965mm
Width:3150mm
Height:4315mm
Locoweight:81.28t
Tenderweight:50.8t
Locotenderweight:132.08t
Boilerpressure:12.7kgf/cm2
Firearea:3.92m2
Totalsurface:270.52m2
Cylindercount:2
Cylindersize:570x
Operator:Jichang Jidun Railway,
Manchukuo National Railway
China Railway
Operatorclass:MNR: ミカナ (1933−1938)
MNR: ミカナ (1938−1945)
CR: ㄇㄎ5 (1951−1959),
CR: 解放5 (1959–end)
Numinclass:16
Fleetnumbers:Jichang: 501−516
MNR: ミカナ 6540−6555 (Mikana)
MNR: ミカナ 501−516 (Mikana)
CR: JF5 2901−3000

The China Railways JF5 (解放5, Jiěfàng, "liberation") class steam locomotive was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives operated by the China Railway, originally built by Kawasaki in Japan in 1923 for the Jichang Railway.[1]

History

In 1923, sixteen D50 class locomotives were exported to the Jichang Jidun Railway in Manchuria, which designated them class 500 and numbered 501 through 516. Ten were built by Kawasaki (works nos. 970−971, 1140−1170) [2] and six by Kisha Seizō (w/n 965−970), and though very similar to the Japanese D50 class, there were some slight differences in dimensions due to the larger loading gauge on Chinese lines.

After the establishment of Manchukuo, the Jichang Jidun Railway was nationalised along with other private railways to form the Manchukuo National Railway. These locomotives were classified by MNR to Mikana (シカナ) class, numbered 6540−6555, renumbered 501−516 in 1938.[3]

Postwar

After the end of the Pacific War, these locomotives were passed on to the Republic of China Railway. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, China Railways designated them ㄇㄎ5 (MK5) class in 1951,[1] and subsequently 解放5 (JF5) class in 1959.

The last of these locomotives were retired in 1990.

Notes and References

  1. 中国铁道部1951年2月版《机车概要表》
  2. Web site: 一冊の本 川崎車両のカタログ 1: 汽車好きクラーケン. kraken.cocolog-nifty.com.
  3. 小熊米雄 「満州のD50―吉長、吉敦鉄路の500形について」 交友社『鉄道ファン』 No.22 April 1963, pp.45-47