JNR Class C57 explained

JNR Class C57
Taiwan Railways Class CT270
Powertype:Steam
Whytetype:4-6-2 Pacific
Retiredate:December 1975 (Japan)
28 February 1983 (Taiwan)
Disposition:Four operational among 32 preserved, remainder scrapped
Length:20280mm
Height:3945mm
Builder:Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company, Kisha Seizō, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi
Builddate:1937–1947 (201 for JNR), 1953 (14 for TRA)
Maxspeed:100km/h
Driverdiameter:1750mm
Tractiveeffort:12,820 kg (125.7 kN)
Factorofadhesion:10,330 kg (101.3 kN)
Locoweight:67.5t
Locotenderweight:115.5t
Poweroutput Start:1290lk=onNaNlk=on
Poweroutput Cont:1040lk=onNaNlk=on
Boilerpressure:227.5psi
Fueltype:Coal
Cylindersize:500x
Valvegear:Walschaerts
Cylindercount:two
Superheaterarea:41.4m2
Firearea:11.4m2

The 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.

The class was withdrawn from regular passenger service in December 1975.[2] The locomotives were numbered C57 1–C57 201 in Japan the TRA CT270 were numbered CT271–CT284.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

, 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.

C57 1

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

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

CT271

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 Although involved in an accident in 1957, it was repaired and returned to service until it was withdrawn in 1983 and stored at a roundhouse in Chiayi until 1991 when the roundhouse was demolished.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

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

Notes and References

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