JNR Class D50 explained

Japanese National Ry Class D50
China Railways 解放16 class
Powertype:Steam
Designer:Tokichi Ogasawara and Hideo Shima
Builddate:1923–1931
Totalproduction:380
Whytetype:2-8-2
Uicclass:1′D1′ h2
Driverdiameter:14002NaN2
Length:17248frac=4NaNfrac=4
Height:3955frac=8NaNfrac=8
Firearea:3.25m2
Lengthinside:5500mm
Smalltubediameter:57frac=8NaNfrac=8, 90 off
Largetubediameter:140frac=8NaNfrac=8, 28 off
Boilerpressure:13sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
Tubesandflues:142.7m2
Fireboxarea:13.5m2
Superheaterarea:64.4m2
Cylindercount:Two, outside
Cylindersize:570x
Maxspeed:700NaN0
Tractiveeffort:165.9770NaN0
Operatorclass:JGR: 9900 → D50
JNR: D50
CCR: D50
CR: ㄇㄎ16 → 解放16
Fleetnumbers:D50 1-D50 380 (formerly 9900-9999,19900-19999,29900-29975)
Retiredate:1965
Preservedunits:D50 25, D50 140
Disposition:Two preserved, remainder scrapped

The Class D50 is a type of 2-8-2 steam locomotive built by the Japanese Government Railways (JGR), the Japanese National Railways (JNR) and various manufacturers from 1923 to 1931. The class name indicates that the locomotive has four sets of driving wheels (D) and belongs to one of the classes of tender locomotive allocated a number in the series 50 to 99 in the Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification scheme of 1928. Hideo Shima designed the rest of the class until 1931.

The design of the D50 was based on the JNR Class 9600 which was introduced in 1916. A total of 380 Class D50 locomotives were built. Between 1951 and 1956 78 were rebuilt to JNR Class D60 2-8-4 Berkshire’s by the JNR. This class would later form the JNR Class D51.

Service in China

Manchukuo National Railway

See main article: China Railways JF5. 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) 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. The MNR classified these Mikana (ミカナ) class, numbered 6540−6555, renumbered 501−516 in 1938.[1] After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, China Railways designated them ㄇㄎ5 (MK5) class in 1951,[2] and subsequently 解放5 (JF5) class in 1959.

Central China Railway

In 1939, D50 193 was converted to standard gauge and shipped to the Central China Railway, where it operated primarily between Nanjing and Shanghai. This engine lasted in service on China Railways until 1955.[3]

China Railways

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, all the railways of China were taken over by the China Railway, which classified the D50s as ㄇㄎ16 (MK16) class in 1951,[2] later becoming class 解放16(JF16).

Preserved examples

Two D50s are preserved in Japan.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. 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
  2. 中国铁道部1951年2月版《机车概要表》
  3. 中国蒸汽機車世紀集影 (Centennial Collection of Chinese Steam Locomotives), China Railway Publishing House, July 2001, (in Chinese)
  4. Book: Sasada, Masahiro. 国鉄&JR保存車大全 . JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide. Ikaros Publications Ltd.. September 2012 . Tokyo, Japan. 133. 978-4863206175.