| JNR Class 9600 Taiwan Railways Class DT580 China Railways Class KD5/KD55 Central China Railway Class 9600 | |
| Powertype: | Steam |
| Gauge: | (Chinese Railways KD55) (JNR Class 9600, Taiwan Railways Administration DT580 Class) (Chinese Railways KD5) |
| Leadingdiameter: | 840mm |
| Driverdiameter: | 1250mm |
| Wheelbase: | 7.01m (23feet) |
| Hatnote: | Reference:[1] |
| Whytetype: | 2-8-0 Consolidation |
| Locale: | All of Japan, except Shikoku |
| Retiredate: | 1976 |
| Disposition: | 43 preserved, remainder scrapped |
| Length: | 16.563m (54.341feet) |
| Locoweight: | 60.35 t |
| Locotenderweight: | 94.85 t |
| Fueltype: | Coal |
| Fuelcap: | 6 t |
| Watercap: | 130NaN0 |
| Builder: | Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company, Kisha Seizō, JNR - Kokura |
| Builddate: | 1913-1925 |
| Totalproduction: | 770 |
| Maxspeed: | 65km/h |
| Boilerpressure: | 13kg/cm2 |
| Firearea: | 2.320NaN0 |
| Totalsurface: | 154.50NaN0 |
| Superheaterarea: | 35.20NaN0 |
| Cylindercount: | Two |
| Cylindersize: | 50.8x |
| Valvegear: | Walschaerts |
The is a type of 2-8-0 steam locomotive built by Japanese Government Railways (JGR, after-day Japanese National Railways (JNR)) from 1913. The Class 9600 was the first type of locomotive to be mass-produced by Japanese manufacturers. The Class 9600 were popularly known as Kyuroku (nine-six), and were extensively used for freight service throughout Japan.[1] They were numbered 9600-9699, 19600-19699, 29600-29699, 39600-39699, 49600-49699, 59600-59699, 69600-69699 and 79600-79669. All 770 remained in service until the 2nd of March 1976, when all steam-hauled service on JNR's network has been phased out.[2]
From 1923 to 1939, Kawasaki, Kisha Seizō, Nippon Sharyō, and Hitachi built 39 9600s for the Government General of Taiwan. The Taiwan Government Railway classified them 800 class before 1937, and they were classified D98 after 1937. After World War II, they were taken over by Taiwan Railways Administration, and they were classified DT580. One engine, DT619, is being rebuilt by combining parts of scrapped locomotives after the war.
To alleviate a severe motive power shortage on the Central China Railway, JNR locomotives were converted from Japanese narrow gauge to standard gauge and shipped to China. 251 Class 9600 locomotives were sent for use on both the Central China Railway and the North China Transportation Company (NCTC class ソリコ (Soriko)); after the Pacific War, these became China Railway class KD5. Others were rebuilt to metre gauge for operation on Yunnan's Kunming–Hekou Railway and its branches; these eventually became China Railway class KD55.[3]
, 43 Class 9600 locomotives are preserved at various locations in Japan.[4] There had previously been more locomotives of the class preserved across the country, however the number of which had started drastically decreasing over the following years due to multiple allegations and negligent practices towards historic preserved steam locomotives in Japan.
Number 39685, built in 1920, has been preserved outdoors in Chuo-ku, Saitama since 1972, but was removed and cut up in September 2016 due to the prohibitive cost of restoration.[5]
Number 29657, built in 1919, had been preserved and used for the Morimon Onsen SL Land hotel in the Niigata Prefecture of Uonuma City in 1979. But in 1998, the SL Hotel business was discontinued and the engine and its consist were left as an outdoor static display artifact for the public to view upclose. Though in 2015, it was abandoned after the Morimon Onsen Seiunkan closed in March of that same year. One of the two passenger carriages that was used for the hotel was removed sometime before or during 2014. In 2022, however, the 29657 and the last coach were unceremoniously scrapped on-site years later. To this day, it is not known why the city didn't bother to sell or donate the locomotive and carriage to anyone else, or to a railway museum willing to have them fully restored, after the Morimon Onsen Seiunkan shut down years before.
Recently as of April 22nd, 2024, number 19633, built in 1917, which was previously on display outdoors near the Wakamatsu Station in the Fukuoka Prefecture, Kitakyushu City, since 1989, which was allegedly reported to have been bought and thought to have been moved to its new location in 2020 near the Yamaguchi Yuya Fukutaro food corporation in Soeda Town, was scrapped after being left exposed to the weather elements, deteriorating, and neglected for many years without much cosmetic maintenance.