| Class EF200 | |
| Powertype: | Electric |
| Builder: | Hitachi Rail |
| Builddate: | 1990–1993 |
| Totalproduction: | 21 |
| Uicclass: | Bo′Bo′Bo′ |
| Bogies: | FD3 (outer), FD4A (centre) |
| Wheeldiameter: | 11202NaN2 |
| Length: | 19400frac=8NaNfrac=8 |
| Width: | 2970frac=8NaNfrac=8 |
| Collectionmethod: | FPS2A pantograph x2 |
| Tractionmotors: | AC |
| Maxspeed: | 110abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Poweroutput: | 6MW |
| Tractiveeffort: | 26600kgf |
| Safety: | ATS-PF, ATS-SF |
| Operator: | JR Freight |
| Numinclass: | 12 |
| Deliverydate: | 1990 |
| Firstrundate: | 1990 |
| Retiredate: | 28 March 2019 |
| Withdrawndate: | 28 March 2019 |
| Preservedunits: | 1 |
| Disposition: | Retired |
The was a Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement DC electric locomotive type operated by JR Freight on freight services in Japan from 1992[1] until its retirement on 28 March 2019.[2]
The Class EF200 was developed to replace Class EF66 electric locomotives on heavy freight services on the Tokaido Main Line and Sanyo Main Line west of Tokyo.[1] It is equipped with six 1000kW FMT2 traction motors, giving a total power output of 6000kW.[1] Ultimately, the class was deemed to be over-specified and unnecessarily expensive, and the order was terminated after the delivery of 20 full-production locomotives.[3] The subsequent Class EF210 was instead chosen as the standard design for hauling freight services on the Tokaido Main Line and Sanyo Main Line.[3] Originally designed to haul 1600t freight trains, problems of insufficient power supply capacity to the overhead lines, meant that the class was initially limited to hauling 1200t trains.
, the fleet consists of 12 locomotives (EF200-2 – 7, 10, 15, and 17 – 20), based at Suita Depot in Osaka.[4] They are used primarily on 1,300 t freight trains west of Tokyo on the Tokaido and Sanyo Main Lines.
The prototype locomotive, EF200-901, was delivered in March 1990 for extensive testing.[5] The first full-production locomotives were delivered to Shin-Tsurumi Depot in Tokyo in 1992, entering revenue service on the Tokaido Main Line and Sanyo Main Line from the summer of that year.[1] In 1992, the Class EF200 was awarded the Laurel Prize, presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club.[6]
From 1 April 1999, the entire class was transferred from Shin-Tsurumi in Tokyo to Suita Depot in Osaka.[5] Between 2006 and 2009, the entire fleet was repainted into a new livery similar to that used for the later Class EF210 locomotives.[7] EF200-901 was similarly repainted in 2007.[1]
From 2007, the class was power-derated to match the power output of the older Class EF66 locomotives.[3] In 2011, one class member, EF200-1, was withdrawn.[3]
During fiscal 2015, eight members of the class were removed from regular duties, leaving 12 members in service.[8] The final service of the Class EF200 took place on 28 March 2019, as EF200-18 hauled its last freight train from the Hatabu yard in Shimonoseki to the Suita freight terminal in Osaka.[2]
The prototype locomotive, EF200-901, was withdrawn in March 2016[9] and moved to the Hitachi Mito factory in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, in October 2016, where it was restored to its original livery.[10]
See main article: Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification.
The EF200 classification for this locomotive type is explained below. As with previous locomotive designs, the prototype was numbered EF200-901, with subsequent production locomotives numbered from EF200-1 onward.