Chichibu Railway Class DeKi 500

The Chichibu Railway Class DeKi 500 (秩父鉄道デキ500形) is a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement DC electric locomotive type operated by the private railway operator Chichibu Railway in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, primarily on freight services, since 1973.[1]

Chichibu Railway Class DeKi 500
DeKi 507 on a limestone working in June 2011
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Hitachi Build date 1973-1980 Total produced 7
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo-Bo Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Loco weight 50 t Electric system/s 1,500 V DC Current pickup(s) overhead wire
Performance figures Power output 920 kW
Career Operators Chichibu Railway Number in class 7 (as of 1 April 2016) Numbers DeKi 501–507 Locale Saitama Prefecture Disposition Operational

As of 1 April 2016, all of the original seven locomotives are in operation.[2]

History

The first two locomotives, DeKi 501 and 502, were built in 1973, based on the earlier Class DeKi 300 design.[1] These locomotives were finished in then-standard blue Chichibu Railway livery from new, as opposed to the brown livery initially carried by earlier classes.[1] Locomotives DeKi 503 and 504 were delivered in March 1979 ahead of the opening of the Mikajiru Freight Line in October of the same year.[1] These locomotives had larger cab end windows and sunvisors above the cab windows.[1] The last three locomotives of the class, DeKi 505 to 507 were delivered in 1980.[1] DeKi 507 is unique among the class in being privately owned by Taiheiyo Cement, and its introduction in 1980 allowed the similarly privately owned DeKi 101 to be transferred to Chichibu Railway ownership.[1]

Fleet details

Number	Manufacturer	Year built	Year withdrawn	Notes
DeKi 501	Hitachi	1973
DeKi 502	Hitachi	1973
DeKi 503	Hitachi	1979
DeKi 504	Hitachi	1979
DeKi 505	Hitachi	1980		Repainted into brown livery in May 2010
DeKi 506	Hitachi	1980
DeKi 507	Hitachi	1980		Privately owned by Taiheiyo Cement

• 
  DeKi 502 in April 2014
• 
  DeKi 502 in yellow livery in February 2017
• 
  DeKi 504 in April 2009
• 
  DeKi 505 in brown livery in May 2010
• 
  DeKi 506 in October 2006
• 
  DeKi 507 in October 2012

References

1. ELダイヤ情報21 [Electric Loco Timetable Information 21]. Tokyo, Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. October 2012. p. 75. ISBN 978-4330320120.
2. 私鉄車両編成表 2016 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. p. 17. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.