JNR Class C57

The Class C57 (C57形) 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.[1][2] Another 14 Class C57 locomotives were built for export to Taiwan in 1942 and 1953.

JNR Class C57 Taiwan Railways Class CT270
C57 180 at Aizu Wakamatsu Station in 2007
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company, Kisha Seizō, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi Build date 1937-1947,1953
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2 Pacific Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Driver dia. 1,750 mm (5 ft 9 in) Length 20,280 mm (66 ft 6 in) Height 3,945 mm (12 ft 11.3 in) Loco weight 67.50 t (66.43 long tons; 74.41 short tons) Total weight 115.50 t (113.68 long tons; 127.32 short tons) Fuel type Coal Firebox:  • Firegrate area 11.4 square metres (122.7 sq ft) Boiler pressure 227.5 psi (1,569 kPa) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 41.4 square metres (445.6 sq ft) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 500 mm × 600 mm (20 in × 24 in)
Performance figures Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph) Power output: ​  • Starting 1,290 PS (1,270 hp)  • Continuous 1,040 PS (1,030 hp) Tractive effort 12,820 kg (125.7 kN) Factor of adh. 10,330 kg (101.3 kN)
Career Retired December 1975 (Japan) 28 February 1983 (Taiwan)

The class was withdrawn from regular passenger service in December 1975.[2] The locomotives were numbered C57 1-C57 201 in Japan the TRA CT270 were numbered CT271-CT284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

As of 2014, 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

C57 1 in service, November 2009

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 Niigata, Aizu-Wakamatsu, and Kōriyama.

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 It was withdrawn in 1983, and restored by the Taiwan Railway Administration in June 2014.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]

• 
  C57 11
• 
  C57 26 in Gyoda, Saitama, July 2011
• 
  C57 128 in Otsu, Shiga, October 2013
• 
  C57 186 in Koganei, Tokyo, November 2011
• 
  C57 201 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido
• 
  CT273 in Yilan, Taiwan

See also

• Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification
• JNR Class C55
• JNR Class C59

References

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