JNR Class EF62

JNR Class EF62

Infobox Locomotive
name=EF62
electricsystem=1,500 V DC
tractionmotors=DC
powertype=Electric


caption=EF62 1 preserved at the Usui Pass Railway Heritage Museum in Yokokawa 2004-08-12
builddate=1962 - 1969
builder=Kawasaki, Tōshiba, and Tōyō & Kisha
weight=96 tons
uicclass=Co-Co
gauge=1,067 mm
firstrundate=
disposition=All withdrawn
numinclass=54
wheeldiameter=1,120 mm
poweroutput=2,550 kW
wheelbase=
tractiveeffort=
topspeed=100 km/h
length=18,000 mm
width=2,800 mm
height=4,060 mm
transmission=
railroad=JNR, JR East|

A total of 54 Class EF62 DC electric locomotives were built between 1962 and 1969 for use hauling passenger and freight on the Shinetsu Main Line and particularly over the extreme 66‰ gradient of the Usui Pass between Yokokawa and Karuizawa. The prototype, EF62 1, was built by Kawasaki Sharyō in 1962, with the full-production locomotives built by Kawasaki, Tōshiba, and Tōyō & Kisha delivered from 1963 onward.

The EF62s were the first adhesion locomotives used on the Shinetsu Main Line following the abandonment of the under-powered ED42 rack-and-pinion locos dating from the 1930s. They were designed to work in multiple with pairs of the specially-designed JNR Class EF63 "Sherpa" locomotives between Yokokawa and Karuizawa.

While high adhesion was clearly an important requirement, the locos had to be designed with a low axle load (16 t, compared to 18 t for the EF63s) allowing them to be used on other sections of the Shinetsu Main Line with stricter axle-load restrictions. The need to reduce overall weight was one reason behind the decision to use the unique Co-Co wheel arrangement rather than the more commonly used Bo-Bo-Bo arrangement.

The need to reduce unnecessary weight led to the EF62s being the first DC electric locomotives in Japan to include an electric generator (320 kW) for train heating rather than using a steam generator. The locos also made extensive use of FRP (fibreglass-reinforced plastic) for roof panels, again to reduce weight.

Adhesion working started between Yokokawa and Karuizawa in 1963, and the journey time between these two stations was reduced from the 42 minutes taken on the old rack-and-pinion line to 17 minutes (ascending) and 24 minutes (descending). Train frequency was able to be increased, and freight trains of up 400 tonnes could be handled by an EF62 assisted by two EF63s. The EF62s were able to operate over the entire route from Ueno to Nagano, and were thus seen on a wide range of duties from freight to express passenger workings. The 1970s however saw a switch from loco-hauled to EMU passenger trains during the daytime, and so the EF62s primarily became freight locomotives.

Two members of the class, EF62 12 and 35, suffered an early demise when they were withdrawn following an accident in which they and two EF63s overturned after running away down the Usui Pass section.

The capacity and speed restrictions of the Usui Pass still represented a serious bottleneck, and in 1984, all freight operations over the section were discontinued and rerouted via the Chūō Main Line. This made a large number of the class surplus to requirements, and 26 were reallocated to Shimonoseki depot in 1984 for use on Shiodome (Tokyo) to Shimonoseki freight services. However, the EF62s proved unsuitable for these duties, and this sub-fleet was withdrawn before JNR became JR in 1987, leaving a small number of locomotives still working on Shinetsu Mainline duties.

Privatization saw six EF62s pass into JR East's books for use on the overnight "Noto" express and seasonal trains. Three operational locos (EF62 43, 46, 54) remained when the Yokokawa – Karuizawa section was closed in October 1997, and their final duties involved hauling withdrawn EF63s for scrapping before they themselves were withdrawn in 1998.

Preserved examples

* EF62 1 Usui Pass Railway Heritage Museum, Yokokawa
* EF62 3 JR-East Nagano depot
* EF62 18 JR-East Ōmiya works (cab section only)
* EF62 54 Usui Pass Railway Heritage Museum, Yokokawa

Models

The EF62 was produced by Tomix in N gauge in standard blue (#2102) and original brown livery (#2182).

References

*Kōichi Inoue, “Kokutetsu Kikansha Jiten” (JNR Locomotive Guide), Man To Man Books, 1999

----


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • JNR Class D52 — Class D52 Preserved D52 235 in Sagamihara, January 2011 Power type Steam Builder Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company etc. Build da …   Wikipedia

  • JNR Class EF63 — Infobox Locomotive name=EF63 electricsystem=1,500 V DC tractionmotors=DC powertype=Electric caption= A pair of EF63s leading a 489 series EMU on a Hakusan service in June 1997 builddate=1962 1976 builder= Kawasaki, Mitsubishi and Tōshiba… …   Wikipedia

  • JNR Class D62 — D62 is a class of 20 2 8 4 steam locomotive built by the Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1950 and 1951. The D62 was a rebuild of the JNR Class D52, which had a 2 8 2 wheel arrangement. Following the launch of the D62, other 2 8 2 locomotives… …   Wikipedia

  • JNR Class DE10 — DE10 JR Hokkaidō DE10 1715 at Sapporo depot, August 2006 Power type Diesel hydraulic Builder Kisha, Nippon Sharyo Build date 1966 1978 …   Wikipedia

  • JNR Class D51 — Class D51 JR East s D51 498 on the Joetsu Line, December 2008 Power type Steam Designer Hideo Shima Builder Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company etc …   Wikipedia

  • JNR Class D60 — D60 1 preserved at Yamaguchi Prefectural Museum D60 61 preserved at park in Ashiya, Fukuoka …   Wikipedia

  • JNR Class DD51 — DD51 JR Freight DD51 1166 at Shin Fuji Freight Terminal Power type Diesel hydraulic Builder Hitachi, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi Build date 1962 1978 UIC classific …   Wikipedia

  • JNR Class EF65 — EF65 Refurbished JR Freight EF65 118, February 2008 Power type Electric Builder Fuji Electric, Kawasaki Sharyō, Kisha, Nippon Sharyo, Toshiba, Toyo …   Wikipedia

  • JNR Class EF55 — EF55 EF55 1 at Matsumoto Station, October 2003 Power type Electric Builder Hitachi, Kawasaki, Tōyō Electric Build date 1936 …   Wikipedia

  • JNR Class EF81 — EF81 JR Freight EF81 87, August 2007 Power type Electric Builder Hitachi Ltd., Mitsubishi …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”