JNR Class D51


The Class D51 is a type of 2-8-2 steam locomotive built by the Japanese Government Railways, the Japanese National Railways, and various manufacturers from 1936 to 1945,1950 to 1951 the JNR D51’s were numbered D51-D51 954 D51 1001-D51 1161 a total of 1115 D51’s were built between 1936 and 1951. In 1945 30 JNR D51’s were left behind at Sakhalin by Japan when Soviet Union took over Sakhalin the Soviet Railways then renumbered them D51-1-D51-30 in 1946. From 1936 to 1944 32 D51’s were shipped to Taiwan and were renumbered DT651-682 later in 1951 Kisha Seizō and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries built 3 and 2 more engines numbered DT683-685 and 686-687. In 1950 Mitsubishi built two Identical locomotives similar to the D51’s but except for the gauge they were classification as Mika7 for the Korean National Railways in 1950 numbered 1701-1702 however both engines were scrapped in 1965.

Design and operation

The design of class D51 was based on the earlier D50, introduced in 1923. Wartime production featured some substitution of wood for steel parts like running boards, smoke deflectors and tender coal bunkers. A total of 1,115 D51s were built, the largest number in any single class in Japan. Early D51s were nicknamed Namekuji-gata for their shape. The locomotive was designed by Hideo Shima. It was used mainly in freight service through the 1960s. Between 1947 and 1949 33 Class D51’s were rebuilt to Class C61 Hudson’s those being D51 615/D51 1109/D51 1063/D51 1011/D51 1075/D51 1134/D51 1147/D51 1117/D51 925/D51 1047/D51 1139/D51 1143/D51 1115/D51 1124/D51 1084/D51 1128/D51 1130/D51 874/D51 1027/D51 1094/D51 1123/D51 1158/D51 1010/D51 1135/D51 366/D51 198/D51 1146/D51 904/D51 69/D51 1144/D51 945/D51 1050/D51 1148 were converted to C61 Hudson Rebuilds. Between 1960 and 1961 6 Class D51’s were rebuilt to Class D61 Berkshire’s those D51 640/D51 555/D51 181/D51 224/D51 205/D51 519 were rebuilt by the JNR to Class D61’s between 1960 and 1961.

Service outside Japan

Soviet Railways D51

The specially built D51s that were left on Sakhalin by the retreating Japanese at the end of World War II were used until 1979 by Soviet Railways. One was left outside Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk railway station, and one is in running condition and is kept at the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk railway station. Additionally two wrecks were left to the north of the city.

Korean National Railways Mika7

Two locomotives were built for the Korean National Railroad in 1950 by Mitsubishi. Designated Mika7 class, they were nearly identical to JNR class D51 except for the gauge.

Taiwan Railways Administration DT650

From 1936 to 1944, Kawasaki, Kisha Seizō and Hitachi had built 32 D51s for Imperial Taiwan Railway. After World War II, they were taken over by Taiwan Railways Administration, and were classified DT650. In 1951, Kisha Seizō built three DT650s and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries built two DT650s for Taiwan Railways Administration.

Classification

The classification consists of a "D" for the four sets of driving wheels and the class number 51 for tender locomotives that the numbers 50 through 99 were assigned to under the 1928 locomotive classification rule.

Preserved examples

Over 174 Class D51 locomotives are preserved in Japan. D51 498 was restored by JR East and pulls special-event trains on JR East lines.
The following is a list of preserved locomotives as of September 2012.

Operational

Built in 1938 at the JNR Hamamatsu Works, locomotive number D51 200 has been overhauled and restored to operational condition for use as SL Yamaguchi and SL Kitabiwako starting in 2017.

Static preservation