Girish Mahajan (Editor)

JNR Class C51

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Power type
  
Steam

Total produced
  
289

Gauge
  
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Build date
  
1919-1928

Configuration
  
4-6-2 Pacific

JNR Class C51

Builder
  
Kisha Seizō, Mitsubishi, JNR - Hamamatsu

The Class C51 (C51形) is a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive built by Japanese National Railways (JNR). The C classification indicates three sets of driving wheels. The C51 introduced 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) diameter driving wheels to Japan. C51s raised the average speed on the Tōkaidō Main Line from 47.3 km/h (29.4 mph) to 55.3 km/h (34.4 mph). In 1930, a C51 hauled the first Tsubame (swallow) express, reducing travel time between Tokyo and Kōbe to 9 hours.

Contents

China Railway class SL9

To alleviate a severe motive power shortage, sixteen JNR Class C51 locomotives, C51 8, 28, 30, 33 - 35, 88, 95, 96, 116 ,130 - 132, 173, 175, and 178, all equipped with a Sumiyama feedwater heater, were converted to standard gauge and sent to the Central China Railway in 1939, where they operated primarily between Nanjing and Shanghai. After the Liberation of China and the establishment of the People's Republic, these became China Railway class ㄆㄒ9 (PX9) in 1951, and reclassified as class SL9 (勝利9, Shènglì, "victory") in 1959.

Preserved examples

As of 2012, four Class C51 locomotives were preserved at various locations.

  • C51 5: At the Railway Museum in Saitama, Saitama (formerly preserved outdoors at the Ome Railway Park in Ome, Tokyo
  • C51 44: At Akita Depot in Akita, Akita
  • C51 85: At Kagoshima Depot in Kagoshima, Kagoshima
  • C51 239: At the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum in Kyoto
  • References

    JNR Class C51 Wikipedia