Imperial Japanese Army Railway Class 100

Imperial Japanese Army Railway Class 100
Ke 236 (ex-IJA 2) in 1939
Technical specifications
Serial number(s)	23728, 23731, 23746 – 23749, 23941 – 23944, 23963 – 23964, 23974 – 23975, 23983, 23985, 23995, 24005, 24018, 24025, 24038, 24045 – 24046, 24053 – 24055, 24062 – 24064, 24578 – 24579, 24592 – 24597, 24609 – 24613, 24624 – 24628, 24635 – 24637, 24642, 24653 – 24655, 25215 – 25219, 25229 – 25230, 25265 – 25267, 25277 – 25278, 25285 – 25287, 25308 – 25309, 25322 – 25325, 25336 – 25341
Manufacturer(s)	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Build date	1904 – 1905
Total produced	82
Classification	0-6-0
Dimensions	6,299 mm × 1,720 mm × 2,794 mm
Rail gauge	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)
Valve gear	Stephenson
Cylinders	2
Boiler pressure	11.2 kg/cm²
Fuel type	Coal
Heating area	16.1 m²
Service information
Years in-service	1904 – 9 October 1950
Running numbers	100 – 129, 26 – 77, later various numbers
Disposition details
Preserved	None
Number operational	None
Number scrapped	82

The Imperial Japanese Army Railway Class 100 was a 0-6-0WT Switcher-type narrow gauge side tank steam locomotive operated by the Imperial Japanese Army and later other railways from 1904 to October 1950.

History

The Class 100 was an early steam locomotive used in Japan. The locomotives were ordered by the Imperial Japanese Army from the Baldwin Locomotive Works; a total of 82 locomotives were built in three batches from 1904 to 1905. There were two different types of locomotives; the third batch of locomotives were significantly different from the rest with their larger water tanks and a coal bunker behind the cab.

In IJA use, these locomotives were used on various railways throughout Manchuria and South Korea; in South Korea, these were known as the NaKiSa-type. Records regarding the service lives of these locomotives on foreign railways remains largely vague due to lack of records; however, what is known is that some locomotives of this type, particularly those used in Manchuria, were returned to Japan and used in service on some small railways.

Six locomotives, 1, 13, 15, 17, 39 and 2, were resold to the Iwate Light Railway, renumbered 1 through 6 and began service in August 1913. It is difficult to trace the numbers of 2 through 5 as their undercarriages and boilers were frequently swapped between each other. When the Iwate Light Railway was nationalized on 1 August 1936 to become the Kamaishi Line, the locomotives came under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Government Railways; they were reclassified as Class Ke 231 locomotives and renumbered Ke 231 through Ke 236. With the anticipated gauge conversion works on the Kamaishi Line, withdrawals commenced in September 1948 with Ke 234, Ke 231 in September 1949, Ke 232 and Ke 233 in July 1950 and Ke 235 and Ke 236 on 9 October 1950 with the completion of gauge conversion works. Both Ke 235 and Ke 236 were written off in December 1950 and scrapped.

Three locomotives, 10, 32 and 48, were resold to the Ehime Railway in preparation for its opening in 1918; there is no evidence the Ehime Railway had any direct dealings with parties in Manchuria, with these likely done through brokers. The locomotives were renumbered 1 through 3. When the Ehime Railway was nationalized on 1 October 1933, the locomotives were also acquired by the JGR, reclassified as Class Ke 250 locomotives and renumbered Ke 250 through Ke 252. The locomotives were taken out of service with gauge conversion works on the lines completed in September 1935 and withdrawn in 1936.

Two locomotives, 49 and 80, were resold to the Miyazaki Prefectural Railway in preparation for its opening in 1913; here, they were reclassified the Class Wo 1 and numbered 1 and 2 (alternatively Wo 1 and Wo 2). These were used as the main locomotives on the Obi Line (now the Kyushu Railway Company Nichinan Line) until the introduction of gasoline-powered railcars in 1929. When the Miyazaki Prefectural Railway was nationalized on 1 October 1935, the locomotives were also acquired by the JGR, reclassified as Class Ke 290 locomotives and renumbered Ke 290 and Ke 291. The locomotives were moved to the Matsuura Line on 23 December 1937 with the completion of regauging works on the Obi Line, now named the Aburatsu Line. Used due to a demand for increased coal production, the Ke 290s operated until August 1943 when they were withdrawn.

No Class 100s have been preserved.

Gallery

Imperial Japanese Army 44 at an unknown date

Trivia

• Baldwin's model number for the class was 6-11-D.

References

Ehime Railway steam locomotives
Steam locomotive	1 – 3 • 4 • 5

Miyazaki Prefectural Railway motive power
Steam locomotive	130 • 140 • 1001
Light steam locomotive	Wo 1
Light diesel locomotive	1 • 2

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