JGR Class 160 No. 165

JGR Class 160 No. 165
165 in February 2024
Technical specifications
Serial number(s)	2421
Manufacturer(s)	Sharp, Stewart and Company
Build date	1874
Rebuilder	Meiji-mura, Tōkai Kikan
Rebuilt	1973, 2010 – 2012, 2019 – 2022
Classification	2-4-0T
Model	B (1896) A7 (1898) 160 (1909)
Dia. of Drivers	1,295 mm
Dimensions	7,468 mm × 3,664 mm × 2,468 mm
Weight	21.7 t (47,840 lbs)
Rail gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Valve gear	Allan
Firegrate area	0.79 m2
Fuel type	Coal
Heating area	48.9 m2
Service information
Years in-service	1874 – 2 October 1957
Running numbers	23 (1874) 165 (1909) 12 (Bisai Railway/Nagoya Railroad)
Disposition details
Disposition	Operational; based at Meiji-mura

Japanese Government Railways No. 165 is a Class 160 2-4-0T Porter-type side tank steam locomotive built for the Japanese Government Railways by Sharp, Stewart and Company in 1874. It is one of the oldest operational steam locomotives in Japan.

History

165 was built by Sharp, Stewart and Company in Manchester, England for the Japanese Government Railways; the locomotive was completed in 1874, with a serial number of 2421. Initially numbered 23, 165 was the last locomotive of its class manufactured; it, along with 22 (later 164) were considered part of the "later batch" of that class of locomotives. 23 entered service in 1874 and assigned to Yokohama. 23 was involved in an accident on 18 November 1878 when it was hit by a rock intentionally placed on a track near a bridge. 23 was lent to the Nippon Railway in July 1883 for construction work in the Ueno area and returned in May 1885.

With its return, the locomotive was assigned to Shimbashi (now Shiodome) in 1894; it was reclassified as a Class B locomotive while retaining the same number; on 18 November 1898 the locomotive was again reclassified as a Class A7 locomotive, while retaining the same number. With the enactment of vehicle naming regulations on 1 October 1901, 23 was reclassified as a Class 160 locomotive and renumbered 165. 165 was withdrawn from JGR service on 9 March 1911 and resold to the Bisai Railway, where it was renumbered 12.

On 1 August 1925, the Bisai Railway merged with the Nagoya Railway, with ownership of 165 going to the Nagoya Railway; it would subsequently merge with the Mino Electric Tramway and become the Maigi Railway, with the locomotive still operating on the Bisai Line. The railway merged again with the Aichi Electric Railway on 1 August 1935, with the company renamed the Nagoya Railroad. 165 was withdrawn from service on 2 October 1957 and moved to the Inuyama Amusement Park (now the Japan Monkey Park) for preservation. The locomotive was moved again to Meiji-mura, an open-air architectural museum, around April 1965, where it was restored to operating condition in 1973; it remains at the site today. The locomotive commenced service in April 1974 alongside Nippon Steel No. 9, an American-built steam locomotive also preserved at the park; many regard this locomotive as a "marvelous achievement" as it is a rare example of a genuine Okajoki (colloquial nickname for a Meiji-era steam locomotive) which remains in operation.

Due to deterioration, 165's original boiler was removed in April 1985 and replaced with a strengthened replica of its original boiler; its original boiler remains on display in Meiji-mura. 165 was taken out of service in December 2010 for an overhaul, with No. 9 replacing it in its duties; the overhaul was completed in October 2012, with 165 reentering service on 8 November 2012. 165 was most recently taken out of service for a major overhaul and rebuild in October 2019; Tōkai Kikan would perform the overhaul and rebuild of the locomotive. This overhaul was completed on 14 October 2022, with trial runs conducted; operations of 165 resumed from 20 April 2023. 165 is currently the main form of motive power at Meiji-mura, with No. 9 having been sent for an overhaul in July 2023; this overhaul is expected to take two years.

Gallery

165's original boiler

165 in February 2017

Notable steam locomotives of the Japanese National Railways
Class 10	17
Class 110	110
Class 150	150
Class 160	165
Class 230	233
Class 400	403
Class 860	860
Class 1275	1275
Class 1290	1292 Zenkō
Class 2100	2109
Class 7100	7101 Benkei • 7105 Yoshitsune • 7106 Shizuka
Class 7150	7150 Taishō
Class 8620	8620 • 8630 • 58654
Class 9600	9608 • 9633 • 49671
Class 9750	9856
Class B20	B20 10
Class C10	C10 8
Class C11	C11 1 • C11 64 • C11 123 • C11 171 • C11 190 • C11 207 • C11 227 • C11 312 • C11 325
Class C12	C12 66 • C12 164
Class C51	C51 239
Class C53	C53 43 • C53 45
Class C55	C55 1
Class C56	C56 31 • C56 44 • C56 160
Class C57	C57 1 • C57 135 • C57 180
Class C58	C58 1 • C58 239 • C58 363
Class C59	C59 1 • C59 164
Class C61	C61 2 • C61 20
Class C62	C62 2 • C62 3 • C62 17
Class D50	D50 140
Class D51	D51 1 • D51 146 • D51 200 • D51 498 • D51 827
Class E10	E10 2