JGR Class 860

JGR Class 860
885 (later JGR 860) at an unknown date
Technical specifications
Designer(s)	Richard Francis Trevithick
Serial number(s)	1
Manufacturer(s)	Ministry of Railways Kobe Works
Build date	1893
Total produced	1
Classification	2-4-2T
Dimensions	9,652 mm × Unknown × 3,581 mm
Rail gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Valve gear	Stephenson
Cylinders	2
Boiler pressure	10.2 kg/cm²
Fuel type	Coal
Heating area	71.4 m²
Service information
Years in-service	1893 – March 1929
Running numbers	860 (originally 221, then 137, then 885)
Disposition details
Preserved	None
Number scrapped	1

The JGR Class 860 (originally the JGR Class AE) was a 2-4-2T Columbian-type compound side tank steam locomotive operated by the Japanese Government Railways from 1893 to 1929.

History

The Class 860 was an early steam locomotive operated in Japan. The type was designed by Richard Francis Trevithick (grandson of Richard Trevithick) and manufactured at Kobe Works operated by the Ministry of Railways; this locomotive is notable as it was the first domestically-produced locomotive in Japan, produced by an all-Japanese team. The locomotive was a two-cylinder compound locomotive of Trevithick's own design.

The locomotive was largely based on the ubiquitous Class A8 (now Class 400) series of tank locomotives. Many of the locomotive's parts were imported from the United Kingdom, while final assembly was carried out in Japan. Initially designated the Class AE, the locomotive was initially numbered 221 and was completed in May 1893 and used on trials on the Kyoto-Kobe Route in comparison to standard steam locomotives. It was found that the Class AE locomotive was 10-15% more fuel efficient than the Class L locomotives they were tested against, however there were few other advantages of compound locomotives of this type compared to standard locomotives and as a result the locomotive was likely disliked by its crews due to the complexity in operating and maintaining it.

The locomotive was renumbered 137 in 1894 due to the reorganization of Japan's railway systems; it was reclassified as the Class A9 in 1898 with no change in number. In 1902, the locomotive was lumped in with the Class A8 locomotives and renumbered 885. When a formal rule regarding standardization of locomotive naming was introduced in 1909, 885 was renumbered to 860 and the locomotive was accordingly reclassified as such. 860 was retired in 1918 and sold off to the Karafuto Prefectural Railway where it was used until end-March 1929 and was likely scrapped shortly after.

A replica of 860 being built at Kobe Works was produced for the Tsukuba Expo 85 held in 1985.

Gallery

Replica of 860 being built at Kobe Works at Tsukuba Expo 85