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The JNR Class B20 is a 0-4-0T Switcher-type side tank saturated steam locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways.

History[]

The B20 was designed under the Important Industrial Control Law as a small steam locomotive intended for industrial use. The locomotives were manufactured during World War II, although their actual conditions of operation are not known. A total of 15 locomotives (5 by JNR's Kōriyama Works and 10 by Tateyama Heavy Industries) were manufactured.

As these trains were so small, these were only used for shunting duties and were not able to pull a mainline train. Many were retired early as these were produced under duress, and as such workmanship and build quality of the locomotives was poor. Due to the shape of their tanks, they have been referred to as the Bean Tank by casual railfans. Two locomotives survive today: class leader B20 1, located at the abandoned Asahi Station in Hokkaido, and B20 10 at the Kyoto Railway Museum. Only B20 10 is maintained in operational condition.

Preservation[]

The following Class B20 locomotives have been preserved:

Number Manufacturer Date manufactured Serial number Date withdrawn Location Notes
B20 1 Kōriyama Works February 1944 11 23 October 1967 Manjisentetsudo Park, Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, Japan Lead member of class, preserved under shelter; cab open for public viewing, cosmetically restored 2016
B20 10 Tateyama Heavy Industries 7 December 1946 349 28 March 1979 Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto, Japan Operational, not mainline certified; used for switching purposes and other shows within compound, designated Quasi-Railway Monument in 2000

Gallery[]

References[]

JGR/JNR steam locomotives
JGR 151030404550607078-2901001051101151201301401501601701801902002052102202252302804004504804905006007008008108508608709009509601000 (gen 1)1000 (gen 2)101010201025103010401045105010551060 (gen 1)1060 (gen 2)1070110011201150 (gen 1)1150 (gen 2)11701180119011951200121012151220122512301235124012451250125512601265127012751280128512901295130013101320132513401345135013551360137014001430144014801500153015501630165016701680169017001710172017301740174517501760176517701800185019001940196019802000204020602080209021002120240025002700 (gen 1)2700 (gen 2)28002820285029002920293029402950300030053010301530203025303030353040 (gen 1)3040 (gen 2)30453050306030703080308531003150316531703200324032503255330033503360338033903400342034253450345535003700380039003920395039804000403041004110450045104600500050505060510051305160520052305270530054005450548054905500560056255630565056805700580058305860590059506000605061006120615062006250627063006350640065006600670067506760700070107030705070807100715071707200 (gen 1)7200 (gen 2)7270730073507400745075007550760076507700 (gen 1)7700 (gen 2)77207750780078507900795080008050810081508200 (gen 1)82508300835083608380840084508500 (gen 1)8500 (gen 2)8550860087008800885089009000902090309040905091509200930094009500955095809600 (gen 1)9700975098009850AA1A2A3A4A5A6A7A8A9A10ABACADAEAFAGAHAIAJAKALAMANAOAPAQBB1B2B3B4B5B6B7BaBbBcCC1C2C3C13DD1D2D3D4D5D6D7D8D9D10D11D12EE1E2E3E4E5E6E7EaEbEcEdEe (gen 1)Ee (gen 2)Ef (gen 1)Ef (gen 2)Ef (gen 3)FF1F2GHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZA 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7Ke 90Ke 92Ke 93Ke 96Ke 97Ke 99Ke 100 (gen 1)Ke 100 (gen 2)Ke 110Ke 120Ke 130Ke 140Ke 145 (gen 1)Ke 145 (gen 2)Ke 150Ke 158Ke 160Ke 170Ke 190Ke 200Ke 210Ke 215Ke 216Ke 217Ke 218Ke 220Ke 230Ke 231Ke 237Ke 239Ke 240Ke 250Ke 260Ke 270Ke 280Ke 290Ke 500Ke 510Ke 600Ke 700Ke 702Ke 703Ke 800
JNR 8200 (gen 2)86209600 (gen 2)990018900B10B20B50C10C11C12C50C51C52C53C54C55C56C57C58C59C60C61C62C63D50D51D52D60D61D62E10HC51HD53HD60HE10HE11KE50
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