The JNR Class C11 is a 2-6-4T Adriatic-type side tank steam locomotive built for the JNR from 1932 to 1947.
History[]
The C11s were used mainly as freight locomotives and was essentially an improved version of the older Class C10 locomotives. The locomotives were retired in 1971. Twenty more were built for eleven private railways around Japan.
52 C11s have been preserved around Japan; six members of the class, namely C11 123, C11 171, C11 190, C11 207, C11 227 and C11 325, are preserved in operational condition; C11 171 is owned by JR Hokkaido, C11 190 and C11 227 are owned by the Oigawa Railway, C11's 123 and 207 are owned by the Tobu Railway, and C11 325 is owned by the Mōka Railway. A sixth locomotive, C11 312, was also preserved in operational condition on the Oigawa Railway, but was retired in 2007 and is now on static display due to a variety of issues with the locomotive; the locomotive also acts as a spare parts donor from time to time.
The locomotives are popularly known as C no Chonchon among railfans.
Preservation[]
- Main article: Preservation
Fifty-two locomotives are preserved around Japan.
Trivia[]
- C11 227 is currently wearing the whistle of C11 312; this is due to C11 227's original boiler needing replacement, so the Oigawa Railway swapped C11 312's boiler with C11 227's.
- One of the Oigawa Railway's C11's appeared in Volume 11 of the Manga Laid Back Camp. As it was merely a fleeting cameo, the exact identity of the locomotive is unknown.