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JNR Class C53 No. C53 45

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Japanese National Railways No. C53 45 is a Class C53 4-6-2 Pacific-type steam locomotive built for the Japanese National Railways by Kisha Seizō in November 1928. It is the only preserved three-cylinder locomotive in Japan.

History[]

C53 45 was built by Kisha Seizō; the locomotive was completed on 2 November 1928 at their Osaka Works, with a serial number of 1040. Entering service the same day, C53 45 was first based at Umekoji Depot like many other members of its class and would be used to pull fast passenger trains. C53 45 was moved to Himeji Depot around October 1937 to replace the Class C51 locomotives there, which would be transferred to Okayama Depot.

During this time, C53 45 was involved in a major derailment where it derailed due to a collapsed embankment; it would later crash into C53 39 in the process, causing 25 deaths and 108 injuries. C53 45 would later be moved to Miyahara Depot in February 1943 before moving to Maibara Depot on 18 April 1944 before moving back to Umekoji on 8 September the same year; this was its last movement. C53 45 was involved in another accident when a Class D52 locomotive hauling a freight train ran a signal due to an inattentive crew member and crashed into the rear of the train C53 45 was pulling, killing 38 and injuring 57; the engineer of the D52 would later commit suicide by jumping into the train's firebox to "take responsibility".

C53 45 was taken out of service on 1 June 1950 and struck from the register on 29 June 1950; at this time the locomotive was located at Suita Works. Originally intended to be scrapped, C53 45 was ultimately relegated for use as a training vehicle in Suita Works apparently due to parts being stolen; due to expansion works at Suita Works, C53 45 was then moved to Takatori Works for storage. To coincide with the planned opening of the Modern Transportation Museum in October 1961, C53 45 was restored to operational condition at Takatori Works and temporarily restored to the register that year; the locomotive was intended to be statically displayed at the museum and was chosen due to the original intended locomotive, 7105 Yoshitsune, but this was met with opposition within the company (although the museum would come to display Yoshitsune come the 1990s). A number of commemorative services were pulled with C53 45 to celebrate its restoration, pulling trains from August to September 1961; following its final run C53 45 was struck from the register again and was transported to the Modern Transportation Museum in preparation for static display.

The Modern Transportation Museum would miss its planned October 1961 opening and would only open on 21 January 1962 due to the effects of Typhoon Nancy; C53 45 would be displayed at the museum's entrance. The locomotive would remain at the museum until September 1972, when it was transported as "equipment" to the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum, which opened on 12 October 1972; it has remained in Umekoji since. Due to its transportation as "equipment", no plans were made to restore C53 45 to operational condition and the locomotive has never been fired up while preserved at Umekoji. C53 45 was designated a Quasi-Railway Monument in 2006. The Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum became part of the Kyoto Railway Museum on 1 April 2016, with C53 45 remaining part of the museum's exhibits. It can be found in the Umekoji roundhouse, where museum goers can enter the locomotive's cab.

Gallery[]

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 9850 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 5 • C51 239
Class C53 C53 43 • C53 45
Class C55 C55 1
Class C56 C56 31 • C56 44 • C56 135 • 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 • C62 48
Class D50 D50 140
Class D51 D51 1 • D51 146 • D51 200 • D51 498 • D51 827
Class D52 D52 1 • D52 468
Class E10 E10 2
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