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JNR Class C56 No. C56 160

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Japanese National Railways No. C56 160 is a Class C56 2-6-0 Mogul-type steam locomotive built for the Japanese National Railways by Kawasaki Sharyō in April 1939. It is one of two steam locomotives to have officially never been retired in Japan, the other being C57 1.

History[]

C56 160 was built by Kawasaki Sharyō; it was the last Class C56 locomotive constructed for the JNR. The locomotive was completed on 20 April 1939, with a serial number of 2099. Entering service on 22 April 1939, C56 160 was assigned to the Sapporo region in Hokkaido; it would move around numerous depots in Hokkaido, initially stationed at Shizunai but later moving to Muroran, Oiwake, Tomakomai and Naebo. On 5 September 1942 C56 160 was relocated out of Hokkaido to Bingo Tōkaichi on Honshū; on 30 October 1943 the locomotive was relocated again to Hakusan before returning to Bingo Tōkaichi on 29 June 1945. Following World War II C56 160 was relocated to Tsuyama, arriving on 27 May 1947. C56 160 would move numerous times around Japan following this, seeing service in Ogori and Kagoshima in Kyushu, Yokohama, Shin-Tsurumi, Nagano and Kami-Suwa.

C56 160's last main assignment was at Nanao, where it arrived for the final time on 17 May 1972. On 8 September 1972, C56 160 was moved to Umekoji Depot where it was intended to be preserved in working order at the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum; unlike most other steam locomotives, C56 160 was not removed from JNR's register and it still remains on JR West's fleet register to this day. Inspections of C56 160 were conducted at Takatori Works.

C56 160's excursion career commenced on 22 November 1980 when it pulled a special train in Hokkaido, titled the Hokkaido Railway 100th Anniversary Train, on the Hakodate Main Line between Otaru and Sapporo. Due to its light weight and small size allowing it to run on virtually any tracks, C56 160 would be used as the main steam locomotive for many steam locomotive hauled trains throughout Japan, from the SL Kibiji in Okayama to the SL Shimanto in Shikoku. C56 160 also deputized for fellow preserved locomotive and Umekoji stablemate C57 1 on a SL Yamaguchi service when the latter locomotive was damaged during the Great Hanshin Earthquake and needed repairs. On 19 August 1995, JR West would begin operation of the SL Kita-Biwako, using C56 160 as its main motive power; C57 1 would deputize for it in case C56 160 was unavailable. When not operating services, C56 160 would occasionally be used to pull the SL Steam attraction at the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum. On 14 October 2006, C56 160 was designated a quasi-railroad monument, alongside other steam locomotives and related facilities at the museum.

Starting 2014, JR West began the restoration of fellow Umekoji stablemate D51 200 for use on mainline excursion services, and stated they were planning to retire C56 160 from mainline excursion services, the reasoning given for its retirement being its small size making it difficult for the installation of safety systems on the locomotive which were required for use on the mainline, as well as JR West's policy of only operating at maximum two steam locomotives for mainline use (intended to be C57 1 and D51 200). The Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum became part of the Kyoto Railway Museum on 1 April 2016, with C56 160 still being used to pull the SL Steam services alongside its mainline duties. The restoration of D51 200 would be completed in April 2017, with operations beginning on the SL Yamaguchi in November 2017.

C56 160's final scheduled services on the mainline occurred in May 2018, pulling a few Thank You C56 services on the Yamaguchi Line between Tsuwano and Shin-Yamaguchi; its final scheduled service was an SL Kita-Biwako No. 3 service on 27 May 2018 on the Hokuriku Main Line between Maibara and Kinomoto. Following this, C56 160 was withdrawn from mainline use and returned to the Kyoto Railway Museum. Today, C56 160 remains based at the Kyoto Railway Museum where it is occasionally used to pull the SL Steam service; when not in use, C56 160 can be found on display in the Umekoji Roundhouse.

Trivia[]

  • C56 160 currently sports the whistle of C58 1 as its whistle was deemed "to not sound very healthy" during an inspection in 2003.
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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