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JNR Class C58 No. C58 239

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Japanese National Railways No. C58 239 is a Class C58 2-6-2 Prairie-type steam locomotive built for the Japanese National Railways by Kawasaki Sharyō in June 1940. It is one of two operational Class C58 locomotives, the other being C58 363.

History[]

C58 239 was built by Kawasaki Sharyō; the locomotive was completed on 26 June 1940 at their Hyōgo Works, with a serial number of 2321. Entering service the same day, C58 239 was assigned to Inazawa Depot in Nagoya. C58 239 was relocated to Nara Depot on 14 February 1941 and then to Miyako Depot in May 1943, where it would remain for much of its service life. C58 239 would then be relocated to Morioka Depot in February 1970, where it pulled a special Farewell to Steam service on the Yamada Line on 28 February 1970. C58 239's last move was to Hachinohe Depot in April 1971, where it too pulled a special Farewell to Steam service on the Hachinohe Line on 28 November 1971. C58 239 was taken out of service on 31 March 1972 and withdrawn on 22 May 1972.

After withdrawal, a free trade loan agreement was signed by the director of JNR's Morioka Railway Administration Bureau and the City of Morioka on 17 September 1972; C58 239 would be moved and prepared for display at the Iwate Kenei Sports Park in Morioka under a shelter, coupled to a combined passenger-freight consist consisting of passenger car OHa 35 2001 and boxcar WaMu 187953. The locomotive was maintained by a group of retired steam locomotive engineers.

To aid in tourism recovery following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) announced their intention to restore C58 239 to operational condition; C58 239 was removed from the park on 4 December 2012 and thereafter transported to Ōmiya Works, with restoration commencing soon after. C58 239's boiler was removed and transported to Sappa Boiler in Osaka in February 2013, where it was repaired and reinforced. C58 239 was fired up for the first time on 12 December 2013; restoration was completed on 18 December 2013, with test running commencing on 20 December and the locomotive restored to the register on 6 January 2014, being allocated to Morioka Depot and test runs continuing. An exhibition was held at Morioka Station with its planned consist of KiHa 141 series diesel railcars acting as passenger cars, with the locomotive beginning service on 7 March 2014 on what was named the SL Ginga service. Due to the aging of the diesel railcars, the SL Ginga service ended on 11 June 2023; since then, the locomotive has been stored serviceable at the Morioka Depot. Future plans for the locomotive are not known.

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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