JNR Class C61 No. C61 20

JNR Class C61 No. C61 20
C61 20 on an SL Minakami service in May 2025
Technical specifications
Serial number(s)	659
Manufacturer(s)	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Build date	1 August 1949
Rebuilder	Ōmiya Works
Rebuilt	2010 – 2011
Classification	4-6-4
Model	C61
Dia. of Drivers	1,750 mm
Dimensions	20,375 mm × Unknown × 3,980 mm
Weight	127.9 t (281,971 lbs)
Rail gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Firegrate area	3.27 m2
Fuel type	Coal
Heating area	221.5 m2
Service information
Years in-service	1 August 1949 – 18 November 1973 4 June 2011 – Present (excursion service)
Disposition details
Disposition	Operational, mainline certified

Japanese National Railways No. C61 20 is a Class C61 4-6-4 Hudson-type steam locomotive built for the Japanese National Railways by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in August 1949.

History

C61 20 was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries; the locomotive was completed on 1 August 1949 at their Mihara Plant, with a serial number of 659. C61 20 was built using the boiler of Class D51 locomotive D51 1094, originally built on 31 May 1944 by Nippon Sharyo at their Nagoya Plant. Entering service the same day, C61 20 was assigned to Aomori Depot and used to pull fast passenger trains; it remained there for much of its service life. The locomotive was transferred to Miyazaki Depot on 14 September 1971. C61 20 was taken out of service on 28 August 1973, whereupon it was sent to Izumi Station and kept on a siding; it was withdrawn from service on 18 November 1973.

Following withdrawal, C61 20 was transported in pieces to Kezōji-yuen, an amusement park in Gunma, where it was displayed in the park's premises starting 17 January 1974 when the locomotive was reassembled. On 8 December 2009, the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) announced a plan to restore C61 20 to operation to act as a replacement locomotive when other steam locomotives are down for inspection; C61 20 was disassembled again and shipped in pieces to Ōmiya Works on 19 January 2010. Restoration was complete on 27 February 2011 and a ceremony held; the locomotive was restored to JR East's registers on 30 March 2011 and pulled its first excursion services on 4 June 2011. JR East would offer 183 series car KuHa 183-1529 as a replacement for C61 20; it has been on display at Kezōji-yuen since March 2014.

Today, C61 20 is based at Gunma Rolling Stock Depot, alongside D51 498 and can be found used on a variety of services. C61 20 is the only operational Class C61 locomotive as of 2025, with C61 2 out of service since July 2018 due to a damaged leading wheel with no plans to restore it to service.

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