The JNR Class D50 (originally the JNR Class 9900) is a 2-8-2 Mikado-type steam locomotive built for the JNR from 1923 to 1931.
History[]
The D50s, originally known as the Class 9900, were introduced as a powerful domestically-produced freight locomotive and was considered the successor of the Class 9600 locomotives. 380 locomotives were produced from 1923 to 1931, after which production focus shifted to the larger and more powerful Class D51s, which would eventually become a mainstay on the railroad. The locomotives were retired in 1965.
Two locomotives, D50 25 and D50 140, are preserved; D50 25 is located in Kitami, Hokkaido while D50 140 is located at the Kyoto Railway Museum. Both locomotives are not operational.
A variety of derivatives were produced for use on other railroads such as the Manchukuo National Railway (Mikana-class), the Central China Railway and the China Railways (Class JF16/MK16); none of these derivatives have been preserved.
Preservation[]
The following Class D50 locomotives have been preserved:
| Number | Manufacturer | Date manufactured | Serial number | Date withdrawn | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D50 25 | Kawasaki Sharyō | 20 September 1924 | 1014 | 30 September 1968 | Sanji Park, Kitami, Hokkaido, Japan | Ex-9924; displayed outdoors within fence |
| D50 140 | Hitachi | 20 March 1926 | 199 | 28 March 1979 | Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto, Japan | Ex-19939; displayed in roundhouse, occasionally wheeled onto turntable, operational at museum until 1979 |
Trivia[]
- The locomotives are popularly known as Degomaru or Degorei (D50 in Japanese) among railfans.
Gallery[]
