Locomotive Wiki
Advertisement

The JNR Class DD15 is a diesel-hydraulic locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways and its various successors from 1962 to June 2017.

History[]

The DD15 was designed as a dedicated snow-clearing locomotive, being one of a number of dedicated snow-clearing locomotives operated by the JNR. A total of 50 locomotives were produced by Nippon Sharyo, numbered DD15 1 through DD15 46 and DD15 301 through DD15 304. Unlike other snow-clearing locomotives used by the JNR, the DD15 featured two Russell-type snowplows fitted on both ends of the locomotive. In addition to snow clearing duties, the DD15 was also used for occasional switching jobs with the snowplows removed, contributing to efficiency with the locomotive able to be used all year round.

When the JNR was privatized and split in 1987, 32 locomotives remained in service; ownership of the locomotives came under JR East and West, receiving 19 and 13 locomotives respectively. JR East withdrew their entire fleet of DD15s in 2010, being replaced with ENR-1000 snow clearing locomotives. JR West began replacing their locomotives with KiYa 143 series snow clearing locomotives from 2013 and by 30 June 2017 the last locomotive in service, DD15 11, had been withdrawn.

Three locomotives have been preserved.

Design[]

The DD15s featured a steeplecab-like design, being painted in red with silver accents.

Specifications[]

The DD15s are fitted with two inline-6 prime movers, designated the DMF31SB. Total power output is about 1,000 PS (734 kW). The DD15 uses a a Shinko DS1.2/1.35 hydraulic transmission; the transmission works similarly to a Lysholm-Smith hydraulic torque converter and features two speeds and a single direct gear. The locomotive itself is heavily based on the DD13.

Preservation[]

The following Class DD15 locomotives have been preserved:

Number Manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Location Notes
DD15 17 Nippon Sharyo 17 October 1963 5 February 1987 Mikasa Railway Memorial Hall, Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan Displayed outdoors with dual snowplow attachments
DD15 30 10 December 1964 7 March 2011 Tsuyama Railroad Educational Museum, Okayama, Japan Displayed in roundhouse with snowplow attachment
DD15 37 9 October 1965 31 March 1987 Otaru City General Museum, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan Displayed outdoors with dual snowplow attachments

The following Class DD13 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:

Number Manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Last location Notes
DD15 4 Nippon Sharyo 20 November 1962 7 February 1987 Rifu Station, Miyagi, Japan Displayed outside station; scrapped May or June 2002

Gallery[]

JR Group motive power
JNR Diesel prototype DB10DC10DC11DD10
4-axle diesel DD11DD12DD13DD14DD15DD16DD17DD20DD21DD40DD41DD42DD50DD51DD53DD54DD90DD91DD92DD93
5-axle diesel DE10DE11DE15DE50
6-axle diesel DF40DF41DF50DF90DF91 (gen 1)DF91 (gen 2)DF92DF93
Shinkansen 911912
Narrow-gauge diesel Ke DB10Ke DB11
Early 2/4-axle freight electric AB10EB10ED10ED11ED12ED13ED14ED15ED16ED17ED18 (gen 1)ED18 (gen 2)ED19ED23ED24
Early 4-axle passenger electric ED50ED51ED52ED53ED54ED55ED56ED57
Early 6-axle freight electric EF10EF11EF12EF13EF14EF15EF16EF18
Early 6-axle passenger electric EF20EF50EF51EF52EF53EF54EF55EF56EF57EF58EF59HEF10HEF50
Early 8-axle electric EH10EH50HEH50HEH150
Early Abt rack rail electric EC40ED40ED41ED42
Acquired from private railways ED20ED21ED22ED25 (gen 1)ED25 (gen 2)ED26 (gen 1)ED26 (gen 2)ED27 (gen 1)ED27 (gen 2)ED28 (gen 1)ED28 (gen 2)ED29 (gen 1)ED29 (gen 2)ED30 (gen 1)ED31ED32ED33ED34ED35ED36ED37ED38Ke ED10DeKi 1RoKo 1DeKi 501RoKo 1000
DC 4-axle ED60ED61ED62ED63ED95
AC 4-axle ED44ED45ED70ED71ED72ED73ED74ED75ED76ED77ED78ED79ED90ED91ED93ED94
DC 6-axle EF60EF61EF62EF63EF64EF65EF66EF67EF90
AC 6-axle EF70EF71
Dual-current ED30 (gen 2)ED46ED92EF30EF80EF81
Other AH100
JR Group Dual-current electric ED500EF500EF510EH500
DC electric EF200EF210EH200
DC EMU M250
AC electric EH800
Diesel DD18DD19DB500DD200DF200ENR-1000
Hybrid HD300
Advertisement