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The JNR Class DD16 is a diesel-hydraulic locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways and its various successor companies from 1971 to December 2021.

History[]

Designed to promote JNR's campaign of a "smokeless railway" to eliminate steam locomotives on the Japanese National Railways as part of their Power Modernization Plan, the DD16s were developed as a versatile diesel locomotive for use on the Japanese rail network, specifically on shorter local lines. Intended to replace the Class C11, C12 and C56 steam locomotives, the DD16s were designed to be lighter than the DD13 and DE10 locomotives to allow them to enter most lines.

Between 1971 and 1975, 65 locomotives were manufactured by Kawasaki, Nippon Sharyo and JNR's Nagano Works; DD16 1 and DD16 2 were manufactured at Nagano, being the first locomotives manufactured there since World War II and the first diesel locomotives manufactured at a JNR factory. The first 24 locomotives featured cut-out fleet numbers; these were later changed to number plates from DD16 25 onwards. Initially used on these local lines, their use quickly diminished in the late 1970s due to these local lines being closed by the JNR, and diminished further due to their low axle load leading to frequent wheel slip when compared to standard road switcher locomotives.

From 1979 to 1983, four locomotives were rebuilt to become the DD16-300 subseries, being dedicated snowplow versions of the DD16s. The vast majority of locomotives were retired prior to JNR's privatization and division in 1987, with only ten locomotives in service with JR; JR East took ownership of 4 cars, JR West 3, JR Kyushu 2 and JR Hokkaido 1. All four DD16-300 locomotives were used by JR due to their unique purpose. The last DD16 locomotive in service, DD16 11, was withdrawn from service on 27 December 2021.

Six locomotives have been preserved, with some resold to other third sector railways; one notable locomotive is DD16 7, owned by the Wakasa Railway and preserved in operational condition.

Design[]

The DD16 featured a steeplecab-like design, giving it an appearance similar to that of a switching locomotive; this design was chosen to help the locomotive reduce its weight by reducing its axle load.

Specifications[]

The DD16s are fitted with a single V12 prime mover, designated the DML61. Much of the locomotive's equipment is reused from existing locomotives such as the DD13, DE10 and DD51 to reduce manufacturing costs, such as the engine and DW2A transmission. The prime mover was detuned to 800 PS (588 kW).

Preservation[]

The following Class DD16 locomotives have been preserved:

Number Manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Location Notes
DD16 7 Nippon Sharyo 5 June 1972 31 March 1987 Wakasa Station, Wakasa, Japan Operationally preserved, used for driving experience events; formerly used by the Railway Technology Research Institute
DD16 303 18 May 1972 25 November 2009 (JR Freight)
16 June 2022 (Hachinohe Rinkai)
Hachinohe Rinkai Railway, Aomori, Japan Ex-DD16 4, out of service; planned to be used at driving experience events
DD16 15 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 7 February 1973 5 February 1987 Mikasa Railway Memorial Hall, Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan Displayed outdoors near various other diesel locomotives
DD16 17 13 February 1973 31 March 1986 Otaru City General Museum, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan Displayed outdoors near DD13 611
DD16 31 25 April 1974 Memorial Ship Hakkōda-maru, Aomori, Japan Displayed with KiHa 82 101 in cargo hold
DD16 64 18 December 1974 22 March 2002 Kisha Club, Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan Displayed outdoors with a number of other locomotives; not open for public viewing
DD16 304 27 September 1972 31 March 1986 Tsuyama Railroad Educational Museum, Okayama, Japan Ex-DD16 13, displayed in roundhouse

The following Class DD16 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:

Number Manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Last location Notes
DD16 302 Nippon Sharyo 24 May 1972 1 July 2009 Nagano General Rolling Stock Center, Nagano, Japan Ex-DD16 5, stored on scrap line; scrapped November 2019

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
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