The JNR Class DD41 was a diesel-electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1954 to March 1971.
History[]
The DD41 was a prototype diesel-electric locomotive used by the JNR, with a single locomotive prototyped while the company developed its own locomotives for domestic sales as well as potentially for export. A total of ten locomotives were prototyped; these were Hitachi's DF90, DF91 and DF93, Kawasaki's DF40, Kisha Seizō's DF41, Nippon Sharyo's DD42 and DD93, Shin-Mitsubishi's DD40 and DD91 and Toshiba's DD41. A single locomotive was built by Toshiba in 1954 and used as a switcher locomotive, initially numbered DD12 1 (not to be confused with the JNR Class DD12, another type of switcher locomotive); the locomotive was built in a technical partnership with General Electric.
Deployed at the Ōmiya Rolling Stock Center and reclassified as the Class DD41, the locomotive was used to perform switching duties and other light duties; in 1958 the locomotive was reclassified as the Class DD90 and renumbered DD90 1. As many of the locomotive's parts had to be imported to allow for maintenance DD90 1 was not used often and was withdrawn in March 1971 and scrapped.
Design[]
The DD41 featured a steeplecab-like design similar to most switcher locomotives. The locomotive is based on General Electric's 47-60-ton switcher locomotives.
Specifications[]
The DD41 was fitted with a single Cooper-Bessemer FW-6-LT prime mover, mated to a General Electric electric transmission; both the prime mover and transmission were manufactured under license by Toshiba who was in a technical partnership with both companies. The prime mover produced about 660 PS (485 kW).