The JNR Class DF90 was a diesel-electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from June 1957 to 1966.
History[]
The DF90 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.
One locomotive was built in 1957 by Hitachi. The locomotive was purchased by the Japanese National Railways in June 1957 and numbered DF90 1. Intended for mainline use, DF90 1 was based in Mito where it hauled passenger trains on the Jōban Line. In August 1964, DF90 1 was relocated to Akita; it being considered too large for the area and the difficulty of maintaining the locomotive due to a lack of spare parts led the locomotive to be withdrawn from service in 1966. It was then stored at the Higashi-Noshiro Rolling Stock Depot until it was scrapped in 1971.
Design[]
The DF90 featured a semi-streamlined design, nicknamed the "Shōnan style".
Specifications[]
The DF90 was fitted with a MAN V8V 22/30 AmA prime mover and a Hitachi electric transmission, along with HS-274-Ar-17 traction motors. The prime mover produced 1,900 PS (1,397 kW).