The JNR Class EC40 is a Japanese DC Abt rack rail steeplecab electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from May 1912 to April 1936.
History[]
The EC40 was an early type of electric locomotive used on the Japanese National Railways; these were the first electric locomotives owned and operated by the JNR. Twelve locomotives were produced for the JNR, with AEG producing the electrical equipment for the locomotives and Maschinenfabrik Esslingen the mechanical equipment. The locomotives, initially named the Class 10000, were put into service on 11 May 1912 with the electrification of the Shin'etsu Main Line; prior to this, trial runs were conducted with guidance from engineers from both AEG and Esslingen.
The locomotives were stationed at the Yokogawa Depot (now the Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park). They were operated most commonly between Yokogawa and Karuizawa, with additional efforts over time made to increase passenger capacity. The class was renamed to the Class EC40 with a rule enacted in October 1928 to standardize locomotive naming. The EC40s were replaced by the Class ED42 locomotives in 1931 due to increased failures in equipment. All locomotives were taken out of service by April 1936. After being taken out of service, the Keifuku Electric Railway bought EC40 1 and 2, renaming them the Class TeKi 511 and numbered 511 and 512. Modifications to both locomotives were performed at Ōmiya Works, such as the removal of the rack system and changing to a trolley pole system as opposed to a pantograph. TeKi 511 was used until 1953 and TeKi 512 until 1970.
One EC40 has been preserved; EC40 1, formerly numbered TeKi 511 and 10000, is located at the Karuizawa Station Memorial Hall. EC40 1 was taken out of service as TeKi 511 in 1953 and returned to the JNR in 1953, with JNR restoring the locomotive at the Ōmiya Works back to its original condition during the Meiji era. It is displayed with its original number, 10000.
Design[]
The EC40 featured a steeplecab design.
Specifications[]
The EC40 feature resistor-controlled traction motors and a steel body construction. Two MT3 traction motors can be found on the train; one to control the driving wheels and the other the rack system. As with many of JNR's rack rail electric locomotives it features a jackshaft.
The EC40s have had their current collector systems replaced a number of times over their lifespan. The locomotives initially used trolley poles before switching to pantographs; when EC40 1 and EC40 2 were bought by the Keifuku Electric Railway, their collector systems were replaced with trolley poles before again being replaced with pantographs.
Preservation[]
The following Class EC40 locomotives have been preserved:
| Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EC40 1 | Maschinenfabrik Esslingen | AEG | 19 February 1912 | 11 April 1936 | Karuizawa Station, Nagano, Japan | Displayed under shelter near EF63 2; located on Shinano Railway side |
Incidents and accidents[]
10004 and 10009 (later EC40 5 and EC40 10) were involved in a derailment at Kumodaira Station on 7 March 1918. Both locomotives were repaired and reentered service.
Trivia[]
- This is the only electric locomotive used by the JNR with an odd number of driving wheels.
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