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The JNR Class ED17 is a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1930 to 1972.

History[]

The ED17 is an early electric locomotive used on Japan's freight network. The locomotives were rebuilt from existing electric locomotives imported from the United Kingdom.

A total of 28 locomotives were built, converted from various other electric locomotives; these were extensively modified to give them a new look as well as improve their reliability. The first locomotives to be converted were seventeen ED50 locomotives, with ED50 1 through ED50 17 rebuilt to become ED17 1 through ED17 17; these were rebuilt from 1930 to 1931. During World War II, five more locomotives, comprising three ED51s and two ED52s were rebuilt to become ED17 22 through ED17 26; this was done to increase the number of freight locomotives operating due to an increase in military transportation. The final batch of locomotives to be rebuilt were two ED13s and three ED18s, which were rebuilt from 1949 to 1950 to become ED17 19 through ED17 21 and ED17 27 and ED17 28.

The entire batch of locomotives would be used on the Chūō Main Line, pulling both passenger and freight trains. ED17 23 and ED17 25 were damaged during the war and were scrapped in 1946. From 1953 to 1955, three ED17s, ED17 17, ED17 18 and ED17 3, were rebuilt into ED18s, numbered ED18 1 through ED18 3; this was done to reduce their axle load. Withdrawals began around 1970 and ended in 1972, with ED17 12, ED17 14, ED17 15 and ED17 20, located at Toyohashi Rolling Stock Depot, withdrawn from service.

ED17 1, located at the Railway Museum in Saitama, is the only preserved ED17; prior to this, the locomotive was preserved at Maizuru Castle.

Design[]

The ED17s featured large box-shaped bodies with large top-mounted headlights.

Specifications[]

The ED17s used a nose suspension drive system. MT6A traction motors were used on the locomotives.

Preservation[]

The following Class ED17 locomotives have been preserved:

Number Manufacturer Equipment manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Location Notes
ED17 1 North British Locomotive Company English Electric 1923 30 November 1970 The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan Ex-1040, ex-ED50 1; displayed indoors, formerly located at Maizuru Castle and Ōmiya Works

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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