The JNR Class ED18 was a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1931 to 1953.
History[]
The ED18 was a freight locomotive designed for use on the Tōkaidō Main Line. The locomotives were modified to increase the gear ratio of their motors to allow them to be used on sloped sections.
Between 1931 and 1935 a total of four ED52 locomotives, ED52 3 through 6, were converted at JNR's Ōmiya Works; the locomotives's numbers matched that of the locomotives they were converted from. Numbered ED18 3 through ED18 6, ED18 1 and ED18 2 were omitted intentionally with the intent of having ED52 1 and ED52 2 modified into ED18s; while both locomotives were ultimately modified they were ultimately numbered ED17 22 and ED17 23 respectively.
In 1950, ED18 4 through 6 were rebuilt into ED17 locomotives ED17 19 through ED17 21, while in 1953 ED18 3 was rebuilt to become a new locomotive featuring the same number, but with different bogies for use on the Iida Line.
Design[]
The ED18s featured large box-shaped bodies with large top-mounted headlights.
Specifications[]
The ED18s used a nose suspension drive system. MT6A traction motors were used on the locomotives.