The JNR Class ED30 was a Japanese dual-current electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1962 to 1976.
History[]
The ED30 was a dual-current locomotive intended to transport trains between "dead sections", Japanese terminology for sections between AC and DC overhead lines without power.
One locomotive, ED30 1, was built at JNR's Hamamatsu Works in 1962, combining a new body with the electrical equipment from EF55 locomotive EF55 3. When introduced into service, the locomotive was used on the "dead section" between Sakata and Tamura Stations on the Hokuriku Main Line. There were plans to manufacture five more locomotives of the same type but this was not pursued as ED30 1 had some issues pertaining to performance and as a result only one locomotive was built.
After being used on the Hokuriku Main Line, the locomotive was sent to the Railway Technology Research Institute for use as a test locomotive. It was withdrawn in 1976 and subsequently scrapped. The earlier ED30 locomotive introduced in 1944 is not related to this locomotive.
Design[]
The ED30 featured a steeplecab-like deign with large headlights mounted on the hoods of the locomotive.
Specifications[]
The ED30 used a nose suspension drive system. MT28A traction motors were used on the locomotives.