The JNR Class EF12 was a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1941 to November 1982.
History[]
The EF12 was an improved version of the EF10 locomotives with more powerful traction motors. A total of seventeen locomotives were built, intended for use on the Kanmon Tunnel which was to open in 1942, but due to the Pacific War only the first eight locomotives were delivered by that time; manufacturing slowed down significantly so production of all seventeen locomotives was only completed in September 1944.
When introduced the EF12s were used for military trains on the Tōkaidō Main Line, but as the war grew more intense the locomotives were relocated to the Jōetsu Line. In 1942 the locomotives were stationed at Kōzu and Numazu; they were relocated to Takasaki in 1947. After the war the locomotives were moved around a number of times; the locomotives were slowly replaced by EF15 locomotives although they still saw use on the Agatsuma Line as the track was too weak to handle the weight of the EF15s, and even after the track was reinforced to take the locomotives's weight the EF12s still saw use on that line. The locomotives were withdrawn with the introduction of the revised timetable on 15 November 1982, with all freight services on the Agatsuma Line abolished.
No EF12s have been preserved.
Design[]
The EF12s featured large box-shaped bodies with large top-mounted headlights.
Specifications[]
The EF12s used a nose suspension drive system. MT39 traction motors were used on the locomotives.
EF12 1 through 8 were noted to be of a high quality, with the remaining locomotives using wartime materials due to restrictions imposed.