JNR Class EF13

JNR Class EF13
EF13 1 in November 1976
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Hitachi, Kawasaki Sharyō, Tokyo Shibaura Denki
Constructed	1944 – 1947
Number built	31
Classification	1-C+C-1
Dimensions	17,500 mm × 2,810 mm × 3,940 mm
Gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Current collector	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Traction system	Resistor control
Service information
In service	1941 – 17 February 1979
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	EF13 1 – EF13 31
Scrapped	1977 – 1979
Preservation information
Preserved	None
Number scrapped	31

The JNR Class EF13 was a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1941 to February 1979.

History

The EF13 was an improved version of the EF10 locomotives with more powerful traction motors. The locomotive was developed based on the EF12 locomotives, which were becoming difficult to produce due to wartime material shortages, so the EF13 was designed to use as many existing materials as possible for low-cost production.

Despite the measures taken to make the locomotives as cheap as possible, only seven locomotives were produced during World War II; production would pick up after the end of the war, with thirty-one locomotives manufactured. The locomotives were known to be reliable runners and liked by crews. Mainly used to pull freight trains, the locomotives were also used for towing jobs and passenger trains; they operated mainly on the Chūō Main Line and Jōetsu Line. From 1953 to 1957, the locomotives's bodies were replaced, with the old steeplecab bodies replaced with the bodies from the EF58 locomotives due to a surplus of old bodies; the first 31 EF58s would have their bodies donated to the EF13s, with the numbers from the donor EF58s not necessarily matching up to the EF13s (only EF13 5 and EF13 26 received bodies from the EF58 with a matching number).

Despite being a wartime design with the expectation that the locomotives would be quickly withdrawn and scrapped, the locomotives were used for many years due to constant modifications to ensure they were up to date. Withdrawals began in 1977 with the introduction of the EF60s, with the locomotives being used in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area pulling freight trains; the last locomotive was withdrawn from service on 17 February 1979. EF13 3, which had been stored at Niigata for many years, was scrapped in November 1979. No EF13s have been preserved.

Design

The EF13s featured a steeplecab-like design reminiscent of the Swiss Ce 6/8^II locomotives; the reaction to this design was overwhelmingly negative, the locomotive being described as "strange". The locomotives adopted a more conventional appearance after their bodies were changed with that of the EF58s.

Specifications

The EF13s used a nose suspension drive system. MT39 traction motors were used on the locomotives.

Gallery

EF13 5 in the 1950s with old body design