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The JNR Class EF30 is a Japanese dual-current electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1960 to March 1987.

History[]

The EF30 was developed specifically for use on trains traveling through the Kanmon Railway Tunnel, linking Honshu and Kyushu; both locations used different types of current so a dual-current locomotive would be needed.

From 1960 to 1968, 22 locomotives were manufactured by Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Toshiba; these entered service in 1960 as the world's first mass-produced dual-current electric locomotive. The EF30s were capable of pulling 1,200 ton freight trains on a gradient and were based at Moji Rolling Stock Center. Mostly pulling freight trains, the EF30s also handled passenger services such as the Tsubame and Hato services.

Withdrawals began in 1978 with EF30 1 and all were withdrawn by 29 March 1987, a few days before the JNR's privatization and division. Two locomotives have been preserved.

Design[]

The EF30s featured large box-shaped bodies with a large circular headlight mounted on top. The locomotives featured an unpainted stainless steel body to prevent corrosion from the sea water near the areas where the locomotive operates. The basic locomotive body design was derived from the EF60 and ED71 locomotives.

Specifications[]

The EF30s used a WN drive system. MT51 traction motors were used on the locomotives; the prototype used MT102 traction motors.

Preservation[]

The following Class EF30 locomotives have been preserved:

Number Manufacturer Equipment manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Location Notes
EF30 1 Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō Mitsubishi Electric 19 March 1960 4 December 1978 Mekari Park, Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan Prototype locomotive; displayed outdoors coupled to passenger car OHaFu 33 488
EF30 20 31 October 1968 17 December 1986 Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan Displayed outdoors next to EF58 157
EF30 3 2 August 1961 24 March 1995 Kyushu Railway History Museum, Kitakyushu, Kyushu, Japan Cab only, last operational EF30; displayed under shelter, preserved with cabs of ED76 1 and KuHa 481-246, formerly on display at Ōita Rolling Stock Center until 2006

The following Class EF30 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:

Number Manufacturer Equipment manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Last location Notes
EF30 21 Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō Mitsubishi Electric 1968 1986 Suita Locomotive Depot, Osaka, Japan Stored in roundhouse; scrapped 1998 with demolition of roundhouse

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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