The JNR Class EF50 was a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1925 to November 1956.
History[]
The EF50 was an early electric locomotive operated in Japan, intended for passenger service.
Eight locomotives were manufactured in 1924; the locomotives were manufactured as part of a technical partnership between English Electric and the North British Locomotive Company. When manufactured they were classified as the Class 8000 locomotives and numbered 8000 through 8007, but with an introduction of a rule in 1928 to standardize locomotive naming they were reclassified as Class EF50 locomotives and renumbered EF50 1 through EF50 8.
Initially based out of Tokyo and used on the Tōkaidõ Main Line, the EF50s were notoriously unreliable when initially introduced; as a result the locomotives were normally used as pusher locomotives for longer trains. With the issues rectified they were also used to pull express trains although they were also still used as pusher locomotives. One locomotive was transferred to Kōzu in 1935, while the rest remained in Tokyo. The locomotives were replaced by EF53s in their duties beginning in 1952, with five locomotives briefly moving to Takasaki. Withdrawals of the class began in 1954, with the last mainline operation of an EF50 occurring on 18 November 1956, pulling a Towada service; a ceremony was held to mark the occasion.
No EF50s have been preserved.
Design[]
The EF50s featured large box-shaped bodies with large top-mounted headlights.
Specifications[]
The EF50s used a nose suspension drive system. MT6 traction motors were used on the locomotives.