The JNR Class EF58 is a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways in its various forms and subsidiaries from 1946 to 2011.
History[]
The EF58s were introduced in 1946 to meet the rapidly increasing demands in passenger service in the period following World War II. 31 cars were manufactured as an initial batch, with production stopped due to various reasons; mass production would resume starting 1952 with improvements and would continue until 1958. Despite their design being heavily derived from prewar electric locomotives, the EF58s were highly popular with engine crews, with their streamlined design and good performance being pull factors towards their use; as a result the EF58s would often be used to pull fast express trains.
The EF58s were one of the main workhorses of the JNR from the 1950s to 1970s, especially on branch lines where pulling passenger trains was involved. By the late 1980s many had been withdrawn from service due to their age, with only five being used by the JNR's successor companies, mainly as heritage trains that were operationally preserved. All were retired by 2011. Ten examples of this class have been preserved; five complete locomotives and cab sections from five other locomotives are preserved around Japan.
Design[]
The EF58s featured a semi-streamlined design, novel for their time. The initial 31 cars produced featured box-shaped bodies, which were donated for use on the Class EF13 locomotives when those were being built while the EF58s had their bodies replaced.
The locomotives have been painted in numerous different liveries. Some liveries include a "standard" express livery (blue with cream accents), their original livery (maroon with silver accents), a "standard" livery for general usage (green with yellow accents) and a sleeper express livery (navy blue with cream accents).
Specifications[]
The EF58s feature resistor-controlled traction motors and a steel body construction. The car body features an onboard heater; steam and electric heaters are known to have been used. Depending on the manufacturer of the locomotive minor differences can be found. Over their lifespans many of these locomotives have received refurbishments to keep them up to date.
Preservation[]
The following Class EF58 locomotives have been preserved:
| Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF58 61 | Hitachi | Hitachi | 15 July 1953 | 20 June 2008 | The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan | Displayed indoors near entrance halls; formerly stored at Ōmiya General Rolling Stock Center until 2022, struck off JR East's register on 31 May 2023 |
| EF58 89 | 3 August 1956 | 4 October 1999 | Displayed indoors | |||
| EF58 150 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 11 March 1958 | 31 October 2011 | Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto, Japan | Displayed under shelter |
| EF58 157 | Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō | Mitsubishi Electric | 25 February 1958 | 15 November 2007 | SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, Japan | Displayed indoors |
| EF58 172 | Nippon Sharyo | Fuji Electric | 28 March 1958 | 17 May 1985 | Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan | Displayed outdoors |
| EF58 36 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 29 March 1952 | 1 March 1986 | Tokyo, Japan | Cab only, both privately owned by same owner in same compound |
| EF58 113 | Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō | Mitsubishi Electric | 10 November 1956 | 4 June 1984 | ||
| EF58 42 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 25 August 1952 | 31 March 1986 | Kanazawa Kamotsu Terminal Station, Ishikawa, Japan | Cab only, stored on company grounds; formerly preserved at Takatori Works, Hokuriku Logistics and then a private home |
| EF58 111 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | 15 November 1956 | 1 October 1984 | Japan | Cab only, privately owned; rediscovered 2017, painted all-over blue, exact location undisclosed |
| EF58 144 | Hitachi | Hitachi | 15 November 1956 | 1 October 1984 | Restaurant Jokikikansha, Tochigi, Japan Saitama, Japan |
Cab only; both cabs preserved in different places |
| EF58 154 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 17 April 1958 | 12 September 1985 | Ōmiya General Rolling Stock Center, Saitama, Japan | Cab only; viewing possible on depot open days |
The following Class EF58 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
| Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Last location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF58 65 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | 1 July 1953 | 1 February 1980 | Ōmiya Works, Saitama, Japan | Scrapped 1998 |
| EF58 125 | 22 March 1957 | 30 September 1985 | Used as parts donor for other electric locomotives; scrapped 2001 | |||
| EF58 66 | Kisha Seizō | Tōyō Denki | 26 May 1953 | 31 March 1986 | Nara Rolling Stock Depot, Nara, Japan | Scrapped March 1996 |
| EF58 91 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 8 May 1956 | 26 November 1984 | Ebisu Station, Tokyo, Japan | Used as Beer Station Ebisu restaurant in front of Sapporo Beer's Ebisu factory; restaurant closed October 1989, scrapped 1990 |
| EF58 93 | 9 July 1956 | 26 July 1985 | Ōmiya General Rolling Stock Center, Saitama, Japan | Displayed outdoors, scrapped November 2016 | ||
| EF58 122 | Hitachi | Hitachi | 16 April 1957 | June 2006 | JR Central Hamamatsu Works, Hamamatsu, Japan | Formerly used for special services; scrapped January 2009 |
See also[]
- JNR Class EF15, freight-hauling electric locomotive sharing many components with the Class EF58
- JNR Class EF18, three freight-hauling electric locomotives converted from partially-completed Class EF58s
Gallery[]
