The JNR Class EF63 is a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways and its successor the East Japan Railway Company from July 1963 to September 1997.
History[]
The EF63 was developed specifically to haul freight trains up the steep 66.7‰ gradients of the Usui Pass; prior to this, ED42 Abt rack rail locomotives were used for the steep sections. Developed based on the ED60 locomotives, the EF63s began service on 15 July 1963 on the Shin'etsu Main Line.
From 1962 to 1978, a total of 25 locomotives were built. The locomotives were also used to pull the imperial train a number of times. With the expected closure of the rail section of the Shin'etsu Main Line in 1997, the locomotives were thus no longer needed; the fleet of trains was retired on 30 September 1997 with a number of special services. The locomotives were last used in service on 18 October 1997 for an exhibition, pulling EF55 1 and EF60 19.
Eight locomotives have been preserved, seven of which are located at the Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park; the park maintains EF63 11, 12, 24 and 25 in operational condition, with operation opportunities given through balloting.
Design[]
The EF63s featured large box-shaped bodies with large top-mounted headlights.
Specifications[]
The EF63s used a nose suspension drive as opposed to the Quill drive of more recent locomotives; the use of the nose suspension drive was due to maintenance problems involving the Quill drive, so all locomotives after the earlier EF70 would use the nose suspension drive. This however came at the cost of keeping the rated rotation speed of the traction motors low. MT52 traction motors were used on the locomotives, as well as an adhesion system for use on the Usui Pass.
Preservation[]
The following Class EF63 locomotives have been preserved:
Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF63 11 | Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō | Mitsubishi Electric | 16 May 1963 | 7 May 1998 | Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan | Operationally preserved |
EF63 12 | 28 May 1963 | |||||
EF63 24 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Fuji Electric | 2 July 1976 | |||
EF63 25 | 8 July 1976 | Las EF63 built; operationally preserved | ||||
EF63 1 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 25 May 1962 | 7 August 1986 | Prototype locomotive, painted in dark brown; displayed outdoors | |
EF63 10 | Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō | Mitsubishi Electric | 11 May 1963 | 7 May 1998 | Displayed indoors | |
EF63 18 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Fuji Electric | 26 August 1967 | 20 April 1998 | Painted in dark brown; used as simulator | |
EF63 2 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 6 March 1963 | 20 March 1998 | Karuizawa Station, Nagano, Japan | Preserved at Shinano Railway side; preserved outdoors near EC40 1 |
EF63 22 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Fuji Electric | 5 June 1974 | 5 November 1997 | Annaka, Gunma, Japan | Displayed outdoors; privately owned |
EF63 13 | Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō | Mitsubishi Electric | 29 May 1963 | 5 June 1998 | Ōmiya General Rolling Stock Center, Saitama, Japan | Cab only; viewing possible on depot open days |
EF63 3 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 8 March 1963 | 20 March 1998 | Yokokawa Station, Gunma, Japan | Wheels only; one of last two EF63s in service, pulled last trains on 30 September 1997 |
The following Class EF63 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Last location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF63 19 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Fuji Electric | 5 September 1967 | 20 March 1998 | Nagano General Rolling Stock Center, Nagano, Japan | Painted in dark brown, one of last two EF63s in service, pulled last trains on 30 September 1997; scrapped September 2019 |