The JNR Class EF64 is a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways and its successor companies since 1964.
History[]
The EF64 was developed as a locomotive which could handle moderate gradients of 20‰ – 33‰ and feature dynamic braking to cope with these gradients. A total of 132 locomotives were manufactured for the JNR from 1964 to 1982.
When the Japanese National Railways was privatized and split into seven different companies in 1987, JR East, Central, West and Freight took ownership of the locomotives; only JR Freight operates EF64s as of 2022. Despite its age, the EF64 remains a mainstay of the Japan Railways network and can often be seen hauling freight trains. The existing locomotives have been undergoing numerous modifications to keep them up to date.
One locomotive, EF64 18, has been preserved in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Design[]
The EF64s feature large box-shaped bodies with circular headlights mounted on the top of the cars.
Specifications[]
The EF64s 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 are used on the locomotives.
Preservation[]
The following Class EF64 locomotives have been preserved:
Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF64 18 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 18 March 1966 | 30 March 2005 | Katsunumabudokyo Station, Yamanashi, Japan | Displayed outdoors |
EF64 22 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Kawasaki Denki | 31 March 1966 | 25 March 2008 | Yazu, Tottori, Japan | Cab only, privately owned; exact location unknown |
The following Class EF64 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Last location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF64 77 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Tōyō Denki | 23 January 1976 | 2012 | Aichi Locomotive Depot, Aichi, Japan | Stored on siding; removed November 2019, scrapped January 2020 |