The JNR Class EF65 is a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways and its successor companies since 1965.
History[]
The EF65 was developed as a replacement for the previous EF60 locomotives, which were used to haul fast freight trains on flat lines. A total of 308 locomotives were built, the largest quantity of electric locomotives built for the JNR at that point. Mainly used to haul freight trains, they were also used to haul the famed Blue Train sleeper train services until they were discontinued in 2015.
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 EF65s as of 2021. Despite its age, the EF65 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.
Design[]
The EF65s featured large box-shaped bodies with circular headlights mounted on the top of the cars.
Specifications[]
The EF65s 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 EF65 locomotives have been preserved:
Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF65 1 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Kawasaki Denki | 14 January 1965 | 2 March 1987 | Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto, Japan | Prototype locomotive; displayed under shelter |
EF65 520 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 3 March 1966 | 15 March 2002 | Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan | Displayed outdoors |
EF65 535 | 28 March 1967 | 31 March 2013 | Toshiba Fuchū Plant, Tokyo, Japan | Ex-EF65 77, stored on siding next to ED31 3; can be seen from Musashino Line | ||
EF65 1001 | Kisha Seizō | Tōyō Denki | 15 October 1969 | 2008 | JR Freight Central Training Center, Tokyo, Japan | Remains on JR Freight register, used for training purposes; not open for public viewing |
EF65 529 | Nippon Sharyo | Fuji Electric | 24 March 1966 | 15 June 1993 | Cab only, used for training purposes; not open for public viewing | |
EF65 536 | Kisha Seizō | Tōyō Denki | 24 March 1967 | 2 December 1998 | Kato Sekisui Factory, Saitama, Japan | Ex-EF65 78, cab only; not open for public viewing |
EF65 539 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Kawasaki Denki | 29 July 1968 | 30 March 2005 | Gunma, Japan | Ex-EF65 81, front portion only; privately owned, exact location unknown |
The following Class EF65 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Last location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF65 5 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Kawasaki Denki | 6 February 1965 | 25 January 1994 | JR Freight Central Training Center, Tokyo, Japan | Scrapped circa 1990s |
EF65 33 | Toshiba | Toshiba | 28 May 1965 | 10 February 1987 | Yaizu Station, Shizuoka, Japan | Acted as Beer Station Yaizu beer joint; scrapped 1998 |
EF65 59 | 16 November 1965 | 2 December 1998 | Ōmiya General Rolling Stock Center, Saitama, Japan | Scrapped circa 2000s | ||
EF65 65 | Kisha Seizō | Tōyō Denki | 6 December 1965 | 5 February 1987 | JR Central Hamamatsu Works, Hamamatsu, Japan | Last reliably seen 1988, presumed scrapped |
EF65 110 | 2 October 1969 | 31 March 1998 | Last reliably seen 1999, presumed scrapped | |||
EF65 112 | Nippon Sharyo | Fuji Electric | 2 October 1969 | 3 December 2007 | Scrapped December 2007 | |
EF65 75 | 12 August 1966 | 24 December 2003 | Hiroshima Rolling Stock Depot, Hiroshima, Japan | Scrapped end-December 2003 |