The JNR Class EF70 is a Japanese AC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1961 to March 1987.
History[]
The EF70 was developed specifically for hauling 1,300 ton freight trains on a 10‰ gradient and passenger trains at up to 100 km/h (62 mph) through the Hokuriku Tunnel, with the JNR realizing it would be difficult to do so with existing locomotives. As a result, it was decided to design a Bo-Bo-Bo locomotive for the purpose.
The first locomotives entered service in 1961 in the Hokuriku region, with operation expanded later throughout the region. Seven locomotives, EF70 22 through 28, were modified to haul sleeper trains and renumbered to EF70 1001 through EF70 1007. These were slowly replaced by EF81 locomotives in the 1970s, with many EF70s becoming surplus; EF70 61 through 81 would be transferred to Kyushu to replace the older ED72 and ED73 locomotives.
In Kyushu, the EF70s were used to haul sleeper trains and freight trains, but due to their axle load their operation was restricted to the north of Kumamoto; they were also deemed too powerful for their use in Kyushu and by 1982 most locomotives had been taken out of service. By 1984, few locomotives remained in service on the Hokuriku Main Line. The remaining EF70s were taken out of service in March 1986, with the exception of EF70 1 which remained in service until March 1987; all locomotives were retired before the JNR was privatized and split, with none sold to private railways.
One EF70, EF70 1001, is preserved at the Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park. A few other locomotives were preserved in the past before being scrapped; one notable locomotive was EF70 57. It was painted in JNR limited express colors and located together with camping cars at a youth facility in Hakusan, Ichikawa. The facility closed in 2013 and the locomotive and cars were hauled in the early morning of February 2016 for scrapping.
Design[]
The EF70s featured large box-shaped bodies. The initial 21 locomotives featured a single large top-mounted headlight; this was later changed to dual headlights from EF70 22 onwards. Other minor changes to the design were also made.
Specifications[]
The EF70s 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 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.
Preservation[]
The following Class EF70 locomotives have been preserved:
| Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF70 1001 | Hitachi | Hitachi | 13 June 1964 | 31 March 1986 | Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan | Ex-EF70 22; preserved outdoors |
The following Class EF70 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
| Number | Manufacturer | Equipment manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Last location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF70 1 | Hitachi | Hitachi | 1961 | March 1987 | JR West Mattō Works, Ishikawa, Japan | Last reliably sighted 1994, presumed scrapped |
| EF70 4 | 1986 | JR West Tsuruga Rolling Stock Depot, Fukui, Japan | Last reliably sighted 1994, presumed scrapped; wore numberplates of EF70 1 | |||
| EF70 57 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Mitsubishi Electric | 26 June 1965 | 31 March 1986 | Mattō Youth Accommodation Training Center, Ishikawa, Japan | Displayed outdoors and used as lodging, coupled to passenger cars OHa 47 2079 and OHa 47 2235; facility closed March 2013, scrapped February 2016 |
| EF70 70 | Hitachi | Hitachi | 1965 | 1986 | Suita Locomotive Depot, Osaka, Japan | Stored in roundhouse; scrapped 1998 with demolition of roundhouse |
| EF70 1003 | 1964 | Fukui, Japan | Ex-EF70 24, wore numberplates of EF70 1005; initially preserved as yakiniku restaurant Donko alongside OHaFu 45 2014 and OHaFu 46 2029, restaurant closed November 1995, locomotive moved around until 2007, presumably scrapped afterwards |
Gallery[]
