Locomotive Wiki
Advertisement

The JR Freight Class ED500 was a prototype dual-voltage electric locomotive operated by JR Freight from 1992 to 1994.

History[]

In the early 1990s, JR Freight had a requirement to replace the Class ED75 locomotives on Tōhoku Main Line freight services. One prototype locomotive was built by Hitachi and loaned to JR Freight for testing purposes. The locomotive was initially given the provisional designation of ED•X before being given the official designation of ED500-901. The locomotive began testing in 1992, but problems arose during testing on the 2.5% gradients on the Tōhoku Main Line and further problems arose in the Seikan Tunnel. As such, the locomotive was not selected for mass production, with the Class EH500 being selected for this role instead and the EF510 being selected for Seikan Tunnel usage.

After testing, the train was returned to Hitachi and stored at their Mito Plant; the train was then stripped of its electric equipment. After years of deterioration, the locomotive was scrapped in 2016; only a single bogie is preserved at Hitachi's Mito Plant. Since the production of the ED500, no electric locomotives have been manufactured by Hitachi.

Design[]

The Class ED500 featured a design largely based on the previous Class EF200s. It was finished in matte black with red cab doors and other detailing. Prior to being loaned to JR Freight, the locomotive featured large "ED-X" lettering on its sides. The locomotive featured circular headlamps and taillamps instead of rectangular ones.

Specifications[]

The Class ED500 was a prototype electric locomotive largely based on the Class EF200 locomotive. The locomotive used a Hitachi GTO variable frequency drive, said to be of a similar specification to that of the EF200 as well. The locomotive was said to have produce 4,000 kW (5,364 hp) and 19,069 kg of tractive effort.

Preservation[]

The following Class ED500 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:

Number Manufacturer Equipment manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Last location Notes
ED500-901 Hitachi Hitachi 22 August 1992 1994 Hitachi Mito Plant, Ibaraki, Japan Stored after withdrawal on siding, scrapped 2016 due to deterioration; only one bogie preserved, last electric locomotive produced by Hitachi

Gallery[]

References[]

JR Group motive power
JNR Diesel prototype DB10DC10DC11DD10
4-axle diesel DD11DD12DD13DD14DD15DD16DD17DD20DD21DD40DD41DD42DD50DD51DD53DD54DD90DD91DD92DD93
5-axle diesel DE10DE11DE15DE50
6-axle diesel DF40DF41DF50DF90DF91 (gen 1)DF91 (gen 2)DF92DF93
Shinkansen 911912
Narrow-gauge diesel Ke DB10Ke DB11
Early 2/4-axle freight electric AB10EB10ED10ED11ED12ED13ED14ED15ED16ED17ED18 (gen 1)ED18 (gen 2)ED19ED23ED24
Early 4-axle passenger electric ED50ED51ED52ED53ED54ED55ED56ED57
Early 6-axle freight electric EF10EF11EF12EF13EF14EF15EF16EF18
Early 6-axle passenger electric EF20EF50EF51EF52EF53EF54EF55EF56EF57EF58EF59HEF10HEF50
Early 8-axle electric EH10EH50HEH50HEH150
Early Abt rack rail electric EC40ED40ED41ED42
Acquired from private railways ED20ED21ED22ED25 (gen 1)ED25 (gen 2)ED26 (gen 1)ED26 (gen 2)ED27 (gen 1)ED27 (gen 2)ED28 (gen 1)ED28 (gen 2)ED29 (gen 1)ED29 (gen 2)ED30 (gen 1)ED31ED32ED33ED34ED35ED36ED37ED38Ke ED10DeKi 1RoKo 1DeKi 501RoKo 1000
DC 4-axle ED60ED61ED62ED63ED95
AC 4-axle ED44ED45ED70ED71ED72ED73ED74ED75ED76ED77ED78ED79ED90ED91ED93ED94
DC 6-axle EF60EF61EF62EF63EF64EF65EF66EF67EF90
AC 6-axle EF70EF71
Dual-current ED30 (gen 2)ED46ED92EF30EF80EF81
Other AH100
JR Group Dual-current electric ED500EF500EF510EH500
DC electric EF200EF210EH200
DC EMU M250
AC electric EH800
Diesel DD18DD19DB500DD200DF200ENR-1000
Hybrid HD300
Advertisement