JNR C59 Class Steam Locomotive
As the successor to the C53 express passenger locomotive for trunk lines, 173 type C59 locomotives were built between 1941 and 1947 by Kisha Seizo, Kawasaki, and Hitachi. The specifications of the prewar and postwar models differed, including some changes in external appearance. They were used on the Tokaido and Sanyo Main Lines for limited express trains, but as the electrification of these lines progressed, they were moved to lines in the Kyushu and Tohoku regions. For use on lower-grade tracks, 47 of them were converted into the C60 class. The last remaining units operated until 1970 on the Kure Line in Hiroshima Prefecture, a high-grade track due to the presence of a naval base there before the war. Currently, a total of 4 trains are in static preservation at the Kyoto Railway Museum and at the Kyushu Railway Memorial Museum.
Data of C59 Class
| Wheel arrangement | 4-6-2 | Driving Wheel Diameter(mm) | 1,750 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loco. Weight in Working Order(t) | 80.25 | Maximum Axle Load(t) | 16.17 |
| Tender Weight in Working Order(t) | 56.9 | Boiler Pressure(kg/cm²) | 16.00 |
| Heating Surface Area(㎡) | 241.30 | Cylinder Dimensions(mm) | 520×660 |
| Grate Area(㎡) | 3.27 | Overall Length(mm) | 21,360 |
| Boiler Water Capacity (m³) | 7.80 | Total Height(mm) | 3,980 |
| Loading Capacity of Water(m³) | 25.0 | Locomotive Length(mm) | 13,045 |
| Fuel Capacity(t) | 10.0 | Tender Length(mm) | 8,315 |
| Weight on Driving Wheels(t) | 48.5 | Boiler Center Height(mm) | 2,530 |