The Class EF200 (EF200形) was a Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement DC electric locomotive type operated by JR Freight on freight services in Japan from 1992[1] until its retirement on 28 March 2019.[2]
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Overview edit
The Class EF200 was developed to replace Class EF66 electric locomotives on heavy freight services on the Tokaido Main Line and Sanyo Main Line west of Tokyo.[1] It is equipped with six 1,000 kW (1,300 hp) FMT2 traction motors, giving a total power output of 6,000 kW (8,000 hp).[1] Ultimately, the class was deemed to be over-specified and unnecessarily expensive, and the order was terminated after the delivery of 20 full-production locomotives.[3] The subsequent Class EF210 was instead chosen as the standard design for hauling freight services on the Tokaido Main Line and Sanyo Main Line.[3] Originally designed to haul 1,600-tonne (1,575-long-ton; 1,764-short-ton) freight trains, problems of insufficient power supply capacity to the overhead lines, meant that the class was initially limited to hauling 1,200-tonne (1,181-long-ton; 1,323-short-ton) trains.[4]
Operations edit
As of 1 April 2016[update], the fleet consists of 12 locomotives (EF200-2 – 7, 10, 15, and 17 – 20), based at Suita Depot in Osaka.[5] They are used primarily on 1,300 t freight trains west of Tokyo on the Tokaido and Sanyo Main Lines.[4]
Variants edit
- EF200-900: Prototype locomotive EF200-901, built 1990
- EF200-0: Full-production locomotives EF200-1 – 20, built 1992–1993
History edit
The prototype locomotive, EF200-901, was delivered in March 1990 for extensive testing.[4] The first full-production locomotives were delivered to Shin-Tsurumi Depot in Tokyo in 1992, entering revenue service on the Tokaido Main Line and Sanyo Main Line from the summer of that year.[1] In 1992, the Class EF200 was awarded the Laurel Prize, presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club.[6]
From 1 April 1999, the entire class was transferred from Shin-Tsurumi in Tokyo to Suita Depot in Osaka.[4] Between 2006 and 2009, the entire fleet was repainted into a new livery similar to that used for the later Class EF210 locomotives.[7] EF200-901 was similarly repainted in 2007.[1]
From 2007, the class was power-derated to match the power output of the older Class EF66 locomotives.[3] In 2011, one class member, EF200-1, was withdrawn.[3]
During fiscal 2015, eight members of the class were removed from regular duties, leaving 12 members in service.[8] The final service of the Class EF200 took place on 28 March 2019, as EF200-18 hauled its last freight train from the Hatabu yard in Shimonoseki to the Suita freight terminal in Osaka.[2]
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EF200-4 in original livery in August 1992 -
Prototype locomotive EF200-901 in revised livery in August 2013
Preserved examples edit
_Hitachi_Mito_Factory_20170603.jpg)
The prototype locomotive, EF200-901, was withdrawn in March 2016[9] and moved to the Hitachi Mito factory in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, in October 2016, where it was restored to its original livery.[10]
Classification edit
The EF200 classification for this locomotive type is explained below. As with previous locomotive designs, the prototype was numbered EF200-901, with subsequent production locomotives numbered from EF200-1 onward.
- E: Electric locomotive
- F: Six driving axles
- 200: DC locomotive with AC motors
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
- ^ a b "JR貨物の「最強機関車」EF200形が引退 山口から大阪へラストラン". Trafficnews. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d Jr機関車カタログ: Jr7社の現有30形式を詳しく解說 JR機関車カタログ [JR Locomotive Catalogue]. Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. 20 June 2013. pp. 40–45. ISBN 9784863207271.
- ^ a b c d ELダイヤ情報21 [Electric Loco Timetable Information 21]. Tokyo, Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. October 2012. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-4330320120.
- ^ Shibata, Togo (August 2016). 最新JR貨物の電気機関車と話題の貨物列車 [Latest: JR Freight electric locomotives and popular freight trains]. Tetsudo Daiya Joho Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 45, no. 388. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. p. 33.
- ^ ブルーリボン賞・ローレル賞 選定車両一覧 [Blue Ribbon Award & Laurel Prize Winner List] (in Japanese). Japan: Japan Railfan Club. 25 May 2013. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ ＪＲ世代の機関車オールガイド [Comprehensive Guide to JR Era Locomotives]. Tetsudo Daiya Joho Magazine. 39 (315): 12–26. July 2010.
- ^ JR車両ファイル2016 [JR Rolling Stock File 2016]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 663. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2016. p. 54.
- ^ "EF200-901". Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 13 December 2016. Archived from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ EF200-901が登場時の姿で展示される [EF200-901 displayed in its original livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 4 June 2017. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
External links edit
- JR Freight website (in Japanese)