JR Freight Class EF200

The Class EF200 (EF200形) was a Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement DC electric locomotive operated by JR Freight on freight services in Japan from 1992 ^[1] until its retirement on 28 March 2019.^[2]

Class EF200
EF200-14 in revised livery in May 2009
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Hitachi Rail Build date 1990–1993 Total produced 21
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo′Bo′Bo′ Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Bogies FD3 (outer), FD4A (centre) Wheel diameter 1,120 mm (44.09 in) Length 19,400 mm (63 ft 7+3⁄4 in) Width 2,970 mm (9 ft 8+7⁄8 in) Loco weight 100.8 t (99.2 long tons; 111.1 short tons) Electric system/s 1,500 V DC overhead wire Current pickup(s) FPS2A pantograph x2 Traction motors AC Safety systems ATS-PF, ATS-SF
Performance figures Maximum speed 110 km/h (70 mph) Power output 6 MW (8,000 hp) Tractive effort 26,600 kgf (261,000 N; 59,000 lbf)
Career Operators JR Freight Number in class 12 (as of 1 April 2016^[update]) Delivered 1990 First run 1990 Retired 28 March 2019 Withdrawn 28 March 2019 Preserved 1 Disposition Retired

Overview

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

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

• EF200-900: Prototype locomotive EF200-901, built 1990
• EF200-0: Full-production locomotives EF200-1 – 20, built 1992–1993

History

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]

•  
  EF200-4 in original livery in August 1992
•  
  Prototype locomotive EF200-901 in revised livery in August 2013

Preserved examples

 

Preserved EF200-901 at the Hitachi Mito factory in May 2017

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

Main article: Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification

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

1. 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.
2. "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.
3. 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.
4. ELダイヤ情報21 [Electric Loco Timetable Information 21]. Tokyo, Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. October 2012. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-4330320120.
5. 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.
6. [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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. "EF200-901". Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 13 December 2016. from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
10. 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. from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.

External links

 

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