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Class EF55
EF55 1 at Matsumoto Station, October 2003
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Hitachi, Kawasaki, Tōyō Electric Build date 1936 Total produced 3
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR 2-C+C-1  • UIC (2'Co)(Co'1) Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Driver dia. 1,250 mm (49.21 in) Trailing dia. 860 mm (33.86 in) Length 19,150 mm (62 ft 9+7⁄8 in) Width 2,810 mm (9 ft 2+5⁄8 in) Height 3,810 mm (12 ft 6 in) Loco weight 100.38 t (98.79 long tons; 110.65 short tons) Electric system/s 1,500 V DC Current pickup(s) Pantograph
Performance figures Maximum speed 95 km/h (59 mph) Power output 1.350 MW (1,810 hp) Tractive effort 6,300 kgf (61,780 N; 13,890 lbf)
Career Operators JNR, JR East Number in class 3 Delivered March 1936 Preserved 1 Disposition All withdrawn

The Class EF55 (EF55形) is a 2Co+Co1 wheel arrangement electric locomotive type consisting of three locomotives built in 1936 by Hitachi, Kawasaki, and Tōyō Electric in Japan. They were nicknamed "Moomin".

Operations

They were originally intended to haul limited express trains on the Tōkaidō Line. Although based on the earlier EF53 design, the EF55s featured a unique non-symmetrical wheel arrangement with a streamlined cab at only one end. The number 2 end had a traditional-style cab with access deck.

• A side view of EF55 2, August 1936
• Tokaido Main Line EF552 (Numa) Limited Express 1 Train 'Fuji' Shinagawa - Oimachi, August 1936

Withdrawal

The need to turn locomotives into regular use proved to be the downfall of this small class, and the locomotives were placed in storage in 1958, and then officially withdrawn in 1964. Following withdrawal, EF55 1 was moved to the former Chūō Railway Institute near Nishi-Kokubunji Station for apprentice training purposes. EF55 3 was cannibalized to donate motors and other components to the ED30 prototype AC electric locomotive, and EF55 2 was also cut up shortly after.

Preserved examples

EF55 1 was designated as an important piece of railway heritage in 1978, and was subsequently restored to running condition, re-entering service in 1986 for use hauling special event trains. It was operated by JR East, based at Takasaki depot, until it was finally withdrawn in December 2008.

EF55 1 was moved from Takasaki to Omiya in January 2015, and exhibited at JR East's Railway Museum from 12 April.

• EF55 1
• The rear, non-streamlined end of EF55 1 stored at Takasaki Depot in July 1978
• EF55 1 on a charter service

See also

• Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification

References

1. ^ JR全車輛ハンドブック'93 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1993] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 1993.
2. ^ Inoue, Kōichi (1999). 国鉄機関車事典: 蒸気・電気・ディーゼル機関車66形式 国鉄機関車辞典 [JNR Locomotive Encyclopedia] (in Japanese). Japan: Sankaido. pp. 92–93. ISBN 978-4-381-10338-3.
3. EF55 1，鉄道博物館で展示へ [EF55 1 to be exhibited at Railway Museum]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
4. 鉄道博物館EF55 1に「ご紋章」と日章旗 [EF55 1 at Railway Museum adorned with crest and flags]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.

v t e Japanese National Railway Electric Locomotives
Old types	Two-axle EB10/AB10 Four-axle ED10 ED11 ED12 ED13 ED14 ED15 ED16 ED17 ED18 ED19 ED20 ED21 ED22 ED23 ED24 ED25 I ED26 I ED27 I ED28 I ED29 I ED30→ED25 II ED31 ED32 ED33→ED26 II ED34→ED27 II ED35→ED28 II ED36 ED37→ED29 II ED38 ED50 · ED51 · ED52 ED53 ED54 ED55 (proposed) ED56 ED57 ケED10 Six-axle EF10 EF11 EF12 EF13 EF14 EF15 EF16 EF18 EF50 EF51 EF52 EF53 EF55 EF56 EF57 EF58 EF59 Eight-axle EH10 EH50 Abt-type EC40 ED40 ED41 ED42
New types	Four-axle DC ED60 ED61 ED62 ED63/ED95 Six-axle DC EF60 EF61 EF62 EF63 EF64 EF65 EF66/EF90 EF67 Four-axle AC ED44/ED90 · ED45/ED91 ED70 ED71 ED72 ED73 ED74 ED75 ED76 ED77/ED93 ED78/ED94 ED79 Six-axle AC EF70 EF71 AC/DC 2-system ED30 II ED46/ED92 EF30 EF80 EF81

v t e Japanese railway locomotives
Steam locomotives	150 160 500 860 900 950 1070 2120 3080 3150 3380 3800 3900 4100 4110 5100 5500 5700 6120 6200 6400 6700 7010 7100 7170 8150 8250 8620 8700 8900 9550 9600 9700 B20 C10 C11 C12 C50 C51 C52 C53 C54 C55 C56 C57 C58 C59 C60 C61 C62 C63 D50 D51 D52 D60 D61 D62 E10
Diesel locomotives	DB10 DB500 DC10 DC11 DD10 DD11 DD12 DD13 DD14 DD15 DD16 DD17 DD18 DD19 DD20 DD21 DD50 DD51 DD53 DD54 DD200 DE10 DE11 DE15 DE50 DF50 DF200 HD300 KiYa 143 KiYa 291 Seibu D15 Seibu D21 Ooikawa DB1 Ooikawa DB51 Ooikawa DD100 Ooikawa DD20
Electric locomotives	EB10 ED10 ED15 ED16 ED17 ED18 ED19 ED60 ED61 ED62 ED70 ED71 ED72 ED73 ED74 ED75 ED76 ED77 ED78 ED79 EF10 EF13 EF15 EF16 EF30 EF50 EF51 EF52 EF53 EF55 EF56 EF57 EF58 EF59 EF60 EF61 EF62 EF63 EF64 EF65 EF66 EF67 EF70 EF71 EF80 EF81 EH10 EH50 ED500 EF200 EF210 EF500 EF510 EH200 EH500 EH800 Chichibu DeKi 1 Chichibu DeKi 100 Chichibu DeKi 200 Chichibu DeKi 300 Chichibu DeKi 500 Meitetsu DeKi 300 Meitetsu DeKi 400 Meitetsu DeKi 600 Meitetsu Class EL120 Tobu ED4010 Tobu ED5000 Tobu ED5010 Tobu ED5060 Seibu E31 Seibu E851 Ooikawa E10 Ooikawa ED90 Toei E5000

v t e Locomotives of East Japan Railway Company
Electric	AC ED75 ED77 ED78 EF71 DC EF55 EF58 EF60 EF62 EF63 EF64 EF65 AC+DC EF81 EF510
Diesel	DD14 DD15 DD16 DD17 DD18 DD19 DD51 DD53 DE10 DE11 DE15
Steam	C57 C58 C61 D51
Note: Withdrawn locomotive classes are shown in italics

• Electric locomotives of Japan
• 1067 mm gauge locomotives of Japan
• 2-C+C-1 locomotives
• 1500 V DC locomotives
• Preserved electric locomotives
• Railway locomotives introduced in 1936
• Hitachi locomotives
• Kawasaki locomotives