JNR Class DE15

The Class DE15 (DE15形) is a five-axle C-B wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotive type operated in Japan as a self-propelled snowplough unit since 1967 by the national railway company Japanese National Railways (JNR), and later by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), East Japan Railway Company (JR East), and West Japan Railway Company (JR West). A total of 85 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1981, and as of 1 April 2016, 25 locomotives remain in service.

Class DE15
JR Hokkaido DE15 1535 in February 2010
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-hydraulic
BuilderKawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo
Build date1967–1981
Total produced85
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICC-B
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Length
  • 14,150 mm (46 ft 5 in) (locomotive only)
  • 22,505 mm (73 ft 10.0 in) (with snowplough units)
  • 27,760 mm (91 ft 1 in) (DE15-2500 with snowplough units)
Width2,998 mm (9 ft 10.0 in)
Height3,970 mm (13 ft 0 in)
Loco weight65 t
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity2,500 l
Engine typeDML61ZB
TransmissionHydraulic
Train heatingSteam heating boiler
Performance figures
Maximum speed85 km/h (55 mph)
Power output
  • 1,250 hp (930 kW) (DE15-0)
  • 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) (DE15-1000 onward)
Tractive effort19,500 kgf (191,000 N; 43,000 lbf)
Career
Operators
Number in class25 (as of 1 April 2016)
DispositionIn service

Variants

A total of 85 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1981, divided into the following sub-classes.[1]

  • Class DE15-0
  • Class DE15-1000
  • Class DE15-1500
  • Class DE15-2050
  • Class DE15-2500
  • Class DE15-2550

Design

The Class DE15 was developed from the Class DE10 locomotive design, with the addition of separate two-axle snowplough units at either end.[1] The snowplough units could be attached and detached relatively easily, allowing the locomotives to be used for shunting and other duties outside the winter periods, unlike the snowplough units on the earlier Class DD15 locomotives, which were mounted directly onto the locomotives and required a crane to be attached and detached.[1]

History

DE15-0

Six Class DE15-0 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1969 by Kisha and Nippon Sharyo.[2] The locomotives were based on the Class DE10-0 design and were equipped with a 1,250 hp (930 kW) engine and train-heating steam generator.[1][2] Locomotive DE15 3 had a snowplough unit designed for clearing single-track lines, while the other five locomotives were designed for clearing double-track lines.[2] Initially, the locomotives operated with only one snowplough unit, but locomotives DE15 1 to 3 and 6 were subsequently modified with snowplough units at both ends. DE15 3 was renumbered DE15 2053.[2]

As of 1 April 2016, no Class DE15-0 locomotives remain in service.[1]

DE15-1000

Six Class DE15-1000 locomotives were built between 1971 and 1973 by Nippon Sharyo using the DML61ZB engine uprated to 1,350 hp (1,010 kW).[2] Locomotive DE15 1002 had a snowplough unit designed for clearing single-track lines, while the other five locomotives were designed for clearing double-track lines.[2] Initially, the locomotives operated with only one snowplough unit, but locomotives DE15 1002, 1004, and 1006 were subsequently modified with snowplough units at both ends. DE15 1002 was renumbered DE15 2052.[2]

Type for clearing double-track lines, fitted with 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) engine and train-heating steam generator.[1]

As of 1 April 2016, no Class DE15-1000 locomotives remain in service.[1]

DE15-1500

18 Class DE15-1500 locomotives were initially built, initially with a snowplough unit at only one end.[2] Locomotives DE15 1501 to 1504, 1507, 1509 to 1512, 1514 to 1516, and 1518 were designed for clearing double-track lines, while the others were designed for single-track lines.[2] Like the DE15-1000, these locomotives were equipped with a 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) engine, but had no train-heating steam generator.[1]

From 1976, a further batch of locomotives was built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Nippon Sharyo with snowplough units at both ends and designed for clearing double-track lines.[2]

As of 1 April 2016, 15 Class DE15-1500 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (nine locomotives), JR East (two locomotive), and JR West (four locomotive).[1]

  • JR Hokkaido DE15 1501 hauling a Marimo service
    JR Hokkaido DE15 1501 hauling a Marimo service
  • JR Hokkaido DE15 1543 in January 2009 with snowplough units attached
    JR Hokkaido DE15 1543 in January 2009 with snowplough units attached
  • JR Hokkaido DE15 1525 in September 2010 with its snowplough units removed
    JR Hokkaido DE15 1525 in September 2010 with its snowplough units removed

DE15-2050

This subclass consisted of two locomotives for clearing single-track lines.[2] DE15 2052 was converted from DE15 1002 and was fitted with a 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) engine, while DE15 2053 was converted from DE15 3 and was fitted with a 1,250 hp (930 kW) engine.[2]

As of 1 April 2016, one Class DE15-2050 locomotive remains in service, DE15 2052, operated by JR West.[1]

  • JR West DE15 2052 in January 2006
    JR West DE15 2052 in January 2006

DE15-2500

This subclass was built between 1976 and 1979 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Nippon Sharyo with snowplough units at both ends and designed for clearing single-track lines.[2] The locomotives were equipped with a 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) engine and no train-heating steam generator.[1]

As of 1 April 2016, eight Class DE15-2500 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (five locomotives) and JR West (three locomotives).[1]

  • JR West DE15 2525 in July 2010
    JR West DE15 2525 in July 2010

DE15-2550

Five Class DE15-2500 locomotives were formed by modifying Class DE15-1500 locomotives with the addition of a second snowplough unit at the other end.[2] These were designed for clearing single-track lines.[2]

Original numberModified number
DE15 1505DE15 2555
DE15 1506DE15 2556
DE15 1508DE15 2558
DE15 1513DE15 2563
DE15 1517DE15 2567

As of 1 April 2016, one Class DE15-2550 locomotive remains in service, DE15 2558, operated by JR West.[1]

Livery variations
  • DE15 1534: Repainted into a light-green livery for used on JR Hokkaido Furano-Biei Norokko excursion services[3]
  • DE15 1535: Repainted into a multi color livery for used on JR Hokkaido Furano-Biei Norokko excursion services
  • DE15 2508: Repainted into a white livery for use on JR Hokkaido Norokko excursion train services during summer months[2]
  • DE15 2510: Repainted into a red and black livery for use as a helper locomotive on JR Hokkaido steam-hauled SL Nemuro services since 2001[3]
  • DE15 2516: Repainted into a light green livery for use on JR Hokkaido Furano-Biei Norokko excursion services[4]
  • DE15 2558: Repainted into a blue and white livery for use on JR West excursion train services on the Kisuki Line[3]
  • JR Hokkaido DE15 1534 in August 2008
    JR Hokkaido DE15 1534 in August 2008
  • JR Hokkaido DE15 1535 in August 2019
    JR Hokkaido DE15 1535 in August 2019
  • JR Hokkaido DE15 2510 in January 2010
    JR Hokkaido DE15 2510 in January 2010
  • JR Hokkaido DE15 2516 in a yellow livery used as the works shunter at Naebo Works in October 2007
    JR Hokkaido DE15 2516 in a yellow livery used as the works shunter at Naebo Works in October 2007
  • JR Hokkaido DE15 2527 in Norokko green livery in August 2012
    JR Hokkaido DE15 2527 in Norokko green livery in August 2012
  • JR West DE15 2558 in August 2001
    JR West DE15 2558 in August 2001

Conversion to DE10-3000/3500
DE10 3001 in September 2015
DE10 3510 in April 2013

In 2009, fourteen surplus JR East Class DE15 locomotives were sold to JR Freight for use on freight services, and these were rebuilt and renumbered as Class DE10-3000 and DE10-3500. The conversion histories and former identities of this sub-class are as follows.[5]

JR East No.JR Freight No.Date builtManufacturerDate convertedDate withdrawn
DE15 1001DE10 30016 December 1971Nippon Sharyo5 June 2009
DE15 1510DE10 3501October 19738 May 2009
DE15 1516DE10 350216 December 19757 April 200925 November 2009
DE15 2567[Note 1]DE10 350314 January 197629 May 2009FY2011
DE15 1522DE10 35042 March 197624 April 2009FY2011
DE15 1523DE10 35059 March 19766 April 2009
DE15 1529DE10 35064 October 1976Kawasaki Heavy Industries15 May 2009
DE15 1530DE10 35077 October 197624 June 2009
DE15 1536DE10 35089 September 19777 April 2009
DE15 2505DE10 350921 October 1977Nippon Sharyo18 May 2009
DE15 2506DE10 351028 October 197719 May 2009
DE15 1539DE10 351110 November 1978Kawasaki Heavy Industries23 April 2009
DE15 2513DE10 351215 November 197812 May 2009
DE15 2524DE10 351320 November 198027 April 2009
  1. Originally built as DE15 1517.

Fleet status

By 1 April 1995, 71 locomotives were still in service.[2]

As of 1 April 2016, 25 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (9× DE15 1500 and 5× DE15 2500), JR East (2× DE15 1500), JR West (4× DE15 1500, 1× DE15 2050, 3× DE15 2500, 1× DE15 2550).[1]

Classification
Main article: Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification

The DE15 classification for this locomotive type is explained below.

  • D: Diesel locomotive
  • E: Five driving axles
  • 15: Locomotive with maximum speed of 85 km/h or less

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to JNR DE15.
  1. Miyahara, Masakazu, ed. (December 2016). 国鉄最終章LAST (鉄道ジャーナル2017年2月号別冊) [JNR - The Final Chapter (Railway Journal February 2017 Extra issue)]. Tetsudō Jānaru (in Japanese). Japan: Railway Journal: 39–41. ASIN B01N59AJPB. ISSN 0288-2337.
  2. JR全車輛ハンドブック1995 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1995] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 1995. p. 69–72, 582–583.
  3. Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. p. 65. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
  4. Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail magazine 2001 JR全車輛ハンドブック2001 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2001] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 2001. p. 70. ISBN 978-4-87366-723-2.
  5. Shibata (July 2015). JR会社間の譲渡車両 [Rolling stock transferred between JR companies]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 55, no. 651. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. p. 128.
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