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 typeElectric
BuilderHitachi Rail
Build date1990–1993
Total produced21
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICBo′Bo′Bo′
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
BogiesFD3 (outer), FD4A (centre)
Wheel diameter1,120 mm (44.09 in)
Length19,400 mm (63 ft 7+3⁄4 in)
Width2,970 mm (9 ft 8+7⁄8 in)
Loco weight100.8 t
(99.2 long tons; 111.1 short tons)
Electric system/s1,500 V DC overhead wire
Current pickup(s)FPS2A pantograph x2
Traction motorsAC
Safety systemsATS-PF, ATS-SF
Performance figures
Maximum speed110 km/h (70 mph)
Power output6 MW (8,000 hp)
Tractive effort26,600 kgf (261,000 N; 59,000 lbf)
Career
OperatorsJR Freight
Number in class12 (as of 1 April 2016)
Delivered1990
First run1990
Retired28 March 2019
Withdrawn28 March 2019
Preserved1
DispositionRetired

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, 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
    EF200-4 in original livery in August 1992
  • Prototype locomotive EF200-901 in revised livery in August 2013
    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. 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.
  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. Archived 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. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
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