The Class C56 is a type of

2-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and no trailing wheels. T ...

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, Fuel oil, oil or, rarely, Wood fuel, wood) to heat ...

Hideo Shima was a Japanese engineer and the driving force behind the building of the first bullet train (Shinkansen). Shima was born in Osaka in 1901, and educated at the Tokyo Imperial University, where he studied Mechanical Engineering. His father was p ...

and operated by the

Japanese Government Railways The Japanese Government Railways (JGR) was the national rail transport, railway system directly operated by the until 1949. It was a predecessor of Japanese National Railways and the later Japan Railways Group. Name The English name "Japanese ...

(JGR) from 1935 to 1939, and later by its post-war successor

Japanese National Railways The , abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987. Network Railways As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pre ...

(JNR). A total of 164 locomotives were built between 1935 and 1939. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, locomotives numbered C56 1 to C56 90 and C56 161 to C56 164 were sent to

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

, where some remained in service until the 1980s. The last C56 was retired in 1974, though several have been preserved and remain operational for heritage purposes.

History

Design

The Class C56 was a compact, lightweight design to operate on light-graded branch lines unsuitable for larger locomotives. Initially introduced in 1935, the C56 was based on the earlier C12 tank locomotive but adapted for longer distances by replacing its onboard water tank and coal bunker with a tender, which allowed for greater fuel and water capacity. Branch lines often lacked turntables, which posed operational challenges for tender locomotives. While the C12 could easily operate in reverse, the C56 required modifications to improve rear visibility. To address this, the tender was designed with cut-outs on the coal bunker’s sides, a distinctive design that facilitated reverse operation. Between 1935 and 1939, a total of 160 C56 locomotives were produced by various manufacturers, including Kawasaki, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Additionally, four units were built for the Karafuto Railway Bureau and one for a coal mine.

Wartime service

The lightweight and durable design of the C56 caught the attention of the military during the lead-up to the Second World War. In 1941, 90 of the 160 locomotives were requisitioned for service on the

Thailand-Burma Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 by ...

(commonly known as the Death Railway). After the war, 46 surviving locomotives remained in Thailand and were incorporated into the

State Railway of Thailand The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) (, abbrev. รฟท., ) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport (Thailand), Ministry of Transport in Thailand. History The SRT was founded as the Royal State Rail ...

as the Class 700 (Nos. 701–746). A further 12 units were transferred to the Burma Railways, where they were designated Class C and assigned individual numbering.

Post-War operations in Japan

Of the 68 C56 locomotives that remained in Japan, many were redeployed across regions such as Hokuriku,

Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan's Japanese archipelago, four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa Island, Okinawa and the other Ryukyu Islands, Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Ryukyu Islands, Islands ...

, and the Chugoku area, and operated on less-trafficked branch lines. While their limited power made them unsuitable for express passenger services, they handled local or mixed trains. Notably, from 1953 to 1959, C56 locomotives were used on the

Kisuki Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The line connects in Matsue, Shimane with in Shōbara, Hiroshima. Stations 　Four〜10 Diesel trains are operated every day. There are more trains between Shi ...

to haul the ''Chidori'' rapid service. The C56 earned the nickname 'Pony' for its light, agile operation, especially during its scenic runs on the

Koumi Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It links Kobuchizawa Station in Hokuto, Yamanashi with Komoro Station in Komoro, Nagano, and extends 78.9 km (49.0 mi) through the mountains with a total ...

, where it was called the 'Pony of the Highlands'. Despite being gradually replaced by diesel locomotives, the C56 continued to operate freight trains on minor lines well into the 1970s, partly due to delays in introducing dedicated diesel replacements such as the DD16. The final C56 in regular service was retired in 1974 after operating on the

Sanko Line Sanko or Sankō may refer to *Sanko (surname) *Sankō, Ōita, a town in Japan *Sankō Shrine in Osaka, Japan *Sankō Line, a railway line in Japan *Sanko Grand Summer Championship, a defunct golf tournament held in Japan *Sanko Group, the parent co ...

Preserved examples

Japanese-national-railways-C56-44-20120403

A number of Class C56 locomotives are preserved in Japan and

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

as well as one in

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

. C56 44 is maintained in operating condition by the

Ōigawa Railway is a railway company in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, which first opened in 1927. The company is commonly known as . The company belonged to the Meitetsu Group until 2015, when it was sold to Eclipse Hidaka, a food and hotel company headquarte ...

for use on main line steam specials, while the railway is planning to restore another C56 to an operational condition. C56 160 was mainline operational until 2018, when the limited space on the locomotive made it difficult for it to be fitted with the latest digital automatic train stop system. Since then, the locomotive remains operational at the

Kyoto Railway Museum The (formerly the until 2016) is a railway museum in Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The original Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum opened in 1972, but was expanded and modernized in 2016, becoming the Kyoto Railway Museum. The museum is owned by We ...

but does not operate on mainlines. In Thailand, Nos. 713 and 715 (formerly C56 Nos. 15 and 17) remain operational.

Myanmar

* C56 56:

Burma Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 ...

. (Burma Railway No. C-0522) Preserved at Death Railway Museum,

Thanbyuzayat Thanbyuzayat (; , "Reid, Robert and Grosberg, Michael (2005) ''Myanmar (Burma)'' (9th edition) Lonely Planet Publications, Footscray, Victoria, Australiapage 159 ) is a town in the Mon State of south-eastern Myanmar. It is the administrative cente ...

, Myanmar."The Death Railway Museum" on Travelfish website
/ref> File:Thanbyuzayat MMR011004701, Myanmar (Burma) - panoramio (1).jpg, C56 56 in Myanmar

Thailand

* C56 4:

. (SRT 702) Preserved at

Sai Yok Noi Waterfall Sai Yok National Park () is a national park in Sai Yok district, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, near the town Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi. The park, home to mountains, waterfalls and caves, is part of the Western Forest Complex protected area. Geogra ...

, Kanchanaburi. * C56 15:

. (SRT 713) Preserved for haul the special steam train for show in River Kwai Festival at Kanchanaburi between late November and/or early December.Rotfaithai.Com C56 Steam Locomotive Gallery
/ref> * C56 16:

. (SRT 714) Preserved at Bangkok Railway Station. * C56 17:

. (SRT 715) Preserved for haul the special steam train for show in River Kwai Festival at Kanchanaburi between late November and/or early December. (The alternate locomotive if C56 15 out of service) * C56 23:

. (SRT 719) Preserved at River Kwai Bridge,

Kanchanaburi Kanchanaburi (, ) is a town municipality ('' thesaban mueang'') in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. The town of lies to the southeast of Erawan National Park within Kanchanaburi Province, approximately 120km west of Bangkok. In 2006 it had a po ...

* C56 36:

. (SRT 728) Preserved at Lampang Railway Station. * C56 41:

. (SRT 733) Stored at Makkasan Depot, Bangkok. * C56 47:

. (SRT 738) Preserved at Thai Film Archive, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom. * C56 53:

. (SRT 744) Private property, near the Road 1269 in Chiang MaiRailAsia blog
/ref> File:A Japanese locomotive used in Burma-Thailand Railway during the world war 2.jpg, C56 4 steam locomotive at

Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi (, lit. 'small Sai Yok waterfall') is a small town (''thesaban tambon'') in Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, along the route of the Death Railway linking Thailand with Burma. It is named after Sai Yok Noi Wat ...

File:SRT C56 15 713 at Bangkok Railway Station 02.jpg, C56 15 in Bangkok Railway Station,

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

File:C56 16.JPG, C56 16 File:SRT C56 17 715 at Bangkok Railway Station.jpg, C56 17 in Bangkok Railway Station, Bangkok File:PRESERVED STEAM LOCOMOTIVE USED ON THE DEATH RAILWAY AT THE RIVER KWAI BRIDGE KANCHANBURI THAILAND JAN 2013 (8515947200).jpg, C56 23 in River Kwai Bridge,

File:728-Steam-Locomotive.JPG, C56 36 in Lampang Railway Station,

Lampang Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang (; , ) to differentiate from Lampang province, is the third largest city in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang province and the Mueang Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lak ...

File:733 C5641.jpg, C56 41 at Makkasan Depot, Bangkok File:738 C5647.jpg, C56 47 in Thai Film Archive, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom File:โมกุล C56 หมายเลข 744 2.jpg, C56 53

Japan

* C56 31:

Yūshūkan The is a Japanese military and war museum located within Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. As a museum maintained by the shrine, which is dedicated to the souls of soldiers who died fighting on behalf of the Emperor of Japan including convicted ...

(SRT 725) Japanese military and war museum. Used in Burma and Thailand during the construction of the

Death Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 b ...

and subsequently used in Thailand after the war. It was brought back to Japan in the 1970s. * C56 44: (SRT 735) Preserved in operating condition on the

. On some occasions, this locomotive will be dressed as

James the Red Engine James the Red Engine is a fictional character from ''the Railway Series'' children's books created by Wilbert Awdry and the television adaptation ''Thomas & Friends''. He is an anthropomorphic tender locomotive, and is the number 5 engine on the ...

to pull special

Day Out with Thomas Day Out with Thomas is a trade name, licensed by Mattel for tourist events that take place on heritage railways and feature one or more engines decorated to look like characters from the British children's television series ''Thomas & Friends''. ...

special events with C11 227/C11 190 (Thomas) * C56 92: Preserved in front of Izumi Station in

Kagoshima Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands. Kagoshima Prefecture has a population of 1,527,019 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 9,187 Square kilometre, km2 (3,547 Square m ...

. * C56 94: Preserved in Nishi Park in

Ōmachi, Nagano is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 27,559 in 11861 households, and a population density of 49 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Ōmachi is located west of Nagano, t ...

. * C56 96: Preserved in

Minamimaki, Nagano is a Villages of Japan, village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the village had an estimated population of 2,924 in 1,091 households and a population density of 22 persons per km2. The total area of the village is . Geography Minamima ...

. * C56 98: Preserved in the 19th Century Hall next to Torokko Saga Station in

Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...

. * C56 99: Preserved at the Dacho Dream Eco Land in

Satsumasendai, Kagoshima 290px, Satsumasendai City Hall is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 90,918 in 46610 households, and a population density of 130 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . History Sa ...

. * C56 101: Preserved in a park in

Saku, Nagano is a Cities of Japan, city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 97,454 in 41,522 households, and a population density of 230 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Saku is located ...

. * C56 106: Preserved in a park in Fuchu, Hiroshima. * C56 108: Preserved in

Unnan, Shimane file:斐伊川堤防桜並木２.JPG, 270px, Hii River Embankment file:Kamoiwakura Ruins.JPG, 270px, Kamoiwakura Site file:Unnan city center area Aerial photograph.2017.jpg, 270px, Unnan city center is a Cities of Japan, city located in Shimane ...

. * C56 110: Preserved in a park in Soka, Saitama. * C56 111: Preserved at an elementary school in

Takarazuka, Hyōgo file:Takarazuka city-office.jpg, 270px, Takarazuka City Hall file:Takarazuka city center area Aerial photograph.1985.jpg, 270px, Aerial view of Takarazuka city center The kanji (UTF-8 code FA1016), which is part of Takarazuka's official name () ...

. * C56 124: Preserved at a community centre in

Azumino, Nagano is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 97,761 in 39744 households, and a population density of 290 persons per km2. Its total area is . Etymology of Azumino Azumino is a combination of two word ...

. * C56 126: Preserved at Kobuchizawa Elementary School in

Hokuto, Yamanashi is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 45,684 in 22,091 households, and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Geography Hokuto is located in far northwest Yamanashi Pref ...

. * C56 129: Preserved in a park in

Iiyama, Nagano is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 20,118 in 7372 households, and a population density of 99 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . It markets itself as "Japan's Hometown" and is kn ...

. * C56 131: Preserved in Kita Park in

Matsue, Shimane is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture, Japan, located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. , the city had an estimated population of 196,748 in 91287 households and a population density of 340 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Ma ...

. * C56 135: Preserved in a park in Kato, Hyogo. Purchased by the Ōigawa Railway through crowdfunding, undergoing restoration as of October 2024. * C56 139: Preserved at Yokohama Hommoku Freight Terminal on the

Kanagawa Rinkai Railway The is a freight-only railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is ...

Yokohama, Kanagawa is the second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a population of 3.7 million in 2023. It lies on Tokyo B ...

. * C56 144: Preserved at Komoro Castle in

Komoro, Nagano is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 42,489 in 18776 households, and a population density of 430 persons per km². Its total area is . Geography Komoro is located in eastern Nagano Prefecture. ...

. * C56 149: Preserved in front of

Kiyosato Station is a railway station in Kiyosato in the city of Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Kiyosato Station serves as the gateway to the surrounding highland resort area as well as the Kiyosato Educational Experiment Program (KEEP), a Summer camp ...

. * C56 150: Preserved at the Hakuba Alps Autocamp site in

Hakuba, Nagano is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of April 1, 2019, the village had an estimated population of 9,007 in 4267 households, and a population density of 48 persons per km2. The total area of the village is . Hakuba is located i ...

. * C56 160: Preserved in operating condition by

JR West , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, ...

. It was withdrawn from mainline service on 27th May 2018 due to being severely underpowered for excursions, requiring assistance from a diesel locomotive in order to haul a full 5-car consist of 35 series carriages for the SL Yamaguchi. File:C56 160 steam locomotive at Kyoto Railway Museum (30576212130).jpg, C56 160 steam locomotive at

File:Japanese-national-railways-C56-31-20110622.jpg, C56 31 preserved inside the Yushukan Museum in Tokyo File:JNR C56 44 20120805.jpg, C56 44 operating on the Oigawa Railway in August 2012 File:C5692 Izumi Station.JPG, Preserved C56 92 in October 2012 File:C56 96.JPG, Preserved C56 96 in August 2009 File:C56 98 in Diorama Kyoto Japan.jpg, Preserved C56 98 in March 2021 File:C56 101 at Saku city 2015.jpg, Preserved C56 101 in August 2015 File:C56 106 in Fuchu Kokufu Children Park.jpg, Preserved C56 106 in November 2020 File:JNR C56 144.jpg, Preserved C56 144 in April 2018 File:C56 149.JPG, Preserved C56 149 in August 2009 File:C56 160 steam locomotive 2017-12-24 02.jpg, C56 160 at

Tsuwano Station is a passenger railway station located in the town of Tsuwano, Kanoashi District, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). Lines Tsuwano Station is served by the JR West Yamaguchi Line, and is ...

in December 2017

References

{{Jrwestloco 1067 mm gauge locomotives of Japan Steam locomotives of Japan 2-6-0 locomotives Hitachi locomotives Kawasaki locomotives Kisha Seizo locomotives Mitsubishi locomotives Nippon Sharyo locomotives Metre-gauge steam locomotives Preserved steam locomotives of Japan Railway locomotives introduced in 1935 1′C h2 locomotives Steam locomotives of Thailand Steam locomotives of Myanmar