The was an
electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage such as a Battery (electricity), battery or a supercapacitor. Locomotives with on-board fuelled prime mover (locomotive), ...
formerly operated in Japan from 1924 until 1960.
The Class ED15 was the first mainline electric locomotive type to be built domestically in Japan.
History
Founder
Namihei Odaira
was a Japanese entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded Hitachi.
Life
Odaira was born on January 15, 1874, in Ienaka, Shimotsuga, Tochigi Prefecture (present-day Tsugamachi Kassenba, Tochigi), the second son of Odaira SÅhachi and Chiyo. ...
and other engineers from
Hitachi
() is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1910 and headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company is active in various industries, including digital systems, power and renewable ener ...
visited the Omiya Works of the
Japanese Governmental Railways in 1922 and saw imported electric locomotives. They decided to build one by themselves soon afterwards, and the first example, ED15 1 was completed in 1924.
Two more locomotives of the class were built in 1926.
Initially designated Class 1070 under the original
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) numbering scheme, the locomotives became Class ED15 from 1928.
The locomotives were initially used on
Tokaido Main Line freight services, and were later employed on the
Chuo Main Line.
The locomotives were withdrawn from service between 1959 and 1960.
Preservation
ED15 1 is preserved at the Hitachi Mito Factory in
Hitachinaka, Ibaraki
250px, Hitachinaka city hall
is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 154,663 in 64,900 households and a population density of 1547 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged over 65 ...
.
Classification
The ED15 classification for this locomotive type is explained below.
* E: Electric locomotive
* D: Four driving axles
* 15: Locomotive with maximum speed 85 km/h or less
See also
Mechanical Engineering Heritage (Japan)
The is a list of sites, landmarks, machines, and documents that made significant contributions to the development of mechanical engineering in Japan. Items in the list are certified by the .
Overview
The ''Mechanical Engineering Heritage'' pr ...
, No. 45: Type ED15 Electric Locomotive.
References
{{Japanloco
Electric locomotives of Japan
1500 V DC locomotives
1067 mm gauge locomotives of Japan
Railway locomotives introduced in 1926
Hitachi locomotives