In the early 1920s the Imperial Government Railways of Japan began electrification of the Tokaido and Yokosuka Lines. The railway imported electric locomotives from the UK, US and Switzerland to provide the motive power and also to give the Japanese experience with the locomotive type before they pursued their own designs. By far the largest class of locomotives to be built was the seventeen strong
Class 1040 which were constructed by English Electric and North British Locomotive Company (two examples of the earlier and similar
Class 1030 were also built). The locomotives arrived in Japan between 1924 and 1925 and were put into use hauling passenger trains, the locomotives were built for 1, 067mm gauge. After 1928 they were classified as the
ED50.
 |
| Class 1040 [1] |
| Information |
| Number built: |
17 |
| Built: |
1923 |
| Builder: |
English Electric / North British Locomotive |
| Motor: |
4 DK86 electric motors (1500v DC OHLE) |
| Power: |
1, 200 hp (865 kW) |
| Wheel arrangement: |
B-B |
Between 1930 and 1931 the locomotives were rebuilt as the
ED17, they were regeared for their new role hauling mostly freight traffic along the Chuo Line. Two locomotives (classified as
ED18) were later modified with A1A-A1A bogies to reduce the axle load on the Iida Line which was more lightly built than other lines. Most of the ED17 fleet survived the war and continued to be used on the Chuo Line but were gradually replaced by more modern types by in mid-1960s. The final ED17s and ED18s were retired from service in 1972. One ED17 has been preserved.
 |
| Another view of a Class 1040 locomotive [1] |
[1] "Electric locomotives of the Imperial Government Railways of Japan", English Electric Journal Vol. 2 Issue 6 (1924) p. 294
