The China Railways JF2 (解放2, Jiěfàng, "liberation") class steam locomotive was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives for goods trains operated by the China Railway. They were originally built for the South Manchuria Railway (Mantetsu) by several American and Japanese manufacturers, as well as by Mantetsu's Shahekou Works, between 1924 and 1932.[1]

China Railways JF2 (解放2) Mantetsu Mikani class (ミカニ)
Builder's photo of ミカニ1614.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder ALCO, Kawasaki, Kisha Seizō, South Manchuria Ry. Shahekou Works Build date 1924–1932 Total produced 41
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2 Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Driver dia. 1,370 mm (53.94 in) Axle load 23.24 t (22.87 long tons; 25.62 short tons) Adhesive weight 84.25 t (82.92 long tons; 92.87 short tons) Loco weight 115.80 t (113.97 long tons; 127.65 short tons) Tender weight 75.9 t (74.7 long tons; 83.7 short tons) Fuel type Coal Firebox:  • Firegrate area 6.25 m2 (67.3 sq ft) Boiler pressure 12.7 kgf/cm2 (181 psi; 1,250 kPa) Cylinders 3 Cylinder size 572 mm × 660 mm (22.5 in × 26.0 in)
Performance figures Maximum speed 101 km/h (63 mph) Tractive effort 252.0 kN (56,700 lbf)
Career Operators South Manchuria Railway China Railway Class SMR: ミカニ CR: ㄇㄎ貳 (1951–1959) CR: 解放2 (1959–end) Number in class 41 Numbers SMR: 1600–1640 (1924–1938) SMR: ミカニ1–41 (1938–1945) CR: in the 2501–2550 range

History

To fill the need for powerful locomotives to haul heavy goods trains from the Fushun Coal Mines and Dalian, Mantetsu ordered the first five Mikani class locomotives from the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York in 1924. After completion of the superheated three-cylinder locomotives,[1] extensive performance tests were conducted, the results of which attracted considerable attention from the railway industry; despite a wheel diameter of only 1,370 mm (54 in), they reached a maximum speed of 101.4 km/h (63.0 mph).[2] They were immediately successful, and production of copies began at Mantetsu's Shahekou Works in 1926. They were the first Mantetsu locomotives to weigh over 100 t (98 long tons; 110 short tons), as well as the first to be built with automatic stokers. Although their performance was excellent, the complexity of the three-cylinder arrangement led to consideration of a superheated 2-10-2 tender locomotive design as a replacement. However, this plan was abandoned, and more Mikanis were built instead. After a number of incidents involving broken crankshafts, the Mikashi class was designed as the successor to the class in 1933.[3]

Postwar

At the end of the Pacific War, the 41 Mikani class locomotives were divided between the Dalian (35) and the Fengtian (6) depots, and all were taken over by the Republic of China Railway. Following the establishment of the People's Republic and the subsequent creation of the current China Railway, they became class ㄇㄎ貳 (MK2) in 1951, and class 解放2 (JF2, jiěfàng, "liberation") in 1959. Numbered in the 2501–2550 range, they were assigned to the Wafangdian locomotive depot in Dalian and used primarily on heavy goods trains. JF2 2525 is preserved at the Shenyang Steam Locomotive Museum.

References