The Class ED62 (ED62形) is a Bo-1-Bo wheel arrangement DC electric locomotive type formerly operated in Japan from 1974 until 2002 by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by JR Freight.

Class ED62
Preserved ED62 17 at Omiya Works Open Day in May 2007
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder JNR Nagano Works Build date 1974–1979
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo-1-Bo Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Driver dia. 1,120 mm (44.09 in) Length 14,300 mm (46 ft 11 in) Width 2,800 mm (9 ft 2+1⁄4 in) Height 3,969 mm (13 ft 1⁄4 in) Loco weight 62 t (61 long tons; 68 short tons) Electric system/s 1,500 V DC overhead line Current pickup(s) Pantograph Traction motors DC
Performance figures Maximum speed 90 km/h (56 mph) Power output 1.56 MW (2,090 hp)
Career Operators JNR, JR Freight Number in class 18 Withdrawn 1984–2002 Disposition Two preserved, remainder withdrawn

History

The Class ED62 locomotives were created between 1974 and 1979 by modifying the 18 earlier JNR Class ED61 Bo-Bo electric locomotives with the addition of a center non-driven axle. Rebuilding was carried out at JNR's Nagano Works. The primary aim of rebuilding was to reduce the axle load (from 15 t to 13 t) for use on the Iida Line, where the class displaced vintage JNR Class ED18 [ja] (English Electric) and JNR Class ED19 (Westinghouse) locomotives, and later JNR Class EF10 locomotives.

One highlight of the class's career was when ED62 15 hauled the Imperial Train on the Iida Line in 1979. It was also not uncommon to see ED62s close to Tokyo when they worked to Shin-Tsurumi Depot for examinations.

Eight members of the class were still in service in 1987 when JNR was split into separate JR Group companies, and ED62 17 was repainted into the new JR Freight livery shortly after. When freight operations ceased on the Iida Line in 1997, the remaining locomotives were placed in storage before finally being withdrawn in 2002.

Build details

Preserved examples

As of 2014^[update], two Class ED62 locomotives were preserved.[1]

• ED62 1 JR East Nagano depot
• ED62 17 Stored at JR East's Omiya works (standard blue livery)

ED62 14 was also formerly preserved at Sakuma Rail Park.[2]

• 
  Preserved ED62 14 at Sakuma Rail Park
• 
  ED62 17 at Omiya Works in May 2008

See also

• Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to JNR ED62.