JNR Class D52
Encyclopedia
The Class D52 is a type of 2-8-2
steam locomotive
built by the Japanese Government Railways
and various manufacturers from 1943 to 1946. The name consists of a "D" for the four sets of driving wheels and the class number 52 for tender locomotive
s that the numbers 50 through 99 were assigned to under the 1928 locomotive classification rule
.
The design of D52 was based on the D51 which was launched in 1936. A total of 285 D52 locomotives were built.
The D52 was one of the most powerful locomotives in Japan in its time. They were called "Degoni".
In response to the declined demand for freight trains after the end of World War II
in 1945, from 1948 to 1949, 42 D52s were converted to JNR Class C62 for use on express passenger trains, reusing the original boilers of the D52s.
2-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
built by the Japanese Government Railways
Japanese Government Railways
The Japanese Government Railways was the national railway system directly operated by the central government of Japan until 1949. It is a predecessor of Japanese National Railways and the Japan Railways Group.- Name :...
and various manufacturers from 1943 to 1946. The name consists of a "D" for the four sets of driving wheels and the class number 52 for tender locomotive
Tender locomotive
A tender or coal-car is a special rail vehicle hauled by a steam locomotive containing the locomotive's fuel and water. Steam locomotives consume large quantities of water compared to the quantity of fuel, so tenders are necessary to keep the locomotive running over long distances. A locomotive...
s that the numbers 50 through 99 were assigned to under the 1928 locomotive classification rule
Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification
This page explains the numbering and classification schemes for locomotives employed by the Japanese Government Railways, the Japanese National Railways and the Japan Railways Group.- Pre-nationalization :...
.
The design of D52 was based on the D51 which was launched in 1936. A total of 285 D52 locomotives were built.
The D52 was one of the most powerful locomotives in Japan in its time. They were called "Degoni".
In response to the declined demand for freight trains after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1945, from 1948 to 1949, 42 D52s were converted to JNR Class C62 for use on express passenger trains, reusing the original boilers of the D52s.
Preserved examples
Most of the D52s have been scrapped. However, seven locomotives have been preserved.- D52 1, at JR Freight Hiroshima Depot
- D52 70, in Yamakita, KanagawaYamakita, Kanagawais a town located in Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 11,863 and a density of 52.8 persons per km². The total area was 224.70 km².-Geography:...
- D52 72, in Gotemba, Shizuoka
- D52 136, in Numazu, ShizuokaNumazu, Shizuokais a city located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 205,636 and a population density of 1,100 persons per km². The total area was 187.11 km².- Geography:...
- D52 235, in Kanuma Park, Sagamihara, KanagawaSagamihara, Kanagawais a city located in north central Kanagawa Prefecture, bordering Tokyo, Japan. It is the third most populous city in the prefecture, after Yokohama and Kawasaki, and the fifth most populous suburb of Greater Tokyo. Its northern neighbor is Machida, with which a cross-prefectural merger has been...
- D52 403, in Hiratsuka, KanagawaHiratsuka, Kanagawais a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 259,991 and the density of 3,830 persons per km²...
- D52 468, at Umekōji Steam Locomotive MuseumUmekoji Steam Locomotive Museumis a railway museum located in Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Opened in 1972, the locomotive depot preserves 19 steam locomotives.The museum is owned by West Japan Railway Company and is operated by Transportation Culture Promotion Foundation.-Facility:...
, Kyoto