page_title: China Railways JF6
section_title: Mikaku class (ミカク)
hierarchical_section_title: China Railways JF6 / History / Mikaku class (ミカク)
caption_attribution_description: English: Builder's photo from 1941 of Mikaku501, a steam locomotive with experimental condensor tender built for the Kwantung Army and operated by the Manchukuo National Railway.
context_page_description: The China Railways JF6 class steam locomotive was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives for freight trains operated by the China Railway. They were originally built in Japan and Manchukuo between 1934 and 1944 for the South Manchuria Railway, the Manchukuo National Railway, and the North China Transportation Company.
context_section_description: At the request of the Kwantung Army, the Dalian Machine Works (other sources say Mitsubishi's Kobe Shipyards) built a single experimental condenser version of the Mikaro class in 1941. This was designated the ミカク (Mikaku) class and numbered ミカク501, as a Manchukuo National unit. A flue gas turbine was installed in front of the locomotive's chimney, with the exhaust pipe leading to a condenser on the tender, where the steam was cooled down and recycled into water again, to allow for operations over long distances without having to take on water; this was a major concern in the northern part of Manchuria, where it was difficult to secure water for the locomotives. In tests, Mikaku 501 recorded 1,600 km (990 mi) without taking on more water, but the design was never put into production.
caption: Builder's photo of ミカク501.
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