JGR Class 8850

The JGR Class 8850 was a 4-6-0 Ten-Wheeler-type superheated steam locomotive operated by the Japanese Government Railways from 1912 to 1951.
==History==
The Class 8850 was a fast passenger locomotive used by the JGR. The type was ordered by the JGR in 1911, with a total of twelve locomotives manufactured by Borsig Lokomotiv-Werke GmbH and imported into Japan. These locomotives were numbered 8850 through 8861 and was one of Japan's first superheated steam locomotives. The locomotive competed alongside the Class 8700, 8800 and 8900 locomotives; the locomotive was graded as having excellent performance and as such superheating was adopted for all future steam locomotives. The first locomotive was completed in short order; it was only sixty days between when the order was received and the first locomotive was manufactured. In 1913, the Kawasaki Shipyards manufactured an additional twelve locomotives, complete with superheaters; the locomotives could be built as Kawasaki had purchased a patent for a Schmidt-type superheater.
The locomotives were immediately placed into service in 1912 and were all used in the Chūbu Region, with all locomotives based in Nagoya initially. The locomotives were also relocated to Shimbashi, Numazu and Hamamatsu as well. The locomotives initially hauled fast passenger trains and JGR's first special express trains. In the locomotives's later years, they were relegated from hauling passengers to hauling freight, with Class 8620 locomotives taking over their passenger duties. Some locomotives were also relocated around Japan, mainly around Sendai and Aomori; in their final years some of the locomotives were used for shunting. The first retirements began in 1947 and all locomotives were retired by 1951. Some were sold to private and industrial railroads and used throughout the 1960s. No Class 8850s have been preserved.
==References==
Category:Locomotives
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:4-6-0 locomotives
Category:4-6-0 steam locomotives
Category:Borsig locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Japanese steam locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Scrapped locomotives
Category:Built in 1911
Category:Built in 1913
Category:Mixed-traffic locomotives