JGR Class 5100

The JGR Class 5100 (originally the JGR Class N) was a 4-4-0 American-type steam locomotive operated by the Japanese Government Railways from 1876 to 1918.
==History==
The Class 5100 was one of the earliest steam locomotives operated in Japan. The type was a modification of the Class U locomotives, with two locomotives modified at JGR's Kobe Works into a 4-4-0 configuration; after the modification these locomotives apparently looked nothing like the locomotives they were converted from. The locomotive was assigned the Class U and initially numbered 18 and 20; they were subsequently reclassified Class N, then Class D2. The locomotives began operation in 1876, and assigned to the Kinki Region. The locomotives were also notable for having pulled a royal train during their careers.
The locomotives were reclassified as the Class 5100 in 1909 when a formal rule regarding standardized classification of locomotives was enacted; the locomotives were thus renumbered 5100 and 5101. In their later lives the locomotives were used for shunting and both were retired by August 1918. Both locomotives were stored at Kobe Depot for a time, but 5101 was involved in an incident where it was pushed by a stray Class 3380 3382 (the engineer had forgotten to apply the brakes when the train was idle), pushing 5101 and 221; 5101 fell into the sea as a result and a hullabaloo was caused when management requested a crane from the Kawasaki Shipyards to raise the train back up to the surface.
After 5101 was raised it and 5100 were transferred to the Sagami Railway, where they were numbered 100 and 101. 100 was then moved to the Kaya Railway and retired in 1937; it is said that the valve gear had been changed from Stephenson to Joy around that time. 101 was retired in the 1930s and then sent to Sumitomo Metal Industries in 1942, although what it was used for is not clear; the locomotive was returned in 1950, stored at Atsugi Depot and saw little use afterwards. No Class 5100s have been preserved.
==References==
Category:Locomotives
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:4-4-0 locomotives
Category:4-4-0 steam locomotives
Category:Kobe Works locomotives
Category:Sōtetsu trains
Category:Kaya trains
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Japanese steam locomotives
Category:Built in 1876
Category:Scrapped locomotives
Category:Scrapped steam locomotives