JNR Class DD15

The JNR Class DD15 is a diesel-hydraulic locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways and its various successors from 1962 to June 2017.
==History==
The DD15 was designed as a dedicated snow-clearing locomotive, being one of a number of dedicated snow-clearing locomotives operated by the JNR. A total of 50 locomotives were produced by Nippon Sharyo, numbered DD15 1 through DD15 46 and DD15 301 through DD15 304. Unlike other snow-clearing locomotives used by the JNR, the DD15 featured two Russell-type snowplows fitted on both ends of the locomotive. In addition to snow clearing duties, the DD15 was also used for occasional switching jobs with the snowplows removed, contributing to efficiency with the locomotive able to be used all year round.
When the JNR was privatized and split in 1987, 32 locomotives remained in service; ownership of the locomotives came under JR East and West, receiving 19 and 13 locomotives respectively. JR East withdrew their entire fleet of DD15s in 2010, being replaced with ENR-1000 snow clearing locomotives. JR West began replacing their locomotives with KiYa 143 series snow clearing locomotives from 2013 and by 30 June 2017 the last locomotive in service, DD15 11, had been withdrawn.
Three locomotives have been preserved.
==Design==
The DD15s featured a steeplecab-like design, being painted in red with silver accents.
==Specifications==
The DD15s are fitted with two inline-6 prime movers, designated the DMF31SB. Total power output is about 1,000 PS (734 kW). The DD15 uses a a Shinko DS1.2/1.35 hydraulic transmission; the transmission works similarly to a Lysholm-Smith hydraulic torque converter and features two speeds and a single direct gear. The locomotive itself is heavily based on the DD13.
==Preservation==
The following Class DD15 locomotives have been preserved:
Number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Location 	Notes
DD15 17	Nippon Sharyo	17 October 1963 	5 February 1987	Mikasa Railway Memorial Hall, Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan	Displayed outdoors with dual snowplow attachments
DD15 30	Nippon Sharyo	10 December 1964 	7 March 2011 	Tsuyama Railroad Educational Museum, Okayama, Japan 	Displayed in roundhouse with snowplow attachment
DD15 37	Nippon Sharyo	9 October 1965 	31 March 1987 	Otaru City General Museum, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan 	Displayed outdoors with dual snowplow attachments
The following Class DD13 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Last location 	Notes
DD15 4	Nippon Sharyo	20 November 1962 	7 February 1987	Rifu Station, Miyagi, Japan	Displayed outside station; scrapped May or June 2002
==Gallery==
DD15 44 2007.jpg|DD15 44 in April 2007
Category:JR Group trains
Category:B-B locomotives
Category:Diesel locomotives
Category:Diesel-hydraulic locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives