JGR Class 180

The JGR Class 180 (originally the Tokushima Railway Class Hei 1) was a 2-4-0T Porter-type side tank steam locomotive operated by the Japanese Government Railways from 1900 to September 1963.
==History==
The Class 180 was an early steam locomotive operated in Japan. The type was ordered by the Tokushima Railway, with three locomotives ordered by the railroad. The locomotives were constructed by Tetsudō Sharyō, the first privately-owned company in Japan to manufacture steam locomotives. One steam locomotive was produced and delivered to the Tokushima Railway as the Class Hei 1 and numbered 5. As Tetsudō Sharyō was manufacturing the other two locomotives however, the company went bankrupt and the two locomotives seized as property by the bank and mortgagers and as such only one locomotive was produced. It has been said that the other two locomotives had their ownership passed to Kisha Seizō, who completed two locomotives using the existing parts seized as the Nishinari Railway's Nos. 1 and 3.
After the Railway Nationalization Act was passed in 1909, the locomotive was reclassified as the Class 180. The locomotive was retired from JGR service in 1917. 180 was then transferred to the Yahata Steel Works, renumbered 302 and rebuilt into a 0-6-0T steam locomotive; allegedly after the rebuild the locomotive in no way resembled what it looked like when it was new. The locomotive was rebuilt again in 1933, renumbered 327 and operated until September 1963 when it was withdrawn and scrapped. Few photos exist of the locomotive; this is the only known locomotive manufactured by Tetsudō Sharyō.
==References==
Category:Locomotives
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:2-4-0 locomotives
Category:2-4-0 steam locomotives
Category:2-4-0T locomotives
Category:0-6-0 locomotives
Category:0-6-0 steam locomotives
Category:0-6-0T locomotives
Category:Tetsudō Sharyō locomotives
Category:Tokushima trains