JNR Class EF63

The JNR Class EF63 is a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways and its successor the East Japan Railway Company from July 1963 to September 1997.
==History==
The EF63 was developed specifically to haul freight trains up the steep 66.7‰ gradients of the Usui Pass; prior to this, ED42 Abt rack rail locomotives were used for the steep sections. Developed based on the ED60 locomotives, the EF63s began service on 15 July 1963 on the Shin'etsu Main Line.
From 1962 to 1978, a total of 25 locomotives were built. The locomotives were also used to pull the imperial train a number of times. With the expected closure of the rail section of the Shin'etsu Main Line in 1997, the locomotives were thus no longer needed; the fleet of trains was retired on 30 September 1997 with a number of special services. The locomotives were last used in service on 18 October 1997 for an exhibition, pulling EF55 1 and EF60 19.
Eight locomotives have been preserved, seven of which are located at the Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park; the park maintains EF63 11, 12, 24 and 25 in operational condition, with operation opportunities given through balloting.
==Design==
The EF63s featured large box-shaped bodies with large top-mounted headlights.
==Specifications==
The EF63s used a nose suspension drive as opposed to the Quill drive of more recent locomotives; the use of the nose suspension drive was due to maintenance problems involving the Quill drive, so all locomotives after the earlier EF70 would use the nose suspension drive. This however came at the cost of keeping the rated rotation speed of the traction motors low. MT52 traction motors were used on the locomotives, as well as an adhesion system for use on the Usui Pass.
==Preservation==
The following Class EF63 locomotives have been preserved:
Number 	Manufacturer 	Equipment manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Location 	Notes
EF63 11	Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō 	Mitsubishi Electric 	16 May 1963 	7 May 1998 	Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan 	Operationally preserved
EF63 12	Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō 	Mitsubishi Electric 	28 May 1963 	7 May 1998 	Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan 	Operationally preserved
EF63 24	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	Fuji Electric 	2 July 1976 	7 May 1998 	Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan 	Operationally preserved
EF63 25	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	Fuji Electric 	8 July 1976 	7 May 1998 	Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan 	Operationally preserved
EF63 1 	Toshiba 	Toshiba 	25 May 1962 	7 August 1986 	Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan 	Painted in dark brown; displayed outdoors
EF63 10	Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō 	Mitsubishi Electric 	11 May 1963 	7 May 1998 	Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan 	Displayed indoors
EF63 18	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	Fuji Electric 	26 August 1967 	20 April 1998 	Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan 	Painted in dark brown; used as simulator
EF63 2 	Toshiba 	Toshiba 	6 March 1963 	20 March 1998 	Karuizawa Station, Nagano, Japan 	Preserved at Shinano Railway side; preserved outdoors near EC40 1
EF63 22	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	Fuji Electric 	5 June 1974 	5 November 1997	Annaka, Gunma, Japan 	Displayed outdoors; privately owned
EF63 13	Shin-Mitsubishi Jukōgyō 	Mitsubishi Electric 	29 May 1963 	5 June 1998 	Ōmiya General Rolling Stock Center, Saitama, Japan	Cab only; viewing possible on depot open days
EF63 3 	Toshiba 	Toshiba 	8 March 1963 	20 March 1998 	Yokokawa Station, Gunma, Japan 	Wheels only; one of last two EF63s in service, pulled last trains on 30 September 1997
The following Class EF63 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number 	Manufacturer 	Equipment manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Last location 	Notes
EF63 19	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	Fuji Electric 	5 September 1967 	20 March 1998	Nagano General Rolling Stock Center, Nagano, Japan	Painted in dark brown, one of last two EF63s in service, pulled last trains on 30 September 1997; scrapped September 2019
==Gallery==
File:JNR EF63 25 2022.jpg
File:JNR EF63 12 2023.jpg
File:JNR EF63 11 2023.jpg
File:JNR EF63 24 2023.jpg
File:JNR EF63 25 2023.jpg
File:JNR EF63 1 2023.jpg
File:JNR EF63 10 2023.jpg
File:JNR EF63 1 2022.jpg
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Electric locomotives
Category:B-B-B locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge
Category:Narrow-gauge locomotives
Category:Kawasaki locomotives
Category:Mitsubishi locomotives
Category:Toshiba locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives