JNR Class ED52

The JNR Class ED52 was a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from December 1925 to 1943.
==History==
The ED52 was an early electric locomotive used on Japan's freight network. The locomotives were imported with the mass electrification of the Tōkaidō Main Line and Yokosuka Line.
A total of nine locomotives were built in 1923; the locomotives's electrical equipment was built by English Electric and the mechanical equipment by the North British Locomotive Company. They were originally classified as the Class 6000 and numbered 6000 through 6008, but were reclassified to Class ED52 when a rule regarding the standardization of locomotive names was enacted.
As the nine locomotives were being unloaded at Yokosuka Port, 6000 through 6002 fell into the sea and were submerged; they were ultimately retrieved and sent back to the United Kingdom for rebuilding. As a result the locomotives were numbered 6003 to 6008, with 6000 to 6002 omitted. The class entered service on 12 December 1925, with 6006 being used; a steam locomotive was connected to ensure the journey would go without a hitch.
The locomotives were used on the Tōkaidō Main Line and the Yokosuka Line to pull freight trains, although issues arose with the English Electric electrical systems, with new systems ordered from Hitachi to replace them. ED52 3 through ED52 6 were rebuilt in 1931 to become ED18 locomotives ED18 3 through ED18 6, with their gear ratios changed. ED52 1 and ED52 2 would continue to see use on the Tōkaidō Main Line before they were converted to ED17 locomotives ED17 19 through ED17 21 in 1943.
No ED17 or ED18 locomotives that were converted from ED52 locomotives have been preserved.
==Design==
The ED52s featured large box-shaped bodies with large top-mounted headlights.
==Specifications==
The ED52s used a nose suspension drive system. MT6A traction motors were used on the locomotives.
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Electric locomotives
Category:B-B locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge
Category:Narrow-gauge locomotives
Category:English Electric locomotives
Category:North British locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Built in 1923