JNR Class C51

The JNR Class C51 (originally the JNR Class 18900) is a 4-6-2 Pacific-type steam locomotive built for the JNR from 1923 to 1931.
==History==
The C51s, originally known as the Class 18900, were introduced as a medium-sized passenger tender locomotive. The locomotive was designed by Kiichi Asakura under Jirō Shimayasu, the former being the designer of the Class 9600 locomotives. 289 locomotives were produced from 1919 to 1928 as a sort of follow up to the Class 8900 locomotives. Locomotive C51 133 was known to have been involved in an accident known as the Matsukawa derailment in 1949, while locomotive C51 61 received some streamlining for a short time. The locomotives were retired in 1966, with the last locomotive in service, C51 251, retired.
Four locomotives have been preserved.
A variety of derivatives were produced for use on other foreign railroads such as the China Railways as the Class SL9; none of these derivatives have been preserved.
The locomotives are popularly known as Shigoichi (C51 in Japanese) among railfans.
==Preservation==
The following Class C51 locomotives have been preserved:
Number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Serial number	Date withdrawn 	Location 	Notes
C51 5 	Hamamatsu Works	24 January 1920 	5 	28 February 1962	The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan 	Displayed indoors; formerly located at the Ōme Railway Park
C51 44 	Kisha Seizō 	20 June 1921 	501 	7 September 1955	Akita General Rolling Stock Center, Akita, Japan 	Displayed outdoors, sectioned to show inner workings; public viewing available on depot open days
C51 85 	Kisha Seizō 	January 1923 	661 	5 November 1956 	Kagoshima Rolling Stock Center, Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan	Displayed outdoors, sectioned to show inner workings; public viewing available on depot open days
C51 239	Kisha Seizō 	19 March 1927 	936 	26 October 1962 	Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto, Japan 	Displayed in roundhouse, occasionally wheeled onto turntable; initially stationed at Niigata Railway Academy where it was sectioned to show its inner workings
The following Class C51 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Serial number	Date withdrawn 	Last location 	Notes
C51 62	Kisha Seizō 	May 1922 	587 	1 November 1954	Moji Rolling Stock Depot, Kitakyushu, Kyushu, Japan	Used for training, sectioned to show inner workings; scrapped c.1972
==Gallery==
*Gallery
==References==
*Wikipedia.org
Category:4-6-2 steam locomotives
Category:4-6-2 locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Kisha Seizō locomotives
Category:Mitsubishi locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge steam locomotives
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Hamamatsu Works locomotives
Category:Passenger locomotives
Category:Sectioned locomotives