JNR Class EF59

The JNR Class EF59 is a Japanese DC electric locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1963 to October 1986.
==History==
Designed to promote JNR's campaign of a "smokeless railway" to eliminate steam locomotives on the Japanese National Railways as part of their Power Modernization Plan, the EF59s were developed as a versatile freight locomotive for use on the Japanese rail network, the idea being to use diesel or electric locomotives as the main form of motive power to pull freight trains. An initial plan was to manufacture a new locomotive based on the EF60 or alternatively modify the EF10, EH10 or ED60 locomotives; these plans were ultimately not used, with the final plan being to have surplus EF53s modified due to their condition and good performance.
From March to April 1963, EF53 8 and EF53 9 were modified to become EF59 1 and EF59 2 respectively; initially named the Class EF20, the class was ultimately given the name of EF59 as it was capable of 90 km/h (56 mph) top speeds. The EF59s were deployed mainly as pusher locomotives for long trains, as well as pulling their own passenger or freight trains; they were often found in multiples with locomotives coupled to each other. Mass conversions of the EF53s commenced from June 1963, with all nineteen EF53s converted by 1968. To expand the class further, five EF56s were rebuilt from 1969 to 1972 to become EF59 20 through 24, putting the class at twenty-four locomotives. The vast majority of these conversions occurred at Takatori Works; EF59 18 and EF59 19 were converted from EF53 15 and EF53 13 respectively at Hamamatsu Works, the only members of the class converted there.
Due to aging, the locomotives were slowly replaced with EF61-200s starting 1977; withdrawals started in 1978 and scrapping began the next year. Due to delays in developing a successor locomotive, the EF59s were used for longer than the EF56 and EF57s, both introduced later than the EF59s; the EF59s were fully withdrawn on 12 October 1986. Ownership of EF59 10 was transferred to JR West after the JNR's privatization and division in 1987, it remaining stored at Shimonoseki Rolling Stock Depot; it was struck from the register in 2006.
Three locomotives, EF59 1, EF59 11 and EF59 21, have been preserved. EF59 11 has been cosmetically restored as EF53 2. Two locomotives, the aforementioned EF59 10 and the cab of EF59 16 were preserved in the past but both have been scrapped.
==Design==
The EF59s featured large box-shaped bodies with large top-mounted headlights.
==Specifications==
The EF59s used a nose suspension drive system. MT17 traction motors were used on the locomotives.
==Preservation==
The following Class EF59 locomotives have been preserved:
Number 	Manufacturer 	Equipment manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Location 	Notes
EF59 1 	Hitachi 	Hitachi 	17 December 1932 	2 March 1987	Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan 	Ex-EF53 8; displayed outdoors
EF59 21	Kawasaki Shipyards	Kawasaki Sharyō 	August 1937 	2 March 1987	Hiroshima Rolling Stock Center, Hiroshima, Japan	Ex-EF56 2, hazard stripes painted; viewing possible on depot open days
The following Class EF59 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number 	Manufacturer 	Equipment manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Last location 	Notes
EF59 10	Hitachi 	Hitachi 	May 1932 	July 2006 	Shimonoseki Rolling Stock Depot, Shimonoseki, Japan	Ex-EF53 1, remained on JR West's fleet register until 2006; scrapped 2006
EF59 16	Kawasaki Shipyards	Kawasaki Sharyō 	October 1934 	30 July 1984	Hiroshima Rolling Stock Depot, Hiroshima, Japan 	Ex-EF53 1, cab only, displayed outdoors alongside cab of EF61 4; scrapped 2022
==Gallery==
File:JNR EF59 1 2023.jpg
File:JNR EF59 10.jpg
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Electric locomotives
Category:2-C+C-2 locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge
Category:Narrow-gauge locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Hamamatsu Works locomotives
Category:Takatori Works locomotives