Matsuura Coal Mining Railway Class 1

The Matsuura Coal Mining Railway Class 1 was a 0-4-0ST Switcher-type narrow gauge inverted saddle tank steam locomotive operated by the Matsuura Coal Mining Railway and later other railway companies from 1896 to 1954.
==History==
The Class 1 was an early steam locomotive used in Japan. Two locomotives were manufactured by W. G. Bagnall Ltd. in 1896; as is typical of many Bagnall locomotives the Class 1 was an inverted saddle tank locomotive, a style of locomotive which Bagnall invented. Both locomotives's original numbers are unknown and it is speculated both were numbered 1 and 2; however what is known was that both locomotives received names, Augusta and Beatrice, respectively. There was no specific reason for both of them to receive names although it may have been to make both locomotives designated "A" and "B".
The locomotives would be used for transporting freight to and from the Matsuura Coal Mine despite a number of ownership changes of the mining railway; the railway would ultimately be acquired by the Sasebo Railway on 16 October 1933, with their numbers becoming 11 and 12. When the railway was nationalized on 1 October 1936, the locomotives came under the ownership of the Japanese Government Railways. 11 and 12 were reclassified the Class Ke 97 and renumbered Ke 97 and Ke 98.
Both locomotives were withdrawn in November 1938. Ke 97 would be used as a stationary boiler while Ke 98 would be transferred to the Ashibetsu Forest Railway. Ke 98 would be significantly modified at Kushiro Works, with a new smokestack and larger sandboxes; when it was transferred it was renumbered 17. In 1943, the locomotive was renumbered 20. By 1947 20's water tanks were leaking badly so a small tender was constructed to act as a water supply; in 1949 20 was renumbered B17. B17 would be used until about 1954. 
No Class 1 locomotives have been preserved.
==Gallery==
Ashibetsu B17 1950s.jpg|B17 in the 1950s
File:150017l.jpg
==References==
Category:Locomotives
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:0-4-0 steam locomotives
Category:0-4-0T locomotives
Category:Bagnall locomotives
Category:Sasebo locomotives
Category:Four-coupled locomotives
Category:0-4-0 locomotives
Category:0-4-0T steam locomotives
Category:0-4-0ST locomotives
Category:0-4-0ST steam locomotives
Category:Saddle tank locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Japanese steam locomotives