JNR Class DD16

The JNR Class DD16 is a diesel-hydraulic locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways and its various successor companies from 1971 to December 2021.
==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 DD16s were developed as a versatile diesel locomotive for use on the Japanese rail network, specifically on shorter local lines. Intended to replace the Class C11, C12 and C56 steam locomotives, the DD16s were designed to be lighter than the DD13 and DE10 locomotives to allow them to enter most lines.
Between 1971 and 1975, 65 locomotives were manufactured by Kawasaki, Nippon Sharyo and JNR's Nagano Works; DD16 1 and DD16 2 were manufactured at Nagano, being the first locomotives manufactured there since World War II and the first diesel locomotives manufactured at a JNR factory. The first 24 locomotives featured cut-out fleet numbers; these were later changed to number plates from DD16 25 onwards. Initially used on these local lines, their use quickly diminished in the late 1970s due to these local lines being closed by the JNR, and diminished further due to their low axle load leading to frequent wheel slip when compared to standard road switcher locomotives.
From 1979 to 1983, four locomotives were rebuilt to become the DD16-300 subseries, being dedicated snowplow versions of the DD16s. The vast majority of locomotives were retired prior to JNR's privatization and division in 1987, with only ten locomotives in service with JR; JR East took ownership of 4 cars, JR West 3, JR Kyushu 2 and JR Hokkaido 1. All four DD16-300 locomotives were used by JR due to their unique purpose. The last DD16 locomotive in service, DD16 11, was withdrawn from service on 27 December 2021.
Six locomotives have been preserved, with some resold to other third sector railways; one notable locomotive is DD16 7, owned by the Wakasa Railway and preserved in operational condition.
==Design==
The DD16 featured a steeplecab-like design, giving it an appearance similar to that of a switching locomotive; this design was chosen to help the locomotive reduce its weight by reducing its axle load.
==Specifications==
The DD16s are fitted with a single V12 prime mover, designated the DML61. Much of the locomotive's equipment is reused from existing locomotives such as the DD13, DE10 and DD51 to reduce manufacturing costs, such as the engine and DW2A transmission. The prime mover was detuned to 800 PS (588 kW).
==Preservation==
The following Class DD16 locomotives have been preserved:
Number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Location 	Notes
DD16 7 	Nippon Sharyo 	5 June 1972 	31 March 1987 	Wakasa Station, Wakasa, Japan 	Operationally preserved, used for driving experience events; formerly used by the Railway Technology Research Institute
DD16 303	Nippon Sharyo 	18 May 1972 	25 November 2009 (JR Freight)16 June 2022 (Hachinohe Rinkai)	Hachinohe Rinkai Railway, Aomori, Japan 	Ex-DD16 4, out of service; planned to be used at driving experience events
DD16 15 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	7 February 1973 	5 February 1987 	Mikasa Railway Memorial Hall, Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan	Displayed outdoors near various other diesel locomotives
DD16 17 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	13 February 1973 	31 March 1986 	Otaru City General Museum, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan 	Displayed outdoors near DD13 611
DD16 31 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	25 April 1974 	31 March 1986 	Memorial Ship Hakkōda-maru, Aomori, Japan 	Displayed with KiHa 82 101 in cargo hold
DD16 64 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	18 December 1974 	22 March 2002 	Kisha Club, Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan 	Displayed outdoors with a number of other locomotives; not open for public viewing
DD16 304	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	27 September 1972	31 March 1986 	Tsuyama Railroad Educational Museum, Okayama, Japan 	Ex-DD16 13, displayed in roundhouse
The following Class DD16 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired	Last location 	Notes
DD16 302	Nippon Sharyo	24 May 1972 	1 July 2009 	Nagano General Rolling Stock Center, Nagano, Japan	Ex-DD16 5, stored on scrap line; scrapped November 2019
==Gallery==
DD16 304 2005.jpg|DD16 304 in November 2005 with snowplow attachment
Category:JR Group trains
Category:B-B locomotives
Category:Diesel locomotives
Category:Diesel-hydraulic locomotives
Category:Kawasaki locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives