JNR Class C53

The JNR Class C53 is a three-cylinder 4-6-2 Pacific-type steam locomotive operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1928 to 1950.
==History==
The C53s were used mainly as passenger locomotives and were the main steam locos on passenger service in Japan. The Class C53 is the only Japanese-build steam locomotive class installed with conjugated valve gear, which was disliked by engine crews due to the increased difficulty of maintaining the locomotives. No further locomotives with conjugated valve gear were ordered as a result. These factors led to the locomotives having a short service life, with all withdrawn by July 1950. A number of tenders from scrapped Class C53 locomotives were rebuilt into TaKi 1600 series molasses hoppers, with two tenders joined together at their rears to create the hoppers. These hoppers were owned by Naigai Yuso and were based at Shinko Station, with the modifications done by Wakamatsu Sharyō and Toyo Rayon; a total of sixteen sets were made using thirty-two tenders, numbered TaKi 1600 through TaKi 1615; each car was given the same number but was suffixed with "Front" or "Rear". All were withdrawn by July 1956.
One member of the class, C53 43, was streamlined in 1937. One C53, number C53 45, is on static display in the roundhouse of the Kyoto Railway Museum; it is the only preserved three-cylinder locomotive in Japan.
The locomotives are popularly known as Shigosan ("C53" in Japanese) among railfans.
==Preservation==
The following Class C53 locomotives have been preserved:
Number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Serial number	Date withdrawn	Location 	Notes
C53 45	Kisha Seizō 	2 November 1928 	1040 	29 June 1950 	Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto, Japan	Displayed in roundhouse; only preserved three-cylinder locomotive in Japan
The following Class C53 locomotives were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Serial number	Date withdrawn	Location 	Notes
C53 57	Kisha Seizō 	30 May 1929 	1076 	29 June 1950 	Hamamatsu Machinery Department, Hamamatsu, Japan	Sectioned and used as teaching aid; scrapped c.1963 with expansion of factory in preparation for opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen
==See also==
*Gallery
==References==
*Wikipedia.org
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