JGR Class A 3

The JGR Class A 3 (read "ah-three") and the related Class A 7 (originally the Awa Railway Class 3 and 7 respectively) are 0-4-0T Switcher-type well tank steam locomotives operated by the Japanese Government Railways from 1912 to 1936.
==History==
The Class A 3 was a well tank locomotive originally ordered by the Awa Railway. Two locomotives were produced by Orenstein & Koppel in 1912, classified as the Class 3 and 7 and numbered 5 and 6 respectively. When the Awa Railway was nationalized in 1933, the locomotives were initially intended to be named the Class 70 and 75 (the former designation ultimately going to another well tank steam locomotive), but as there was no formal policy for naming locomotives acquired by the JGR from private railroads, a special case was granted in this case; as a result, the locomotives were classfied the A 3 and A 7 respectively, with the "A" (read: "ah") being used to designate locomotives acquired from the Awa Railway. Both locomotives were used until 1936 and retired.
In 1912, a number of similar locomotives were manufactured by Orenstein & Koppel for other private railways; these have the same appearance as the A 3s and as such were also classified as such. A total of seventeen derivatives were manufactured, many of which were also used for shunting and switching purposes. Many of these had long illustrious careers and used until the 1950s. Despite having been registered with the JGR, both the original A 3 and A 7 locomotives were scrapped; however, two derivatives, Miyazaki Kōtsū 1 and Arida Railway 1, survive today.
==Preservation==
The following Class A 3 locomotives have been preserved:
Number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Serial number	Date withdrawn 	Location 	Notes
Miyazaki Kōtsū 1	Orenstein & Koppel	May 1912 	5298 	7 June 1951 	Miyazaki Prefectural Welfare General Center, Miyazaki, Kyushu, Japan	Displayed outdoors near C11 191; cab open for public viewing
Arida Railway 1 	Orenstein & Koppel	September 1912 	5885 	4 November 1952	Johoku Traffic Park, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan 	Displayed under shelter near D51 513; cab open for public viewing
==References==
Category:Locomotives
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:0-4-0 locomotives
Category:0-4-0 steam locomotives
Category:0-4-0T locomotives
Category:O&K locomotives
Category:Awa trains
Category:Shinano Railway trains
Category:Kaya trains
Category:Ichibata trains
Category:Four-coupled locomotives