JNR Class C53

The Class C53 (C53形) is a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive built in Japan from 1928 to 1929. The locomotives were designed by Hideo Shima and built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company, Kisha Seizo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hitachi. A total of 97 Class C53 locomotives were built.

Class C53
C53 10 in January 1935
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company Kisha Seizō, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Hitachi Build date 1928-1929 Total produced 97
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2 Pacific Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Total weight 115.50 t (113.68 long tons; 127.32 short tons) Fuel type Coal Firebox: ​  • Grate area 3.25 sq ft (0.302 m2) Boiler pressure 199.1 PSI Cylinders Three Valve gear Outside: Walschaerts Inside: Gresley conjugated Valve type Piston valves
Performance figures Power output 1,250 PS (919 kW; 1,230 hp)
Career Operators JNR Number in class 97 Numbers C53 1-C53 97 Retired 1950 Preserved 1 Disposition One preserved (C53 45); remainder scrapped

The locomotives are notable for being the only non-experimental three-cylinder locomotives in Japan's railway history. They used the Gresley conjugated valve gear, which enabled high performance on the mainline.^[1] However, their mechanical complexity led to a short service life, especially after better-performing locomotives, such as the Class C59 and C62, entered production in the 1940s during and after the war. All 97 locomotives were retired by 1950.^[2]

Streamlined C53 43 hauling the Fuji on 9 December 1934

Preserved examples

Today, only one Class C53 locomotive has been preserved in Japan, C53 45, at the Kyoto Railway Museum (formerly Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum).^[3][4]

• 
  C53 45 preserved at Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum in December 2011
• 
  C53 on a Kawasaki Heavy Industries advertisement
• 
  C53 96 passing by Nagoya Station
• 
  C53 45 steam loco frontview
• 
  C53 The 3 cylinder
• 
  C53 45 at the Kyoto Railway Museum

See also

• Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification
• JNR Class C51
• JNR Class C52
• JNR Class C54
• JNR Class C59