JNR Class C55

The Class C55 (C55形) is a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive built in Japan from 1935 to 1937. A total of 62 Class C55 locomotives were built and designed by Hideo Shima.^[1]

JNR Class C55 Taiwan Railways Class CT250
Preserved C55 1 in May 2006
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Hideo Shima Builder Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company, Kisha Seizo, Hitachi Build date 1935-1937 Total produced 62 (JNR C55) 9 (TRA CT250)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2 Pacific Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Driver dia. 1,750 mm (5 ft 9 in) Length 20,380 mm (66 ft 10 in) Height 3,945 mm (12 ft 11.3 in) Loco weight 66.04 t (65.00 long tons; 72.80 short tons) Total weight 113.22 t (111.43 long tons; 124.80 short tons) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 14 kg/cm2 (1.37 MPa; 199 psi) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 510 mm × 660 mm (20 in × 26 in) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph)
Career Operators JNR Taiwan Railways Number in class JNR: 62 TRA: 9 Numbers C55 1-C55 62 (JNR) CT251-CT259 (TRA) Nicknames Shigogo Retired 1975 (Japan) 1982 (Taiwan) Preserved 4 (Japan) 2 (Taiwan) Scrapped 1975 (Japan) 1982 (Taiwan) Disposition Four preserved in Japan, two preserved in Taiwan, remainder scrapped

Nine were supplied to the Taiwan Government Railway, where they became class CT250 after the nationalist takeover of Taiwan in 1945 and remained in service until October 1982. 21 locomotives numbered C55 20 - C55 40 were built as streamliners during the 1930s and 40s.

Design

C55 21, one of the streamlined C55s

The Class C55 was designed in the 1930s as a successor to the Class C51 operated on routes connecting mid-sized cities (mainline successor to them was the Class C53). Production of the Class C54, originally intended for this role, was discontinued in 1931 after just 17 locomotives due to various design flaws. The C55's design incorporated many lessons learned from the C54's shortcomings, particularly in the structure of the main frame. Twenty C55 locomotives were built with a streamlined design, and they were the last Japanese locomotives to be equipped with driving wheels with spokes. The 63rd C55 was given a new class, the Class C57, due to changes in the design.^[2]

Preserved examples

Japan

• C55 1: preserved at the Kyoto Railway Museum
• C55 50: preserved at the Otaru Museum in Otaru, Hokkaido
• C55 52: preserved in front of Yoshimatsu Station in Kagoshima Prefecture
• C55 53: preserved at Wakakusa Park in Oita, Oita

• 
  C55 1 preserved at the Umekoji Museum (later Kyoto Railway Museum) in June 2012
• 
  C55 50 preserved at the Otaru Museum in July 2007
• 
  Preserved C55 52 in March 2017
• 
  Preserved C55 53 in August 1994

Taiwan

• CT251: preserved at Tainan City Sports Park
• CT259: preserved at the Takao Railway Museum

• 
  CT251 preserved at Tainan City Sports Park
• 
  CT259 preserved at Takao Railway Museum

See also

• Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification
• JNR Class C54
• JNR Class C57
• JNR Class C56