JNR Class DE15

The Class DE15 (DE15形) is a five-axle C-B wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotive type operated in Japan as a self-propelled snowplough unit since 1967 by the national railway company Japanese National Railways (JNR), and later by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), East Japan Railway Company (JR East), and West Japan Railway Company (JR West). A total of 85 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1981, and as of 1 April 2016, 25 locomotives remain in service.

Class DE15
JR Hokkaido DE15 1535 in February 2010
Type and origin Power type Diesel-hydraulic Builder Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo Build date 1967–1981 Total produced 85
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC C-B Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Length 14,150 mm (46 ft 5 in) (locomotive only) 22,505 mm (73 ft 10.0 in) (with snowplough units) 27,760 mm (91 ft 1 in) (DE15-2500 with snowplough units) Width 2,998 mm (9 ft 10.0 in) Height 3,970 mm (13 ft 0 in) Loco weight 65 t Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 2,500 l Engine type DML61ZB Transmission Hydraulic Train heating Steam heating boiler
Performance figures Maximum speed 85 km/h (55 mph) Power output 1,250 hp (930 kW) (DE15-0) 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) (DE15-1000 onward) Tractive effort 19,500 kgf (191,000 N; 43,000 lbf)
Career Operators ■ JNR (1967-1987) ■ JR Hokkaido (1987-) ■ JR East (1987-) ■ JR West (1987-) Number in class 25 (as of 1 April 2016) Disposition In service

Variants

A total of 85 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1981, divided into the following sub-classes.[1]

• Class DE15-0
• Class DE15-1000
• Class DE15-1500
• Class DE15-2050
• Class DE15-2500
• Class DE15-2550

Design

The Class DE15 was developed from the Class DE10 locomotive design, with the addition of separate two-axle snowplough units at either end.[1] The snowplough units could be attached and detached relatively easily, allowing the locomotives to be used for shunting and other duties outside the winter periods, unlike the snowplough units on the earlier Class DD15 locomotives, which were mounted directly onto the locomotives and required a crane to be attached and detached.[1]

History

DE15-0

Six Class DE15-0 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1969 by Kisha and Nippon Sharyo.[2] The locomotives were based on the Class DE10-0 design and were equipped with a 1,250 hp (930 kW) engine and train-heating steam generator.[1][2] Locomotive DE15 3 had a snowplough unit designed for clearing single-track lines, while the other five locomotives were designed for clearing double-track lines.[2] Initially, the locomotives operated with only one snowplough unit, but locomotives DE15 1 to 3 and 6 were subsequently modified with snowplough units at both ends. DE15 3 was renumbered DE15 2053.[2]

As of 1 April 2016, no Class DE15-0 locomotives remain in service.[1]

DE15-1000

Six Class DE15-1000 locomotives were built between 1971 and 1973 by Nippon Sharyo using the DML61ZB engine uprated to 1,350 hp (1,010 kW).[2] Locomotive DE15 1002 had a snowplough unit designed for clearing single-track lines, while the other five locomotives were designed for clearing double-track lines.[2] Initially, the locomotives operated with only one snowplough unit, but locomotives DE15 1002, 1004, and 1006 were subsequently modified with snowplough units at both ends. DE15 1002 was renumbered DE15 2052.[2]

Type for clearing double-track lines, fitted with 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) engine and train-heating steam generator.[1]

As of 1 April 2016, no Class DE15-1000 locomotives remain in service.[1]

DE15-1500

18 Class DE15-1500 locomotives were initially built, initially with a snowplough unit at only one end.[2] Locomotives DE15 1501 to 1504, 1507, 1509 to 1512, 1514 to 1516, and 1518 were designed for clearing double-track lines, while the others were designed for single-track lines.[2] Like the DE15-1000, these locomotives were equipped with a 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) engine, but had no train-heating steam generator.[1]

From 1976, a further batch of locomotives was built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Nippon Sharyo with snowplough units at both ends and designed for clearing double-track lines.[2]

As of 1 April 2016, 15 Class DE15-1500 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (nine locomotives), JR East (two locomotive), and JR West (four locomotive).[1]

• 
  JR Hokkaido DE15 1501 hauling a Marimo service
• 
  JR Hokkaido DE15 1543 in January 2009 with snowplough units attached
• 
  JR Hokkaido DE15 1525 in September 2010 with its snowplough units removed

DE15-2050

This subclass consisted of two locomotives for clearing single-track lines.[2] DE15 2052 was converted from DE15 1002 and was fitted with a 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) engine, while DE15 2053 was converted from DE15 3 and was fitted with a 1,250 hp (930 kW) engine.[2]

As of 1 April 2016, one Class DE15-2050 locomotive remains in service, DE15 2052, operated by JR West.[1]

• 
  JR West DE15 2052 in January 2006

DE15-2500

This subclass was built between 1976 and 1979 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Nippon Sharyo with snowplough units at both ends and designed for clearing single-track lines.[2] The locomotives were equipped with a 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) engine and no train-heating steam generator.[1]

As of 1 April 2016, eight Class DE15-2500 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (five locomotives) and JR West (three locomotives).[1]

• 
  JR West DE15 2525 in July 2010

DE15-2550

Five Class DE15-2500 locomotives were formed by modifying Class DE15-1500 locomotives with the addition of a second snowplough unit at the other end.[2] These were designed for clearing single-track lines.[2]

Original number	Modified number
DE15 1505	DE15 2555
DE15 1506	DE15 2556
DE15 1508	DE15 2558
DE15 1513	DE15 2563
DE15 1517	DE15 2567

As of 1 April 2016, one Class DE15-2550 locomotive remains in service, DE15 2558, operated by JR West.[1]

Livery variations

• DE15 1534: Repainted into a light-green livery for used on JR Hokkaido Furano-Biei Norokko excursion services[3]
• DE15 1535: Repainted into a multi color livery for used on JR Hokkaido Furano-Biei Norokko excursion services
• DE15 2508: Repainted into a white livery for use on JR Hokkaido Norokko excursion train services during summer months[2]
• DE15 2510: Repainted into a red and black livery for use as a helper locomotive on JR Hokkaido steam-hauled SL Nemuro services since 2001[3]
• DE15 2516: Repainted into a light green livery for use on JR Hokkaido Furano-Biei Norokko excursion services[4]
• DE15 2558: Repainted into a blue and white livery for use on JR West excursion train services on the Kisuki Line[3]

• 
  JR Hokkaido DE15 1534 in August 2008
• 
  JR Hokkaido DE15 1535 in August 2019
• 
  JR Hokkaido DE15 2510 in January 2010
• 
  JR Hokkaido DE15 2516 in a yellow livery used as the works shunter at Naebo Works in October 2007
• 
  JR Hokkaido DE15 2527 in Norokko green livery in August 2012
• 
  JR West DE15 2558 in August 2001

Conversion to DE10-3000/3500

DE10 3001 in September 2015

DE10 3510 in April 2013

In 2009, fourteen surplus JR East Class DE15 locomotives were sold to JR Freight for use on freight services, and these were rebuilt and renumbered as Class DE10-3000 and DE10-3500. The conversion histories and former identities of this sub-class are as follows.[5]

JR East No.	JR Freight No.	Date built	Manufacturer	Date converted	Date withdrawn
DE15 1001	DE10 3001	6 December 1971	Nippon Sharyo	5 June 2009
DE15 1510	DE10 3501	October 1973	Nippon Sharyo	8 May 2009
DE15 1516	DE10 3502	16 December 1975	Nippon Sharyo	7 April 2009	25 November 2009
DE15 2567[Note 1]	DE10 3503	14 January 1976	Nippon Sharyo	29 May 2009	FY2011
DE15 1522	DE10 3504	2 March 1976	Nippon Sharyo	24 April 2009	FY2011
DE15 1523	DE10 3505	9 March 1976	Nippon Sharyo	6 April 2009
DE15 1529	DE10 3506	4 October 1976	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	15 May 2009
DE15 1530	DE10 3507	7 October 1976	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	24 June 2009
DE15 1536	DE10 3508	9 September 1977	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	7 April 2009
DE15 2505	DE10 3509	21 October 1977	Nippon Sharyo	18 May 2009
DE15 2506	DE10 3510	28 October 1977	Nippon Sharyo	19 May 2009
DE15 1539	DE10 3511	10 November 1978	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	23 April 2009
DE15 2513	DE10 3512	15 November 1978	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	12 May 2009
DE15 2524	DE10 3513	20 November 1980	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	27 April 2009

1. Originally built as DE15 1517.

Fleet status

By 1 April 1995, 71 locomotives were still in service.[2]

As of 1 April 2016, 25 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (9× DE15 1500 and 5× DE15 2500), JR East (2× DE15 1500), JR West (4× DE15 1500, 1× DE15 2050, 3× DE15 2500, 1× DE15 2550).[1]

Classification

Main article: Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification

The DE15 classification for this locomotive type is explained below.

• D: Diesel locomotive
• E: Five driving axles
• 15: Locomotive with maximum speed of 85 km/h or less

References

1. Miyahara, Masakazu, ed. (December 2016). 国鉄最終章LAST　(鉄道ジャーナル2017年2月号別冊) [JNR - The Final Chapter (Railway Journal February 2017 Extra issue)] (in Japanese). Japan: Railway Journal. p. 39–41. ASIN B01N59AJPB. ISSN 0288-2337.
2. JR全車輛ハンドブック1995 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1995] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 1995. p. 69–72, 582–583.
3. Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. p. 65. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
4. Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail magazine 2001 JR全車輛ハンドブック2001 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2001] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 2001. p. 70. ISBN 978-4-87366-723-2.
5. Shibata (July 2015). JR会社間の譲渡車両 [Rolling stock transferred between JR companies]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 55 no. 651. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. p. 128.