JNR Class C60

The Class C60 (C60形) is a 4-6-4 wheel arrangement steam locomotive type born from the rebuilding of 47 out of 173 surplus Class C59 class 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives between 1953 and 1961 at the JNR Hamamatsu and Kōriyama factories. 39 locos were rebuilt from pre-war C59s, while 8 were rebuilt from post-war variants and renumbered to C60 101 to 108 . (See table below) With the spread of electrification, lower axle loads and greater versatility had become more important requirements than sheer pulling power, and so an additional trailing axle was included to reduce the heavy axle load of the C59 and allow more widespread use.

Class C60 (Rebuilt : 47 : C59)
C60 1 preserved in Sendai
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Kisha Seizō Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company Hitachi Build date 1941-1947 (As Class C59) Total produced 47 (Rebuilt) Rebuilder JNR Hamamatsu Works and Koriyama Works Rebuild date 1953-1961 Number rebuilt 47
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-4 Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Driver dia. 1,750 mm (5 ft 9 in) Length 21.36 m (70 ft 1 in) Height 3.98 m (13 ft 1 in) Loco weight 82.9 t (81.6 long tons; 91.4 short tons) Water cap 7.8 m3 (280 cu ft) Boiler pressure 16.0 kgf/cm² (1570 kPa) Cylinder size 521 mm × 660 mm (20.5 in × 26.0 in) dia. x stroke
Career Operators Japanese National Railways Class C60 Numbers C60 1 - 39, 101 - 108 Locale Tohoku and Kyushu First run 1953-1961 Last run 1971 Retired 1971 Preserved C60 1 (formerly C59 27) Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The class was most active on local and express passenger services in the Tohoku and Kyushu regions, and locos were to be seen operating in multiple (double- and even triple-headers) with Class C61s and Class D51s on both passenger and freight workings north of Morioka on the Tōhoku Main Line.

The class survived until 1971. Only one C60 is preserved: C60 1 (formerly C59 27) is in a park in Sendai.[1]