JNR Class ED62


The Class ED62 is a Bo-1-Bo wheel arrangement DC electric locomotive type formerly operated in Japan from 1974 until 2002 by Japanese National Railways and later by JR Freight.

History

The Class ED62 locomotives were created between 1974 and 1979 by modifying the 18 earlier JNR Class ED61 Bo-Bo electric locomotives with the addition of a centre non-driven axle. Rebuilding was carried out at JNR's Nagano Works. The primary aim of rebuilding was to reduce the axle load for use on the Iida Line, where the class displaced vintage and JNR Class ED19 locomotives, and later JNR Class EF10 locomotives.
One highlight of the class's career was when ED62 15 hauled the Imperial Train on the Iida Line in 1979. It was also not uncommon to see ED62s close to Tokyo when they worked to Shin-Tsurumi Depot for examinations.
Eight members of the class were still in service in 1987 when JNR was split into separate JR Group companies, and ED62 17 was repainted into the new JR Freight livery shortly after. When freight operations ceased on the Iida Line in 1997, the remaining locomotives were placed in storage before finally being withdrawn in 2002.

Build details

NumberFormer numberConvertedWithdrawn
ED62 1ED61 3June 1974February 1987
ED62 2ED61 2August 1975December 1985
ED62 3ED61 9August 1975October 1998
ED62 4ED61 8August 1975October 1998
ED62 5ED61 6August 1975October 1998
ED62 6ED61 14August 1976October 1998
ED62 7ED61 4August 1976October 1998
ED62 8ED61 11October 1976February 1987
ED62 9ED61 1November 1976May 1985
ED62 10ED61 13July 1977February 1987
ED62 11ED61 10September 1977May 1985
ED62 12ED61 5October 1977June 1985
ED62 13ED61 12November 1977June 1985
ED62 14ED61 16February 1978November 1984
ED62 15ED61 7March 1978February 1996
ED62 16ED61 17August 1978March 2002
ED62 17ED61 18October 1978March 2002
ED62 18ED61 15January 1979July 1985

Preserved examples

, two Class ED62 locomotives were preserved.
ED62 14 was also formerly preserved at Sakuma Rail Park.