The is a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

diesel/battery

Bo-Bo B-B and Bo-Bo are the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and British classifications of wheel arrangement for railway locomotives with four axles in two individual bogies. They are equivalent to the B′B′ and Bo′Bo′ classifications in ...

wheel arrangement

shunting locomotive A switcher, shunter, yard pilot, switch engine, yard goat, or shifter is a small railroad locomotive used for manoeuvring railroad cars inside a rail yard in a process known as ''switching'' (US) or ''shunting'' (UK). Switchers are not inten ...

type operated by Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) in Japan. Following the delivery and evaluation of a prototype locomotive in March 2010, the first full-production locomotive entered service in February 2012.

Variants

* Class HD300-0: Standard type, entering service from February 2012 * Class HD300-500: Sub-class designed for operation in cold-climate conditions, delivered from November 2014 * Class HD300-900: Prototype locomotive delivered in March 2010

Design

The locomotives use lithium ion batteries, and are designed to reduce exhaust emissions by at least 30% to 40% and noise levels by at least 10 dB compared with existing

Class DE10 The is a class of Japanese C-B wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotives. 708 locomotives were built between 1966 and 1978. , 138 locomotives remained in operation. Variants DE10-0 subclass 158 DE10-0 locomotives were built with steam ge ...

diesel locomotives. Tests conducted at Tokyo Freight Terminal in June 2010 demonstrated fuel savings of 36%, NOx emission reductions of 62%, and noise level reductions of 22 dB compared with a class DE10 locomotive. Externally, the locomotives are finished in a bright red livery to aid visibility, with yellow and black diagonal warning stripes at the ends. The first full-production locomotive, HD300-1, delivered in January 2012, while broadly identical to the prototype HD300-901 locomotive, incorporates a few minor improvements, including changes to the headlamps, a wider front-end warning panel to reduce snow build-up on the steps, and larger windows in the driving cab doors to improve visibility. File:JRF-HD300-901-01.jpg, No. 1 end of prototype HD300-901 in May 2013 File:HD300-2 (No 1 end) Nishi-Kokubunji 20121026.JPG, No. 1 end of full-production loco HD300-2 on delivery in October 2012 File:HD300-2 (No 2 end) Nishi-Kokubunji 20121026.JPG, No. 2 end of full-production loco HD300-2 on delivery in October 2012

History

The prototype locomotive, HD300-901, was delivered from the

Toshiba , commonly known as Toshiba and stylized as TOSHIBA, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Its diversified products and services include power, industrial and social infrastructure system ...

factory in Fuchū, Tokyo to Tokyo Freight Terminal on 30 March 2010 for approximately six months of trials before being moved to

Matsumoto Matsumoto (松本 or 松元, "base of the pine tree") may refer to: Places * Matsumoto, Nagano (松本市), a city ** Matsumoto Airport, an airport southwest of Matsumoto, Nagano * Matsumoto, Kagoshima (松元町), a former town now part of the c ...

Nagano Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Nagano Prefecture has a population of 2,052,493 () and has a geographic area of . Nagano Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the ...

later in the year to assess performance at higher altitudes. The locomotive was moved to

Sapporo ( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous city ...

Freight Terminal in

Hokkaido is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

in January 2011 to assess battery performance and adhesion in cold winter conditions. The prototype locomotive entered revenue service from 11 July 2011, on shunting operations at Tokyo Freight Terminal. The first full-production locomotive (numbered HD300-1) was delivered from the Toshiba factory in Fuchū, Tokyo, in January 2012, and entered service at Tokyo Freight Terminal from 8 February. In May 2012, the Class HD300-900 prototype was awarded the 2012

Laurel Prize The is an award presented annually in Japan since 1961 by the Japan Railfan Club. It is awarded for railway vehicles that entered service in the previous year and voted by the selection committee as having the most outstanding functional and des ...

, presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club. A formal presentation ceremony was held at Tokyo Freight Terminal on 18 November 2012. In November 2014, the first Class HD300-500 locomotive, HD300-501, designed for operations in cold-climate areas, was delivered to Naebo Depot in Hokkaido.

Fleet list

, 29 Class HD300 locomotives are in service.

Classification

The HD300 classification for this locomotive type is explained below. As with previous locomotive designs, the prototype is numbered HD300-901, with subsequent production locomotives numbered from HD300-1 onward. * H - hybrid locomotive * D - four driving axles * 300 - synchronous motors

References

External links

JR Freight press release announcing development in September 2008

(Japan Railfan Magazine) {{Toshiba Diesel locomotives of Japan HD300 Bo-Bo locomotives 1067 mm gauge locomotives of Japan Railway locomotives introduced in 2010 Hybrid locomotives Toshiba locomotives