The is a five-axle C-B

wheel arrangement In rail transport, a wheel arrangement or wheel configuration is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed under a locomotive. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and c ...

diesel-hydraulic locomotive A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conveyed to the driving wheels ...

type operated in Japan as a self-propelled snowplough unit since 1967 by the national railway company

Japanese National Railways The abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987. Network Railways As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pref ...

(JNR), and later by

Hokkaido Railway Company The is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to using its official abbreviation of . It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a s ...

(JR Hokkaido), East Japan Railway Company (JR East), and

West Japan Railway Company , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...

(JR West). A total of 85 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1981, and , 25 locomotives remain in service.

Variants

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

locomotive design, with the addition of separate two-axle snowplough units at either end. 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.

History

DE15-0

Six Class DE15-0 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1969 by Kisha and Nippon Sharyo. The locomotives were based on the Class DE10-0 design and were equipped with a engine and train-heating steam generator. 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. 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. , no Class DE15-0 locomotives remain in service.

DE15-1000

Six Class DE15-1000 locomotives were built between 1971 and 1973 by Nippon Sharyo using the DML61ZB engine uprated to . 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. 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. Type for clearing double-track lines, fitted with engine and train-heating steam generator. , no Class DE15-1000 locomotives remain in service.

DE15-1500

18 Class DE15-1500 locomotives were initially built, initially with a snowplough unit at only one end. 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. Like the DE15-1000, these locomotives were equipped with a engine, but had no train-heating steam generator. 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. , 15 Class DE15-1500 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (nine locomotives), JR East (two locomotive), and JR West (four locomotive). File:JR HOKKAIDO DE15 1501.jpg, JR Hokkaido DE15 1501 hauling a ''Marimo'' service File:JNR DE15 1543 20090126.jpg, JR Hokkaido DE15 1543 in January 2009 with snowplough units attached File:JNR DE15 1525 Naebo 20100911.jpg, 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. DE15 2052 was converted from DE15 1002 and was fitted with a engine, while DE15 2053 was converted from DE15 3 and was fitted with a engine. , one Class DE15-2050 locomotive remains in service, DE15 2052, operated by JR West. File:DE15 2052 Tottori 20060101.jpg, 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. The locomotives were equipped with a engine and no train-heating steam generator. , eight Class DE15-2500 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (five locomotives) and JR West (three locomotives). File:DE15 2525 Toyooka Station.jpg, 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. These were designed for clearing single-track lines. , one Class DE15-2550 locomotive remains in service, DE15 2558, operated by JR West.

Livery variations

* DE15 1534: Repainted into a light-green livery for used on JR Hokkaido ''Furano-Biei Norokko'' excursion services * 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 * 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 * DE15 2516: Repainted into a light green livery for use on JR Hokkaido ''Furano-Biei Norokko'' excursion services * DE15 2558: Repainted into a blue and white livery for use on JR West excursion train services on the

Kisuki Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The line connects in Matsue, Shimane with in Shōbara, Hiroshima. Stations Rolling stock * KiHa 120 series DMUs File:Kiha120-5 Kisuki.JPG, A Kisuki Line Ki ...

File:Furano-Biei norokko train.jpg, JR Hokkaido DE15 1534 in August 2008 File:DE15-JRH-Norokko-2019.jpg, JR Hokkaido DE15 1535 in August 2019 File:JRH DE15 2510.jpg, JR Hokkaido DE15 2510 in January 2010 File:JNR DE15 2516.JPG, JR Hokkaido DE15 2516 in a yellow livery used as the works shunter at Naebo Works in October 2007 File:JRH-DE15 2527.jpg, JR Hokkaido DE15 2527 in ''Norokko'' green livery in August 2012 File:DE15 2558.jpg, JR West DE15 2558 in August 2001

Conversion to DE10-3000/3500

In 2009, fourteen surplus JR East Class DE15 locomotives were sold to

JR Freight , or , is one of the seven constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It provides transportation of cargo nationwide throughout Japan. Its headquarters are in Shibuya, Tokyo near Shinjuku Station. The Japan Railways Group was foun ...

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.

Fleet status

By 1 April 1995, 71 locomotives were still in service. , 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).

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

{{Jrcentralloco Diesel locomotives of Japan DE15 DE15 DE15 C-B locomotives 1067 mm gauge locomotives of Japan Railway locomotives introduced in 1967 Kawasaki diesel locomotives Nippon Sharyo locomotives