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JR Hokkaido DE15 1535 in February 2010
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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[update], 25 locomotives remain in service.
A total of 85 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1981, divided into the following sub-classes.[1]
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]
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[update], no Class DE15-0 locomotives remain in service.[1]
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[update], no Class DE15-1000 locomotives remain in service.[1]
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[update], 15 Class DE15-1500 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (nine locomotives), JR East (two locomotive), and JR West (four locomotive).[1]
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[update], one Class DE15-2050 locomotive remains in service, DE15 2052, operated by JR West.[1]
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[update], eight Class DE15-2500 locomotives remain in service, operated by JR Hokkaido (five locomotives) and JR West (three locomotives).[1]
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[update], one Class DE15-2550 locomotive remains in service, DE15 2558, operated by JR West.[1]
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 | 8 May 2009 | ||
| DE15 1516 | DE10 3502 | 16 December 1975 | 7 April 2009 | 25 November 2009 | |
| DE15 2567[Note 1] | DE10 3503 | 14 January 1976 | 29 May 2009 | FY2011 | |
| DE15 1522 | DE10 3504 | 2 March 1976 | 24 April 2009 | FY2011 | |
| DE15 1523 | DE10 3505 | 9 March 1976 | 6 April 2009 | ||
| DE15 1529 | DE10 3506 | 4 October 1976 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | 15 May 2009 | |
| DE15 1530 | DE10 3507 | 7 October 1976 | 24 June 2009 | ||
| DE15 1536 | DE10 3508 | 9 September 1977 | 7 April 2009 | ||
| DE15 2505 | DE10 3509 | 21 October 1977 | Nippon Sharyo | 18 May 2009 | |
| DE15 2506 | DE10 3510 | 28 October 1977 | 19 May 2009 | ||
| DE15 1539 | DE10 3511 | 10 November 1978 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | 23 April 2009 | |
| DE15 2513 | DE10 3512 | 15 November 1978 | 12 May 2009 | ||
| DE15 2524 | DE10 3513 | 20 November 1980 | 27 April 2009 |
By 1 April 1995, 71 locomotives were still in service.[2]
As of 1 April 2016[update], 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]
The DE15 classification for this locomotive type is explained below.
 Japanese National Railway Diesel Locomotives | |
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| Old types, prototypes |
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| Four-axle |
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| Five-axle |
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| Six-axle |
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| Standard gauge |
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| Narrow gauge |
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Japanese railway locomotives
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| Steam locomotives |
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| Diesel locomotives |
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| Electric locomotives |
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 Locomotives of Hokkaido Railway Company | |||
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| Electric |
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| Diesel |
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| Steam |
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Note: Withdrawn locomotive classes are shown in italics | |||
 Locomotives of East Japan Railway Company | |||||||
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| Electric |
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| Diesel |
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| Steam |
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Note: Withdrawn locomotive classes are shown in italics | |||||||
 Locomotives of West Japan Railway Company | |||||
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| Electric |
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| Diesel |
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| Steam |
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Note: Withdrawn locomotive classes are shown in italics | |||||
 Locomotives of Central Japan Railway Company | |
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| Electric |
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| Diesel |
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Note: Withdrawn locomotive classes are shown in italics | |
