JNR Class C58 2-6-2, Preserved steam locomotive in Maizuru, Japan.
The JNR Class C58 2-6-2 is a steam locomotive series built between 1938 and 1947, with 427 units manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Kisha Seizo for passenger and freight services throughout Japan.
Designed by Hideo Shima and produced during World War II, the C58 class served critical wartime logistics roles, with 25 units deployed to Southeast Asia for military transport operations before continuing postwar service until 1974.
The C58 locomotive represents a significant chapter in Japanese railway history, symbolizing the nation's engineering achievements during the mid-20th century and its efforts to modernize rail infrastructure during challenging wartime and reconstruction periods.
Around 50 C58 locomotives remain preserved across Japan in parks and museums, with C58 363 operated by Chichibu Railway for tourist steam excursions and another unit displayed in Maizuru for public viewing and educational purposes.
The C58 was the only Japanese National Railways tender locomotive to feature a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement, balancing power and maneuverability specifically for branch line operations, weighing 91 tons (82.5 metric tons) including tender and reaching speeds of 53 miles per hour (85 kilometers per hour).
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