JNR Class C56

The Class C56 is a type of 2-6-0 steam locomotive built by the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) from 1935 to 1939, and later operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR). They were numbered C56 1-C56 164 a total of 164 were built from 1935 to 1939 locomotives numbered C56 1-C56 90 and C56 161-C56 164 were sent to other countries in Asia during the Second World War. The locomotives were retired in 1974. They were designed by Hideo Shima.

History

A total of 164 Class C56 locomotives were built between 1935 and 1939.^[1]

Locomotives C56 1 to 90 and 161 to 164 were sent to Asian countries occupied by Japan during World War II.^[1] The locomotives are popularly known as Shigoroku, Shigoro (C56 in Japanese) and Pony of the Plateau among railfans.

Preserved examples

A number of Class C56 locomotives are preserved in Japan and other Asian countries.^[2] C56 160 is maintained in operating condition by JR West for use on main line steam specials.^[1]

• C56 3: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 701) Destroyed in the film in Great Friday/ตัดเหลี่ยมเพชร (in the film had the number 731)^{[citation needed][clarification needed]}
• C56 4: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 702) Preserved at Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, Kanchanaburi.^[3]
• C56 15: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 713) Preserved for haul the special steam train for show in River Kwai Festival at Kanchanaburi between late November and/or early December.^[3][4]
• C56 16: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 714) Preserved at Bangkok Railway Station.^[3]
• C56 17: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 715) Preserved for haul the special steam train for show in River Kwai Festival at Kanchanaburi between late November and/or early December. (The alternate locomotive if C56 15 out of service) ^[3][4]
• C56 23: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 719) Preserved at River Kwai Bridge, Kanchanaburi^[1][3]
• C56 31: Yūshūkan (SRT 725) Japanese military and war museum. Used in Burma and Thailand during the construction of the Death Railway and subsequently used in Thailand after the war. It was brought back to Japan in the 1970s.^[3][5][6]
• C56 36: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 728) Preserved at Lampang Railway Station.^[3]
• C56 41: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 733) Stored at Makkasan Depot, Bangkok.^[3]
• C56 44: (SRT 735) Preserved in operating condition on the Ōigawa Railway.^[2][3] On some occasions, this locomotive will be dressed as James the Red Engine to pull special Day Out with Thomas special events with C11 227 (Thomas)
• C56 47: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 738) Preserved at Thai Film Archive, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom.^[3]
• C56 53: State Railway of Thailand. (SRT 744) Private property, near the Road 1269 in Chiang Mai^[7]
• C56 56: Burma Railway. (Burma Railway No. C-0522) Preserved at Death Railway Museum, Thanbyuzayat, Myanmar.^[8]
• C56 92: Preserved in front of Izumi Station in Kagoshima Prefecture.^[2]
• C56 94: Preserved in Nishi Park in Ōmachi, Nagano.^[2]
• C56 96: Preserved in Minamimaki, Nagano.^[2]
• C56 98: Preserved in the 19th Century Hall next to Torokko Saga Station in Kyoto.^[2]
• C56 99: Preserved at the Dacho Dream Eco Land in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima.^[2]
• C56 101: Preserved in a park in Saku, Nagano.^[2]
• C56 106: Preserved in a park in Fuchu, Hiroshima.^[2]
• C56 108: Preserved in Unnan, Shimane.^[2]
• C56 110: Preserved in a park in Soka, Saitama.^[2]
• C56 111: Preserved at an elementary school in Takarazuka, Hyōgo.^[2]
• C56 124: Preserved at a community centre in Azumino, Nagano.^[2]
• C56 126: Preserved at Kobuchizawa Elementary School in Hokuto, Yamanashi.^[2]
• C56 129: Preserved in a park in Iiyama, Nagano.^[2]
• C56 131: Preserved in Kita Park in Matsue, Shimane.^[2]
• C56 135: Preserved in a park in Kato, Hyogo.^[2] Purchased by the Ōigawa Railway through crowdfunding, undergoing restoration as of December 2022.
• C56 139: Preserved at Yokohama Hommoku Freight Terminal on the Kanagawa Rinkai Railway in Yokohama, Kanagawa.^[2]
• C56 144: Preserved at Komoro Castle in Komoro, Nagano.^[2]
• C56 149: Preserved in front of Kiyosato Station in Hokuto, Yamanashi.^[2]
• C56 150: Preserved at the Hakuba Alps Autocamp site in Hakuba, Nagano.^[2]
• C56 160: Preserved in operating condition by JR West at Kyoto Railway Museum.^[2]

• 
  Preserved C56 16 in Bangkok Railway Station, Bangkok
• 
  Preserved C56 23 in River Kwai Bridge, Kanchanaburi
• 
  C56 31 preserved inside the Yushukan Museum in Tokyo
• 
  Preserved C56 36 in Lampang Railway Station, Lampang
• 
  Stored C56 41 at Makkasan Depot, Bangkok
• 
  C56 44 operating on the Oigawa Railway in August 2012
• 
  Preserved C56 47 in Thai Film Archive, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom
• 
  Preserved C56 92 in October 2012
• 
  Preserved C56 96 in August 2009
• 
  Preserved C56 98 in March 2021
• 
  Preserved C56 101 in August 2015
• 
  Preserved C56 106 in November 2020
• 
  Preserved C56 144 in April 2018
• 
  Preserved C56 149 in August 2009

See also

• Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to C56 steam locomotives.

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Japanese Government Railway Steam Locomotives

Tank

Four-driver	10 60 230 400・500・600・700 860 950 960 1000 II 1060 II 1070・1150 5050 B10 B20
Six-driver	1000 I・1010 1020 1170 1200 1230 1250 1265 1360 2100・2120・2700 II・2900・3500 3300 3360 3380 3400 3700 3800 3800 II C10 C11 C12
Ten-driver	4100 4110 E10

Tender

Four-driver	5050 1060 5060 5200 5300・5400・5450・5480 5500・5630・5650 5900 5950 6050 6100 6120 6200・6250 6700・6750 6760 B50
Six-driver	8250 8350 8360・8380 8400 8450 8500　I 8500 II・8550 8620 8700 8800 8850 8600/8900 C50 18900/C51 8200 II/C52 C53 C54 C55 C56 C57 C58 C59 C60 C61 C62 C63 (proposed) HC51 (proposed)
Eight-driver	9550・9580 9600 9900/D50 D51 D52 D60 D61 D62 HD53 (proposed) HD60 (proposed)
Ten-driver	KE50 (proposed)
Mallet	9020 9750・9800・9850

Narrow gauge

Four-driver	Ke 100 Ke 110
Six-driver	Ke 150 Ke 160 Ke 170 Ke 200 Ke 210