The Class EF65 (EF65形) is a 6-axle (Bo-Bo-Bowheel arrangement) DC electric locomotive type operated on passenger and freight services in Japan since 1965. A total of 308 locomotives were built between 1965 and 1979, with 52 still in service as of 1 April 2016[update].[2]
During the JNR era, these locomotives were used for freight trains and also for passenger work - primarily hauling night trains such as the Izumo sleeping car limited express and Ginga sleeping car express.
The EF65-0 subclass was designed for general freight use on the Tokaido Main Line and Sanyo Main Line. 135 locomotives were built between 1965 and 1970.[4]
As of 2016[update], all EF65-0 locomotives had been withdrawn.[2]
JR Freight EF65 100 in original blue livery in March 2008
Five 6th-batch Class EF65-0 locomotives, numbers EF65 131 to EF65 135, were converted in 1990 and 1991 to become Class EF67-100 banking locomotives for use on the "Senohachi" section of the Sanyo Main Line.[5]
The EF65-500 subclass consisted of a total of 42 locomotives, including newly built locomotives and locomotives (EF65 535 - 542) modified from the earlier EF65-0 subclass (EF65 77 - 84) for use on overnight sleeping car services and express freight services operating at a maximum speed of 110 km/h (70 mph).[4]
As of 1 April 2016[update], only one EF65-500 locomotive, EF65-501, owned by JR East, remained in service.[2]
Locomotives used for hauling passenger services are referred to as "P" type, and those used for freight services are referred to as "F" type.[3] The original designations are as shown below.[3]
Locomotive number
P/F designation
EF65 501
P
EF65 502
P
EF65 503
P
EF65 504
P
EF65 505
P
EF65 506
P
EF65 507
P
EF65 508
P
EF65 509
P
EF65 510
P
EF65 511
P
EF65 512
P
EF65 513
F
EF65 514
F
EF65 515
F
EF65 516
F
EF65 517
F
EF65 518
F
EF65 519
F
EF65 520
F
EF65 521
F
EF65 522
F
EF65 523
F
EF65 524
F
EF65 525
F
EF65 526
F
EF65 527
P
EF65 528
P
EF65 529
P
EF65 530
P
EF65 531
P
EF65 532
F
EF65 533
F
EF65 535
F
EF65 536
P
EF65 537
P
EF65 538
P
EF65 539
P
EF65 540
P
EF65 541
P
EF65 542
P
EF65 501 in original tokkyū livery in February 2021
The EF65-1000 was intended for use on both passenger and freight services, and was referred to as the "PF" type. 139 locomotives were built between 1969 and 1979.[4]
As of 1 April 2016[update], 15 EF65-1000 locomotives remained in service, operated by JR East and JR West.[2]
Passenger EF65 1103 in original "tokkyū" livery in March 2021
There are former Class EF65-1000 locomotives renumbered from May 2012 by JR Freight to differentiate them from locomotives fitted with driving recording units mandated for operations over 100 km/h (60 mph).[3]
As of 1 April 2016[update], 36 EF65-2000 locomotives remained in service, operated by JR Freight.[2]
EF65 2091 in original tokkyu livery in March 2021
EF65 2127 in refurbished JR Freight livery in March 2021
EF65 116: Repainted in blue with large yellow "JR" lettering on the sides and yellow bands on the cab ends[7]
EF65 123: Repainted in Yuyu Salon Okayama livery (initially maroon, later orange)[7]
EF65 1019: Repainted in Super Express Rainbow red livery in March 1987. Removed from service on 31 December 1997, and withdrawn on 1 September 1998.[8]
EF65 1059: Repainted in blue with yellow front-end warning panels and large "JR" logo in July 1987. Remained in this livery until withdrawal on 31 March 2009.[9]
^ "JR各社の車両配置表" (JR Group company fleet allocations). Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 49, no. 579. Japan: Koyusha. July 2009. pp. 1–48.
^ abcde JR全車輛ハンドブック'92 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1992]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1992. pp. 33–35.
^"EF65 1019". Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Ltd. January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
^"EF65 1059". Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Ltd. November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
^EF65 1124がトワイライト色に [EF65 1124 repainted into Twilight livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
^ 京都鉄道博物館 [Kyoto Railway Museum]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 662. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2016. p. 47.
^ abcdeSasada, Masahiro (25 November 2014). 国鉄&jr 保存車大全 2015-2016 国鉄&JR保存車大全2015-2016 [JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide 2015-2016] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. p. 122. ISBN978-4863209282.
^EF65 535が東芝府中事業所へ [EF65 535 moved to Toshiba Fuchu factory]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Ltd. 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.