TheClass EF67 is a retired class of electric locomotives operated byJapan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) as dedicated banking locomotives on the steeply-graded "Senohachi" section of theSanyo Main Line betweenSeno andHachihonmatsu. The class is subdivided into three EF67-0 locomotives converted between 1982 and 1984 from formerClass EF60 locomotives, and five EF67-100 locomotives converted in 1990 from formerClass EF65 locomotives.[1]
With the introduction of theClass EF210-300 from 2013, the Class EF67 fleet was gradually withdrawn, with the last unit, EF67 105, being withdrawn from regular service in February 2022.[2]
Three EF67-0s were built from former 4th-batch Class EF60 locomotives from 1982 for use banking freight trains over 1,000 tonnes, for which the formerEF61-200 banking locomotives were unsuitable. The No. 1 end was modified with a gangway door and access platform.[1] The locomotives were painted in an all-over orange livery (officially "Red No. 11") with yellow strips below the cab windows.[3] These three locomotives are fitted with PS22D scissors-type pantographs.[1]
The EF67-0s were equipped with an automatic uncoupling mechanism at the No. 1 end to enable the banking locomotives to be uncoupled on the fly, but uncoupling while in motion was discontinued from the start of the 22 March 2002 timetable revision.[3]
Following the introduction of the Class EF210-300 in 2013, EF67 2 and 3 were withdrawn, with EF67 1 following in 2014. As of April 2022[update], EF67 1 is preserved at Hiroshima Depot.[2]
Five EF67-100s were built from former 6th-batch Class EF65-0 locomotives from 1990 to replace the ageingEF61-200 banking locomotives. The EF67-100 fleet was refurbished between 2003 and 2004, and repainted into a revised livery with grey and white lines along the lower body side.[1] These locomotives were originally fitted with PS22B scissors-type pantographs, which were replaced with single-arm pantographs on refurbishment, but these were subsequently returned to PS22B scissors-type pantographs.
EF67 103 and 104 were scrapped in 2016, and 101 and 102 were scrapped in 2020.[2]: 3 The last EF67 in operation, EF67 105, was withdrawn from regular service in February 2022,[5] and operated a commemorative final-run service on 29 March of that year.[6]
^abcdJēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009.ISBN978-4-7770-0836-0.
^abcMatsunuma, Takeshi (26 April 2022).貨物列車の｢後押し専門機関車｣EF67形ついに引退 [Specialized booster freight locomotive, Class EF67, finally withdrawn].Toyo Keizai Online (in Japanese). Retrieved13 June 2023.
^abJR貨物のＥＦ６７近況 [Current Status of JR Freight EF67].Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 51, no. 602. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2011. pp. 102–105.
^赤い機関車EF67形が勇退、それでも「セノハチ」に補機が必要な理由 [The red EF67 locomotive has been retired, but "Senobachi" still needs auxiliary equipment].Mynavi News (in Japanese). 10 April 2022. Retrieved13 June 2023.
^補機専用機、これにて完全引退！ EF67形式直流電気機関車 さよならセレモニー、開催される [End of the line for the Class EF67 banking DC electric locomotive! Farewell ceremony held].RM News. Japan: Neko Publishing. 29 March 2022. Retrieved13 June 2023.
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Japan Freight Railway Motive Power