JNR Class EF67

The Class EF67 is a retired class of electric locomotives operated by Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) as dedicated banking locomotives on the steeply-graded "Senohachi" section of the Sanyo Main Line between Seno and Hachihonmatsu. The class is subdivided into three EF67-0 locomotives converted between 1982 and 1984 from former Class EF60 locomotives, and five EF67-100 locomotives converted in 1990 from former Class EF65 locomotives.^[1]

With the introduction of the Class EF210-300 from 2013, the Class EF67 fleet was gradually withdrawn, with the last unit, EF67 105, being withdrawn from regular service in February 2022.^[2]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 former EF61-200 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Following the introduction of the Class EF210-300 in 2013, EF67 2 and 3 were withdrawn, with EF67 1 following in 2014.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]

The EF67-0s were converted as shown below.^[4]

• 
  Number 1 end of EF67 1, October 2005
• 
  Number 2 end of EF67 1, October 2009

Five EF67-100s were built from former 6th-batch Class EF65-0 locomotives from 1990 to replace the ageing EF61-200 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and 104 were scrapped in 2016, and 101 and 102 were scrapped in 2020.^[2]: 3 The last EF67 in operation, EF67 105, was withdrawn from regular service in February 2022,^[5] and operated a commemorative final-run service on 29 March of that year.^[6]

The EF67-100s were converted as shown below.^[4]

• 
  Number 1 end of unrefurbished EF67 104 in October 2002
• 
  Number 2 end of unrefurbished EF67 104 in October 2002
• 
  Refurbished EF67 104 at the rear of a freight train in November 2009

• Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification

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1. ^ ^{a b c d} Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Matsunuma, 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). Retrieved 13 June 2023.
3. ^ ^{a b} JR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.
4. ^ ^{a b} Seki, Takahiro (December 2012). セノハチの後押し機関車 [Senohachi Banking locomotives]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 52, no. 620. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 86–93.
5. ^ 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. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
6. ^ 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. Retrieved 13 June 2023.

Further reading