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Sentetsu Mika class locomotives

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Sentetsu Mika class
KNR Mika3-244 preserved at Imjingak
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-2
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Career
OperatorsChosen Government Railway
West Chosen Central Railway
Korean National Railway
Korean State Railway
Central China Railway
China Railway

The Mika (Japanese ミカ, Korean 미카) class locomotives were a group of steam tender locomotives of the Chosen Government Railway (Sentetsu) with 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. The "Mika" name came from the American naming system for steam locomotives, under which locomotives with 2-8-2 wheel arrangement were called "Mikado" in honour of the Emperor of Japan, as the first 2-8-2 locomotives in the world were built for Japan.

By the late 1910s, existing multipurpose locomotives were proving insufficient for the increasingly heavy freight trains being run in Korea. To fill the need for dedicated freight locomotives, in 1919 Sentetsu imported 12 Mikai class and 12 Mikani class locomotives from the United States in 1919. Subsequent classes were built by Japanese and Korean factories.[1]

There were four classes of the Mika type operated by Sentetsu, called Mikai, Mikani, Mikasa and Mikashi; of these, the Mikasa class was by far the most numerous. The Mikasa class was also used by the privately owned West Chosen Central Railway in Korea. Following the partition of Korea, these locomotives were all divided between the Korean National Railroad in the South and the Korean State Railway in the North;[1] of all Mika types, 131 went to the KNR and 292 to the Korean State Railway.[2] It is interesting to note that, despite the DPRK government's extensive anti-Japanese propaganda, the railway nevertheless continues to use the "Mika" name officially for these locomotives regardless of the fact that it refers to the Japanese emperor.[3]

The Mikasa class was also operated by the Central China Railway in Japanese-occupied China,[3] and by the China Railway after the Liberation of China, where they were designated JF9 class.

Mikai class (ミカイ)

The Mikai class was one of the original two groups of 2-8-2 locomotives to be delivered to Sentetsu in 1919. Built by Baldwin in 1919, they were used primarily on the Gyeongui Line.[1] Originally numbered ミカイ701-ミカイ712, in Sentetsu's general renumbering of 1938 they became ミカイ1-ミカイ12 [2]

After the division of Sentetsu's assets, nine remained in the South with the Korean National Railroad as class Mika1 (미카1), and three in the North.[2]

Some of the KNR's Mika1s were rebuilt in the early 1950s by Kawasaki to use lignite as fuel, becoming the KNR Mika6 (미카6) class.[2]

Both the KNR and the KSR operated Mikai class locomotives formerly belonging to the South Manchuria Railway (Mantetsu). These were very distinct from the Sentetsu Mikai class, but they retained their former Mantetsu numbers in KNR service. Known to have served with the KNR are ミカイ32, ミカイ125, ミカイ539, ミカイ618, ミカイ826, ミカイ1094, ミカイ1101 through ミカイ1105, ミカイ1107 through ミカイ1110, ミカイ1112 and ミカイ1170;[2] the Korean State Railway numbered these in the 6100 series, regardless of origin.

Mikani class (ミカニ)

The second of the original two groups of 2-8-2 locomotives to be delivered to Sentetsu in 1919 was the Mikani class built by ALCO in 1919.[1] Originally numbered ミカニ801–ミカニ812, they became ミカニ1–ミカニ12 in Sentetsu's 1938 general renumbering.[4]

The post-partition disposition of the Mikani class is uncertain, however it is known that ミカニ4 went to the Korean State Railway after the division of Sentetsu assets. It was destroyed during the Korean War, then captured by the US Army and taken south to strip for parts.[4] It can be inferred from the evidence of other numberings that the Korean State Railway numbered its Mikani class locomotives in the 6200 series.

Mikasa class (ミカサ)

KNR Mika3-161 on display at the Korean Railway Museum.

Designed by Sentetsu based on the experiences with the rebuilding of the Pureshi class, the Mikasa class, along with the Pashishi and Tehoro classes, were the first locomotives designed by Sentetsu. Because they were designed specifically for Korean operating needs and conditions, these superheated, two-cylinder locomotives were a great success and proved very easy to build, operate and maintain.[1]

The Mikasa, Pashishi and Tehoro classes all had large heating areas. From its inception, the Mikasa class was designed to use the lignite abundant in Korea, which is less efficient than the anthracite the American-built locomotives needed. The Mikasa class featured a combustion chamber firebox to achieve sufficient combustion of the coal, which in turn improved boiler efficiency. Following the experience with the Mikasas, combustion chamber fireboxes were installed on the JNR 9700 class and JNR D52 class locomotives built from 1943. The Pashishi and Mikasa were the first to install a combustion chamber in the firebox, significantly improving evaporation and maintenance of steam. For improve maintenance logistics, care was taken during the design process to maximise the number common components between the Pashishi and Mikasa classes.[1]

Between 1927 and 1945, 308 were built for Sentetsu in Japan and Korea by five different builders, and a further five were built after the end of the Pacific War for the KNR. Prior to 1945, eight units were built for the privately owned West Chosen Central Railway, and 38 for the Central China Railway. In all, a total of 398 were built, but there were many in various states of construction at the end of the war that were never completed.

Structurally it is generally an American design in its features, with the first dome being a sandbox, and the second being for steam. The firebox is located above the trailing axle. After the first 27 were completed, the design was modified, resulting in a slightly different appearance of the smokestack and the steam dome. The tender was made bigger at the same time, with coal capacity rising from 11 t (11 long tons; 12 short tons) to 12 t (12 long tons; 13 short tons), and water capacity increasing from 22.7 m3 (800 cu ft) to 28.0 m3 (990 cu ft). The tender is a four-axle type, running on two four-wheel bogies of American Bettendorf design.

The first 70, which entered Sentetsu service prior to April 1938, were numbered ミカサ1701 through ミカサ1770; in Sentetsu's general renumbering of 1938, these became ミカサ1 through ミカサ70.[5] Those that entered service after April 1938 were numbered according to the new system.

Timeline of Mikasa production for Sentetsu
Running Number
Year Original Post-1938 Builder Works Number
1927 1701–1708 ミカサ1–ミカサ8 Kisha Seizō 927–930, 961–964
1928 1709–1711 ミカサ9–ミカサ11 Nippon Sharyō 207–209
1712–1714 ミカサ12–ミカサ14 Hitachi 293–295
1715–1717 ミカサ15–ミカサ17 Kawasaki 1251–1253
1718–1720 ミカサ18–ミカサ20 Kisha Seizō 1016–1018
1930 1721–1727 ミカサ21–ミカサ27 Gyeongseong Works 8–14
1935 1728–1731 ミカサ28–ミカサ31 Hitachi 614–617
1732–1735 ミカサ32–ミカサ35 Kisha Seizō 1331–1334
1936 1736–1742 ミカサ36–ミカサ42 Kisha Seizō 1382–1388
1937 1743–1747 ミカサ43–ミカサ47 Kawasaki 1844–1848
1752–1765 ミカサ52–ミカサ65 Kisha Seizō 1507–1514, 1526–1531
1938 1748–1751 ミカサ48–ミカサ51 Nippon Sharyō 514–517
1766–1770 ミカサ66–ミカサ70 Kisha Seizō 1539–1543
ミカサ81–ミカサ93 Kisha Seizō 1643–1647, 1656–1663
1939 ミカサ71–ミカサ75 Nippon Sharyō 607–611
ミカサ76–ミカサ80 Kawasaki 2118–2122
ミカサ94–ミカサ99 Kisha Seizō 1672–1677
ミカサ100–ミカサ103 Hitachi 1036–1039
ミカサ104–ミカサ109 Kisha Seizō 1766–1771
1940 ミカサ110–ミカサ129 Kisha Seizō 1896–1905, 1936–1945
ミカサ130–ミカサ147 Hitachi 1171–1188
ミカサ148–ミカサ172 Nippon Sharyō 817–841
ミカサ173–ミカサ179 Gyeongseong Works 64–70
ミカサ180–ミカサ186 Kisha Seizō 1960–1966
ミカサ187–ミカサ191 Hitachi 1324–1328
ミカサ192–ミカサ196 Nippon Sharyō 842–846
1941 ミカサ197–ミカサ208 Kisha Seizō 2049–2054, 2156–2161
1942 ミカサ209–ミカサ216 Kisha Seizō 2209–2216
ミカサ223–ミカサ228 Nippon Sharyō 1029–1034
ミカサ248–ミカサ278 Hitachi 1621–1627, 1704–1727
1943 ミカサ217–ミカサ222 Kisha Seizō 2266–2271
ミカサ229–ミカサ244 Nippon Sharyō 1142–1151, 1176–1181
1944 ミカサ245–ミカサ247 Nippon Sharyō 1261–1263
ミカサ279–ミカサ297 Hitachi 1728, 1848–1855, 1945–1954
ミカサ303–ミカサ313 Nippon Sharyō 1332–1342

The Mikasa class was Sentetsu's standard locomotive for freight trains and trains on steeper lines, especially on trunk lines such as the Gyeongui and Gyeongbu lines. During the Pacific War the industrialisation of northern Korea was expanded on a large scale, and to meet the resulting sharp increase in freight demands in the area, large numbers of Mikasas were assigned to work on the Gyeongwon and Hamgyeong lines.

The exact dispersal of Sentetsu's Mikasa class locomotives after the partition is uncertain.

Korean National Railroad Mika3 class (미카3)

Though the exact quantity and identities of the former Sentetsu Mikasa class locomotives that went to the Korean National Railroad isn't certain, the identities of 54 are known: 8, 16, 17, 27, 31, 42, 43, 50, 52, 66, 71, 76, 78, 89, 94, 96, 99, 100, 111, 118, 119, 120, 124, 129, 142, 144, 146, 150, 161, 162, 169, 177, 180, 181, 199, 208 through 210, 212, 216, 228, 239, 242, 244, 247, 253, 255 through 257, 261, 271, 272, 276 and 280.[5] Additionally, a further five, which had been under construction at the end of the Pacific War, were completed by Hitachi in 1946 and delivered to the KNR as Mika3-298 through Mika3-302 (works numbers 2022-2026).

Mika3-129 was destroyed on 28 June 1950 when the Han River bridge was destroyed.[1] It was subsequently restored and is now on display at the Daejeon National Cemetery, on loan from the Daejeon Railway Vehicle Maintenance Centre.

Korean State Railway 6300 series

The identities and quantity of Sentetsu's Mikasa class locomotives that ended up in North Korea is not known; another eight were taken over from the West Chosen Central Railway. They remained in service for many decades after the Korean War;[3] some may still be in service at the present time. 6318 and 6344 are known to have been active in the 1990s around Kaesŏng and Wŏnsan respectively,[6] while 6336 was seen in serviceable condition in 2003.[7]

West Chosen Central Railway Mikasa class (ミカサ)

As traffic volumes increased significantly through the Pacific War, the privately owned West Chosen Central Railway also found itself needing more power. As a result, eight Mikasa class locomotives were bought in 1943 and 1944. More were needed, but as the capacity of locomotive builders in Japan and Korea was already being stretched, Mikaro (ミカロ, Mika6) class locomotives were borrowed from the South Manchuria Railway (Mantetsu).

After the partition of Korea all railways in both North and South were nationalised, and being located north of the 38th parallel, the West Chosen Central Railway's assets were taken over by the Korean State Railway.

Timeline of Mikasa production for the
West Chosen Central Railway
Year Running Number Builder Works Number
1943 201, 202 Hitachi 1457, 1458
1944 203-206 Kisha Seizō 2227-2230
207, 208 Nippon Sharyō 1213, 1214

China Railways JF9 class (解放9)

The Central China Railway also bought locomotives built to the Sentetsu Mikasa design;[3] a total of 38 were built by Kisha Seizō, Hitachi and Nippon Sharyō in 1943 and 1944. These were numbered ミカサ11 through ミカサ19, ミカサ110 through ミカサ137 and ミカサ320.

Timeline of Mikasa production for the Central China Railway
Year Running Numbers Builder Works Number
1943 ミカサ11–ミカサ15 Kisha Seizō 2217 - 2221
ミカサ16–ミカサ19 Hitachi 1392 - 1395
ミカサ110–ミカサ113 Hitachi 1478 - 1481
ミカサ119–ミカサ128 Nippon Sharyō 1193 - 1202
1944 ミカサ114–ミカサ118 Kisha Seizō 2222 - 2226
ミカサ127–ミカサ137, ミカサ310 Hitachi 1729 - 1733, 1872 - 1875, 1871

Following the end of the war the Central China Railway was absorbed into the state-owned Republic of China Railway, and after the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949 and the subsequent nationalisation of China's railways to create the China Railway in 1950, the Central China Railway Mikasas were given the ㄇㄎ玖 (MK9) designation; in 1959 they were reclassified 解放9 (JF9, "Liberation 9"), numbered 3671 through 3710. Although they were classified ㄇㄎ玖/解放9, it is important to note that they are completely different from the Mantetsu Mikaku (ミカク, Mika9) class. The last of the JF9s in China were retired in the 1990s. JF9 3673 has been preserved, and is on display at the China Railway Museum in Beijing.

Mikashi class (ミカシ)

The Mikashi class locomotives were similar to the Mantetsu Mikai class locomotives. 24 were built by Kawasaki between 1939 and 1942, numbered ミカシ1 through ミカシ24.[8] Their dispersal after the division of assets is uncertain.

Korean National Railroad Mika4 class (미카4)

In KNR service the Mikashi class was known as the Mika4 (미카4) class. The numbers of the locomotives operated by the KNR is uncertain, however 미카4-23 is known to have been operated by the KNR.[8]

Korean State Railway 6400 series

The Korean State Railway numbered its Mikashi class locomotives in the 6400 number series, retaining the previous serial identity. The identities of two Mikashis that went north after the partition are known for certain - ミカシ9 and ミカシ15: ミカシ9 ended up in the North and was operated by the Korean State Railway, but was destroyed during the Korean War; it was subsequently captured by Southern forces and taken south;[8] 6415 was still in daily service in 2004 around Taegŏn, Ŭnsan and Changsŏn'gang on the P'yŏngra Line.[9]

Korean National Railroad Mika5 class (미카5)

These were built in Japan in 1952 for the US Army Transportation Corps for use in Korea during the war. Very similar to the Mantetsu Mikai class and the Sentetsu Mikashi class, at least 56 were built by Mihara Sharyo, Kawasaki and others for the USATC, where they were numbered in the 9400 series. After the end of the war they were passed on to the KNR.[10] Many were never used, and were scrapped brand-new in the 1960s,[11] but several have been preserved.[10]

Korean National Railroad Mika6 class (미카6)

In the 1950s, the KNR rebuilt a number of Mikai and Mikani-class locomotives to use lignite; these were designated Mika6 (미카6) class.[2] They were numbered in the 1600 range.[12]

Preserved examples

In addition, the hulks of two Mikasa class locomotives which were destroyed during the Korean war are located within the DMZ and deteriorating from exposure to the elements.

Class Specifications

Mikai Mikani Mikasa Mikashi
Builder Baldwin ALCO Kisha Seizō, Nippon Sharyō, Hitachi,
Kawasaki, Gyeongseong Works		 Kawasaki
Build date 1919 1919 1927–1946 1939–1942
Driver diameter 1,450 mm (57 in) 1,450 mm (57 in) 1,450 mm (57 in) 1,370 mm (54 in)
Length 22,032 mm (867.4 in) 22,094 mm (869.8 in) 22,035 mm (867.5 in) 21,168 mm (833.4 in)
Width 3,023 mm (119.0 in) 3,023 mm (119.0 in) 3,078 mm (121.2 in) 2,995 mm (117.9 in)
Height 4,383 mm (172.6 in) 44,254 mm (1,742.3 in) 4,507 mm (177.4 in) 4,244 mm (167.1 in)
Loco Weight 89.75 t (88.33 long tons; 98.93 short tons) 93.40 t (91.92 long tons; 102.96 short tons) 90.65 t (89.22 long tons; 99.92 short tons) 88.29 t (86.90 long tons; 97.32 short tons)
Tender Weight 57.50 t (56.59 long tons; 63.38 short tons) 57.50 t (56.59 long tons; 63.38 short tons) 65.80 t (64.76 long tons; 72.53 short tons) 58.48 t (57.56 long tons; 64.46 short tons)
Max speed 70 km/h (43 mph) 70 km/h (43 mph) 70 km/h (43 mph) 70 km/h (43 mph)
Valve gear Walschaerts Walschaerts Walschaerts Walschaerts
Tractive effort 170.0 kN (38,200 lbf) 204.0 kN (45,900 lbf) 179.0 kN (40,200 lbf) 170.0 kN (38,200 lbf)
Cylinder size 559 mm × 711 mm (22.0 in × 28.0 in) 620 mm × 711 mm (24.4 in × 28.0 in) 580 mm × 710 mm (23 in × 28 in) 530 mm × 710 mm (21 in × 28 in)
Boiler pressure 13.0 kgf/cm2 (185 psi) 13.0 kgf/cm2 (185 psi) 13.0 kgf/cm2 (185 psi) 14.0 kgf/cm2 (199 psi)
Firegrate area 4.39 m2 (47.3 sq ft) 4.45 m2 (47.9 sq ft) 4.75 m2 (51.1 sq ft) 4.57 m2 (49.2 sq ft)
Heating surface 239.20 m2 (2,574.7 sq ft) 239.80 m2 (2,581.2 sq ft) 175.10 m2 (1,884.8 sq ft) 171.90 m2 (1,850.3 sq ft)
Superheater area 64.00 m2 (688.9 sq ft) 69.00 m2 (742.7 sq ft) 61.50 m2 (662.0 sq ft) 42.80 m2 (460.7 sq ft)
Tube area 221.50 m2 (2,384.2 sq ft) 222.30 m2 (2,392.8 sq ft) 153.40 m2 (1,651.2 sq ft) 152.40 m2 (1,640.4 sq ft)
Firebox area 17.70 m2 (190.5 sq ft) 17.50 m2 (188.4 sq ft) 21.70 m2 (233.6 sq ft) 19.10 m2 (205.6 sq ft)
Small tubes
(Number x diameter)		 168 x 51 mm (2.0 in) 164 x 51 mm (2.0 in) 118 x 51 mm (2.0 in) 139 x 51 mm (2.0 in)
Large tubes
(Number x diameter)		 26 x 137 mm (5.4 in) 28 x 137 mm (5.4 in) 28 x 137 mm (5.4 in) 24 x 137 mm (5.4 in)
Water capacity 22.7 m3 (800 cu ft) 22.7 m3 (800 cu ft) 22.7 m3 (800 cu ft) (1st )
28.0 m3 (990 cu ft)		 24.0 m3 (850 cu ft)
Fuel capacity 9.4 t (9.3 long tons; 10.4 short tons) 9.4 t (9.3 long tons; 10.4 short tons) 11.0 t (10.8 long tons; 12.1 short tons) (1st )
12.0 t (11.8 long tons; 13.2 short tons) (rest)		 9.6 t (9.4 long tons; 10.6 short tons)
Operator Chosen Government Railway
Korean National Railroad
Korean State Railway		 Chosen Government Railway
Korean National Railroad
Korean State Railway		 Chosen Government Railway
Korean National Railroad
Korean State Railway
West Chosen Central Railway
Central China Railway
China Railway		 Korean National Railroad
Korean State Railway
Numbers in class
(Sentetsu)		 12 12 308 24
Fleet numbers
(Sentetsu 1938–45)		 ミカイ1–ミカイ12 ミカイ1–ミカイ12 * ミカシ1–ミカシ24
Notes * - see Mikasa section above Data from very similar Mantetsu Mikaro class
  • Cab of Mika3-129
    Cab of Mika3-129
  • Firebox door of Mika3-129
    Firebox door of Mika3-129

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Byeon, Seong-u (1999). 한국철도차량 100년사 [Korean Railways Rolling Stock Centennial] (in Korean). Seoul: Korea Rolling Stock Technical Corp.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Korean National RR_MIKA-1 2-8-2_Don's Rail Photos
  3. ^ a b c d Kokubu, Hayato. 将軍様の鉄道 [Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō] (in Japanese). 新潮社 (Shinchosha). p. 106–107. ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6.
  4. ^ a b Korean National RR_MIKA-2 2-8-2_Don's Rail Photos
  5. ^ a b Korean National RR_MIKA-3 2-8-2_Don's Rail Photos
  6. ^ Ziel, Ron; Huxtable, Nils (1995). Steam Beneath the Red Star. Amerion House. p. 193. ISBN 0-8488-0929-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ North Korea, February 2003, Transit Train_FarRail Tours
  8. ^ a b c Korean National RR_MIKA-4 2-8-2_Don's Rail Photos
  9. ^ Reisebericht Nordkorea Oktober 2004_FarRail Tours
  10. ^ a b Korean National RR_MIKA-5 2-8-2_Don's Rail Photos
  11. ^ United States Army Steam Locomotives_Don's Rail Photos
  12. ^ Korean National RR_MIKA-6 2-8-2_Don's Rail Photos
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