Imperial Government Railways 4-6-0 Locomotives in Japan

Class 8700 (Locobase 3806)

Data from Hiroshi Takagi, both from his website ([]) and personal communication August 2000. His indispensable assistance is gratefully acknowledged. See also R Kitterman, "Japanese Governmert Railways 8850", published 9 July 2019 on the Deviant Art website at [], last accessed 14 October 2022. Works numbers 19564-19575 in 1911.

Kitterman's post provided key context information by recounting the IGR's 1911 decision to try out several passenger locomotive designs for the Cape gauge with an eye to licensed construction in Japan. Locobases 3806, 3808, 3810, and 3813 describe the four designs, each by a different builder.

The 8700s were based on an earlier British 4-6-0 (Locobase 3807) and show the considerable difference wrought when the design was superheated.

Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing followed up in 1913 with 8712-8729 (works numbers 99-116) were heavier -- 86,311 lb (39,150 kg) adhesion weight, 114,530 lb (51,858 kg) engine weight, and 28,770 lb (13,032 kg) maximum axle load.

Class 8800 (Locobase 3808)

Data from Hiroshi Takagi, both from his website ([]) and personal communication August 2000. His indispensable assistance is gratefully acknowledged. See also R Kitterman, "Japanese Governmert Railways 8850", published 9 July 2019 on the Deviant Art website at [], last accessed 14 October 2022; and Saito Akira, "Overview of Japan's modern steam locomotives" at [], last accessed 14 October 2022. Works numbers were 4694-4705 in 1911.

Kitterman's post provided key context information by recounting the IGR's 1911 decision to try out several passenger locomotive designs for the Cape gauge with an eye to licensed construction in Japan. Locobases 3806, 3808, 3810, and 3813 describe the four designs, each by a different builder,

Based on the German P8 4-6-0 design and, Saito commented, was "a design most faithful to Shima's [narrow firebox] concept among the four kinds imported.' paralleled the British 4-6-0 but offered longer tubes between the tube sheets. (Shima strongly pressed for the widening of the rail gauge to Standard gauge, which would allow a wider firebox.)

JNR later upgraded the class by reconfiguring the boiler's tube and flue layout to allow for more flues with larger diameters. See Locobase 2809.

Class 8850 (Locobase 3810)

Data from Hiroshi Takagi, both from his website ([]) and personal communication August 2000. His indispensable assistance is gratefully acknowledged. See also R Kitterman, "Japanese Governmert Railways 8850" , published 9 July 2019 on the Deviant Art website at [], last accessed 14 October 2022. Works numbers were 8035-8046 in 1911.

Enlarged 8800s with two fewer tubes. Kitterman's post provided key context information by recounting the IGR's 1911 decision to try out several passenger locomotive designs for the Cape gauge with an eye to licensed construction in Japan. Locobases 3806, 3808, 3810, and 3813 describe the four designs, each by a different builder.

Class 8862 (Locobase 3812)

Data from Hiroshi Takagi, both from his website ([]) and personal communication August 2000. See also R Kitterman, "Japanese Governmert Railways 8850", published 9 July 2019 on the Deviant Art website at [], last accessed 14 October 2022. His indispensable assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

Kitterman's post provided key context information by recounting the IGR's 1911 decision to try out several passenger locomotive designs for the Cape gauge with an eye to licensed construction in Japan. Locobases 3806, 3808, 3810, and 3813 describe the four designs, each by a different builder..

Takagi wrote that these dozen engines copied the 8850s (Locobase 3810). Locobase noted that the flues were even larger in diameter..