The Class DF200 (DF200形) is a Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement diesel–electric locomotive type operated by the Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) and the Kyushu Railway Company. , JR Freight operates 48 Class DF200s, and JR Kyushu operates one (DF200-7000).

Background

In Hokkaido, where the proportion of electrified sections on trunk lines is low, the Class DD51 had been the mainstay of freight transport since the introduction of "smokeless railways", regardless of whether they ran on electrified or non-electrified sections. After the creation of JR, the increase in freight transportation and the increasing speed of freight trains made the DD51's traction capacity insufficient, requiring trains to run with double heading. Due to the harsh climate in Hokkaido, the cars also became increasingly obsolete. To address these issues, the DF200 was developed. It was rewarded with Laurel Prize in 1994.

Variants

DF200-900

The pre-production locomotive DF200-901 was delivered in March 1992 for testing. It has two MTU 12V396TE14 diesel engines.

DF200-0

Full-production batch delivered from 1994. Red "JRF" logos were later replaced by white logos. 12 locomotives were built.

DF200-50

Batch built from March 2000 with Komatsu SDA12V170-1 diesel engines in place of the earlier MTU engines. External changes include grey front-end skirts, white "JRF" logos, and "Red Bear Eco Power" logos. 13 locomotives were built.

DF200-100

Batch built from August 2005 to December 2011 with IGBT VVVF inverters. 23 Class DF200-100 locomotives were built.

DF200-200

In 2016, DF200-123 was moved from Hokkaido to Suita Depot in Osaka, where it underwent modifications and renumbering to DF200-223 before being returned to service on the Kansai Main Line in the Nagoya area. This was followed by locomotives DF200-116 and DF200-120, which were similarly modified and renumbered DF200-216 and DF200-220 respectively in 2018.

DF200-7000

A dedicated Class DF200-7000 diesel locomotive was built in 2013 for JR Kyushu's Seven Stars in Kyushu luxury excursion train. Built specially for use in Kyushu and finished in a deep maroon livery, the locomotive was built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe, and delivered in July 2013.

Classification

The DF200 classification for this locomotive type is explained below.