DD51

Entry posted by Claude_Dreyfus January 9, 2011

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Another year starts, and a new arrival has joined the Dreyfus H0 stud in the form of a Kato DD51 in red livery.

The DD51 is the standard diesel locomotive in Japan, introduced in 1962, and were designed both for freight and express passenger services . 649 were constructed up until 1978, and just under 100 remain in service today; some of which are still used on the few remaining express passenger and sleeper services that operated over non-electrified lines.

Their centre cab design disguises the fact that these are big and powerful locomotives - they measure just short of 60 foot in length and carry two 1,100 hp engines - making them a type 4 in UK-terms. They have a maximum operating speed of 60 mph, which to be honest is quite sufficient for the majority of non-electrified lines in Japan.

Apart from the prototype, which has a slightly more rounded appearence, all locomotives were delivered new in the standard JR red and white livery - the prototype was released in brown with a white stripe. It is this livery that the Kato H0 model is finished in. Other liveries carried include a more modern red livery for those locos used on Hokkaido, and a more general blue livery - the introductory image of this blog shows a DD51 carrying this livery.

In terms of variations, aside from the prototype most of the class were almost identical in appearance. The greatest variation - aside from livery - is the modification from cold-weather operations; which included the fitting of a mini snow plough. The H0 example I have is a cold weather version.

Fans of the Western Region may be interested to know that these are Hydraulics. The story of diesel development in Japan is interesting, if a little complicated. JR used both diesel electric and hydraulic transmissions, with mixed results from both - the biggest disaster being the Maybach engined DD54. The DD51 was by far the biggest success, although age is catching up and many of the faster and heavier freights are now in the hands of the DF200s. These are fairly specialist locos however, and at the time of writing, there is still no wide-spread replacement for the DD51 on the cards.

Being such a wide-spread class in Japan, it is perhaps not suprising that the three main manufacturers all produce at least one model of this type. As well as the H0 example, I also have two Kato N Gauge models - one in red and one in blue - as well as a Micro Ace example in the newer Hokkaido livery. Tomix have also revamped their model, and their latest offering is considerably better in quality than their earlier versions.

Micro Ace also produce the pioneer of the class in its original brown livery - although as with many MA offerings, this is out of production and may never re repeated.

The level of detail on the two Kato models is extremely high, and as expected performce is excellent. They come with a pack of additional parts, including the number plates; although the H0 one also has handrails to add; which I think may well be a fiddly job.