JNR Class EF65

Data (as of 5 Apr 2025)

History

Class EF65 is a type of electric locomotive (DC 1.5 kV) developed by Japanese National Railways. It was designed for both pasenger and freight trains in flat areas like Tokaido and San-yo Main Lines. The EF65 contributed to the expanding economy in the 1960s and 70s, when there was no motorway in the country. There were three groups: variant 0, variant 500 and variant 1000.

The variant 0 was for freight trains built in 1965-70. The variant 500 looked similar to the EF65-0, though they were painted slightly differently. The variant 1000 looks different from others as it has a door in the middle of front end. The EF65 locos have been used widely in the Greater Tokyo Area, Nagoya, Kansai areas and on San-yo Main Line as far as Yamaguchi Prefecture. They were also used for many sleeper trains such as Limited Express Asakaze (Tokyo - Hakata) and Express Ginga (Tokyo - Osaka).

When JNR was privatised in 1987, 269 out of 308 locos were allocated to JR East, JR Central, JR West and JR Freight. JR Central scrapped all of its locos by 2007, and JR East is to follow by 2025. JR West use them for ad hoc works and rail tours. JR Freight had used them regularly, and renamed existing locos "variant 2000". They declined dramatically in 2024 and pulled out from all regular services in the following year.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

JR Freight still owns quite a few and allocates them to Shin-Tsurumi depot near Shin-Kawasaki station, despite not using them for regular freight trains. They are used instead of other newer locomotives such as Class EF210 when there is loco shortages.

JR East and West use a few for ad hoc work, but those owned by JR East have been stored at a depot and are due to be disposed of by the end of this year.

Photos

The only variant-500 locomotive for mainline use.

Super Express Rainbow livery, which was named after a Joyful Train (in service: 1987-2000).

JR Freight has been painted them in various ways, but many of them are now gradually restored to the original livery.

Another livery (JR Freight), which was often called "the mustard".