JNR Class EF81

Data (as of 23 May 2026)

History

Class EF81 was a type of dual-voltage electric locomotive of Japanese National Railways. It was developed for the Hokuriku Main Line, which was electrified in two different ways. More locos were delivered to other areas where dual-voltage trains were necessary, such as the Joban, Tohoku Main and Uetsu Main Lines, as well as the San-yo Main Line in Kyushu (the Kanmon Tunnel). The EF81 was based on Class EF65, but there were many differences not least equipment compatible with all types of electrification: DC 1.5 kV, AC 20 kV 50 Hz and that of 60 Hz.

There were several variants, and each of them were slightly different to each other. There were a few locos introduced even after Japanese National Railways was privatised in 1987.

The EF81 locos had been used widely in Honshu and Kyushu islands, both for passenger and freight trains. JNR (and later JRs) used them for various passenger trains, not only Sleeper Limited Express services but also local services in the Tohoku region and on the Hokuriku Main Line. Sleeper Limited Express included Hokutosei and Cassiopeia (Ueno - Sapporo), Twilight Express (Osaka - Sapporo via the Hokuriku Main Line) and Asakaze (Tokyo - Hakata, partly).

Following the privatisation of JNR in 1987, the EF81 locos were allocated to JR East, JR West, JR Kyushu and JR Freight. Three companies providing passenger services mainly used the locos for sleeper trains, though JR East also used them for regional services on the Ou Main Line. Those for stopping services were replaced with electric multiple units, and sleeper trains were mostly discontinued by the 2000s. Those owned by JR Kyushu were scrapped by 2010, while others by JR West were all withdrawn by 2023.

JR Freight was the last company which regularly used the EF81, many of which were used for freight trains between Osaka and Aomori (via the Hokuriku Main Line) and in Kyushu. All EF81 locos were replaced by Class EF510 by 2025.

Photos

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

Japanese National Railways introduced four "variant 300" locos to Kyushu, whose bodies were made of stainless-steel to prevent corrosion while running the Kanmon Tunnel under the sea.

Some EF81s introduced by JR Freight looked very different because of the headlight position.