China Railways JF18

China Railways JF18 (解放18)
Manchukuo National Mikana class (ミカナ)
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderALCo
Build date1914
Specifications
Configuration:
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 • Whyte2-8-2
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Driver dia.1,270 mm (4 ft 2 in)
Length20,406 mm (66 ft 11.4 in)
Career
OperatorsManchukuo National Railway
China Railway
ClassMNR: ミカイ (1933−1938)
MNR: ミカナ (1938−1945)
CR: ㄇㄎ18 (1951−1959)
CR: 解放18 (1959–end)
NumbersMNR: ミカナ523−ミカナ5xx

The China Railways JF18 (解放18, Jiěfàng, "liberation") class steam locomotive was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives operated by the China Railway, built by the American Locomotive Company in the United States in 1914.[citation needed]

The original owner of these locomotives is unknown. After the Japanese established the puppet state of Manchukuo, the privately owned railways in the territory of Manchukuo were nationalised to create the Manchukuo National Railway, which designated these the Mikai (ミカイ) class,[citation needed] becoming Mikana (ミカナ) class after the classification reform of 1938.

After the end of the Pacific War, these locomotives were passed on to the Republic of China Railway. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, China Railways designated them ㄇㄎ18 (MK18) class in 1951. They were subsequently redesignated 解放18 (JF18) class in 1959, and were retired in 1975.[citation needed]

References