Class DE15

Class DE15
JR Hokkaido DE15 1535 in February 2010
Type and origin Power type Diesel-hydraulic Builder Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo Build date 1967–1981 Total produced 85
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC C-B Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Length 14,150 mm (46 ft 5 in) (locomotive only) 22,505 mm (73 ft 10.0 in) (with snowplough units) 27,760 mm (91 ft 1 in) (DE15-2500 with snowplough units) Width 2,998 mm (9 ft 10.0 in) Height 3,970 mm (13 ft 0 in) Loco weight 65 t Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 2,500 l Engine type DML61ZB Transmission Hydraulic Train heating Steam heating boiler
Performance figures Maximum speed 85 km/h (55 mph) Power output 1,250 hp (930 kW) (DE15-0) 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) (DE15-1000 onward) Tractive effort 19,500 kgf (191,000 N; 43,000 lbf)
Career Operators ■ JNR (1967-1987) ■ JR Hokkaido (1987-) ■ JR East (1987-) ■ JR West (1987-) Number in class 25 (as of 1 April 2016[update]) Disposition In service

The Class DE15 (DE15形) is a five-axle C-B wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotive type operated in Japan as a self-propelled snowplough unit since 1967 by the national railway company Japanese National Railways (JNR), and later by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), East Japan Railway Company (JR East), and West Japan Railway Company (JR West). A total of 85 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1981, and as of 1 April 2016^[update], 25 locomotives remain in service.

A total of 85 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1981, divided into the following sub-classes.

The Class DE15 was developed from the Class DE10 locomotive design, with the addition of separate two-axle snowplough units at either end. The snowplough units could be attached and detached relatively easily, allowing the locomotives to be used for shunting and other duties outside the winter periods, unlike the snowplough units on the earlier Class DD15 locomotives, which were mounted directly onto the locomotives and required a crane to be attached and detached.

Six Class DE15-0 locomotives were built between 1967 and 1969 by Kisha and Nippon Sharyo. The locomotives were based on the Class DE10-0 design and were equipped with a 1,250 hp (930 kW) engine and train-heating steam generator. Locomotive DE15 3 had a snowplough unit designed for clearing single-track lines, while the other five locomotives were designed for clearing double-track lines. Initially, the locomotives operated with only one snowplough unit, but locomotives DE15 1 to 3 and 6 were subsequently modified with snowplough units at both ends. DE15 3 was renumbered DE15 2053.

As of 1 April 2016^[update], no Class DE15-0 locomotives remain in service.