JNR Class D51

The Class D51 (D51形) is a type of 2-8-2 steam locomotive built by the Japanese Government Railways (JGR), the Japanese National Railways (JNR), and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company, Kisha Seizo, Hitachi, Nippon Sharyo, Mitsubishi, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries from 1936 to 1945 and 1950 to 1951. 174 units are in preservation in Japan, including five operational examples. A further 13 are preserved in Russia and Taiwan, bringing the total number of preserved units to 187.

Design and operation
The design of class D51 was based on the earlier D50, introduced in 1923. Wartime production featured some substitution of wood for steel parts like running boards, smoke deflectors and tender coal bunkers. A total of 1,115 D51s were built, the largest number in any single class of locomotive in Japan. Early D51s were nicknamed Namekuji-gata ("slug-form") for their shape. The locomotive was designed by Hideo Shima. It was used mainly in freight service through the 1960s. Some D51s were fitted with the Giesl ejector in Hokkaido to conserve on fuel.

Soviet Railways D51
The 30 specially built D51s that were left on Sakhalin (formerly Karafuto) by the retreating Japanese at the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) and after the Soviet-Japanese War (1945), were used from 1945 until 1979 by Soviet Railways. One was left outside Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk railway station, and one is in running condition and is kept at the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk railway station. Additionally two wrecks were left to the north of the city.

Korean National Railways Mika7
Two locomotives were built for the Korean National Railroad in 1950 by Mitsubishi for South Korea during the Korean War. Designated Mika7 (미카7) class, they were nearly identical to JNR class D51 except for the gauge.

Manila Railroad 300 class (1951)
According to the a journal published in 1956, ten locomotives were built by Nippon Sharyo for the Manila Railroad Company. These entered service in 1951. Numbered the 300 class, they were named after the cog locomotive class built in the 1910s for the Manila Railway. These locomotives differed from the rest of the D51 builds through the lack of smoke deflectors.

The locomotives had a short service life in the Philippines as Manila Railroad ordered the dieselization of its entire network, having all steam locomotives retired by 1956.

Taiwan Railways Administration DT650
From 1936 to 1944, Kawasaki, Kisha Seizō and Hitachi had built 32 D51s for Imperial Taiwan Railway. After World War II, they were taken over by Taiwan Railways Administration, and were classified DT650. In 1951, Kisha Seizō built three DT650s and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries built two DT650s for Taiwan Railways Administration.

Classification
The classification consists of a "D" for the four sets of driving wheels and the class number 51 for tender locomotives that the numbers 50 through 99 were assigned to under the 1928 locomotive classification rule.

Preserved examples
Over 173 Class D51 locomotives are preserved in Japan. D51 498 was restored by JR East and pulls special-event trains on JR East lines.

The following is a list of preserved locomotives as of July 2023.

Operational

 * D51 146: Operated on the Mooka Railway, runs on compressed air. (Semi-operational)
 * D51 200: Preserved in operational condition by JR West at the Kyoto Railway Museum, and was operating on Yamaguchi Line from November 2017 to May 2022, when a crack in one of its bogies was discovered. Restoration work and trial runs are continuing at the Railway Museum.
 * D51 320: Operated at a railway museum in Abira, Hokkaido on compressed air. (Semi-operational)
 * D51 498: Operated by JR East, based at Takasaki Rolling Stock Center
 * D51 827: Operated at Aridagawa Railway Park in Wakayama Prefecture, runs on compressed air.

Built in 1938 at the JNR Hamamatsu Works, locomotive number D51 200 has been overhauled and restored to operational condition for use as SL Yamaguchi and SL Kitabiwako starting in 2017.

Static preservation

 * D51 1: Preserved at Kyoto Railway Museum
 * D51 2: Previously preserved at the Modern Transportation Museum in Osaka, and moved to the Tsuyama Roundhouse next to Tsuyama Station in Okayama Prefecture in March 2015
 * D51 6: Preserved in a park in Asahikawa, Hokkaido
 * D51 8: Preserved in a park in Amagasaki, Hyogo
 * D51 10: Preserved at a community centre in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
 * D51 11: Preserved in a park in Sapporo, Hokkaido
 * D51 14: Preserved in a park in Nagareyama, Chiba
 * D51 18: Preserved in Tokiwa park, Ube, Yamaguchi
 * D51 25: Preserved in a park in Sanda, Hyogo
 * D51 47: Preserved in a park in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido
 * D51 59: Preserved in a park in Tatsuno, Nagano
 * D51 66: Preserved at Kawanishi Elementary School in Seika, Kyoto
 * D51 68: Preserved at Koiwai Farm in Shizukuishi, Iwate
 * D51 70: Preserved at Sakura Transport Park in Tsukuba, Ibaraki
 * D51 75: Preserved in a park in Joetsu, Niigata
 * D51 86: Preserved at "Flower Park" in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
 * D51 89: Preserved in a park in Toyohashi, Aichi
 * D51 95: Preserved at Shintoku Ski Slope in Shintoku, Hokkaido
 * D51 96: Preserved at Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park in Annaka, Gunma
 * D51 101: Preserved in Chuo Park in Shimada, Shizuoka
 * D51 103: Preserved in a park in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi
 * D51 113: Preserved in Chuo Park in Misawa, Aomori
 * D51 118: Preserved in Kotesashi Park in Tokorozawa, Saitama
 * D51 125: Preserved next to the Funabashi Historical Museum in Funabashi, Chiba
 * D51 140: Preserved in Arakawa Park in Kumagaya, Saitama
 * D51 155: Preserved outside Shiojiri City Office in Shiojiri, Nagano
 * D51 158: Preserved outside a community centre in Ibaraki, Osaka
 * D51 159: Preserved in a park in Iwanai, Hokkaido
 * D51 165: Preserved in a park in Nanto, Toyama
 * D51 170: Preserved in front of Yatake Station in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto
 * D51 172: Preserved in a park in Matsumoto, Nagano
 * D51 176: Preserved in a park in Hita, Oita
 * D51 187: Preserved in front of JR East's Omiya Workshops, Saitama, Saitama
 * D51 194: Preserved in front of Tsuwano Station in Tsuwano, Shimane
 * D51 195: Preserved in a park in Yonago, Tottori
 * D51 201: Preserved outside Gamagori Museum in Gamagori, Aichi
 * D51 206: Preserved in a park next to Saga City Office in Saga, Saga (numberplates have been changed)
 * D51 209: Preserved in a park in Ina, Nagano
 * D51 211: Preserved at Oji Zoo in Kobe, Hyogo
 * D51 222: Preserved in Yogi Park, Naha, Okinawa
 * D51 231: Preserved outside the National Museum of Nature and Science in Taito, Tokyo
 * D51 232: Preserved at Omoriyama Zoo in Akita, Akita
 * D51 237: Preserved at Naebo Works in Sapporo, Hokkaido
 * D51 238: Preserved at a community centre in Kiso, Nagano
 * D51 243: Preserved in Izu, Shizuoka
 * D51 244: Preserved at a children's museum in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
 * D51 245: Preserved at a community centre in Sakaki, Nagano
 * D51 254: Preserved in Suginami Jidō Kōtsū Park in Suginami, Tokyo
 * D51 260: Preserved in a park in Namerikawa, Toyama
 * D51 264: Preserved in a park in Koriyama, Fukushima
 * D51 266: Preserved in a park in Nakatsugawa, Gifu
 * D51 270: Preserved in Yokote Park in Yokote, Akita
 * D51 272: Preserved in Setagaya Park in Setagaya, Tokyo
 * D51 286: Preserved in Otaru, Hokkaido
 * D51 296: Preserved in Fuchū Transport Park in Fuchū, Tokyo
 * D51 297: Preserved in Takikawa, Hokkaido
 * D51 300: Preserved in a park in Sanyo-Onoda, Yamaguchi
 * D51 303: Preserved in a park in Tottori, Tottori
 * D51 311: Preserved in SL Park in Kitami, Hokkaido
 * D51 312: Preserved in Sakurayama Park in Fukagawa, Hokkaido
 * D51 333: Preserved in Shiraoi, Hokkaido
 * D51 337: Preserved in Wassamu, Hokkaido
 * D51 345: Preserved in Taishiyama Park in Taishi, Hyogo
 * D51 349: Preserved in Okaya, Nagano
 * D51 351: Preserved in SL Park in Nagiso, Nagano
 * D51 370: Preserved in a park in Akita, Akita
 * D51 385: Preserved in a park in Kamagaya, Chiba
 * D51 395: Preserved at Tokuyama Zoo in Shunan, Yamaguchi
 * D51 397: Preserved in a park in Shibetsu, Hokkaido
 * D51 398: Preserved in Nayoro Park in Nayoro, Hokkaido
 * D51 401: Preserved at Suzaka Zoo in Suzaka, Nagano
 * D51 402: Preserved at a community centre in Iida, Nagano
 * D51 403: Preserved in a park in Ritto, Shiga
 * D51 405: Preserved in a park in Matsudo, Chiba
 * D51 408: Preserved at a museum in Kawasaki, Kanagawa
 * D51 409: Preserved at Yamazaki Mazak Corporation Minokamo Factory in Minokamo, Gifu
 * D51 422: Preserved in a park in Onomichi, Hiroshima
 * D51 426: (Front end only) Preserved at JR East Railway Museum, Saitama, Saitama (Cab section is used as a driving simulator)
 * D51 428: Preserved in Higashi-Chofu Park in Ota, Tokyo
 * D51 444: Preserved at the SL Hiroba in Kitami, Hokkaido
 * D51 451: Preserved in Showa Park in Akishima, Tokyo
 * D51 452: Preserved at Ome Railway Park in Ōme, Tokyo
 * D51 453: Preserved in Nishiguchi No. 1 Park in Kashiwa, Chiba
 * D51 469: Preserved in a park in Takaishi, Osaka
 * D51 470: Preserved in Bairin Park in Gifu, Gifu
 * D51 481: Preserved in Minamiechizen, Fukui
 * D51 483: Preserved in Azumino, Nagano
 * D51 485: Preserved in a park in Nobeoka, Miyazaki
 * D51 486: Preserved at JR East's Nagano Depot in Nagano, Nagano
 * D51 488: Preserved at the Wako Museum in Yasugi, Shimane
 * D51 499: Preserved in a park in Tsu, Mie
 * D51 502: Preserved in Kamichiba Sunahara Park in Katsushika, Tokyo
 * D51 512: Preserved in a park in Shibata, Niigata
 * D51 513: Preserved in a park in Itabashi, Tokyo
 * D51 515: Preserved in a park in Mito, Ibaraki
 * D51 516: Preserved in Honmoku Shimin Park in Yokohama, Kanagawa
 * D51 522: Preserved in a park in Kanazawa, Ishikawa
 * D51 541: Preserved in a park in Hyuga, Miyazaki
 * D51 542: Preserved inside JR Kyushu's Okura Works in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka (sectioned)
 * D51 549: Preserved outside an elementary school in Nagano, Nagano
 * D51 560: Preserved in Muroran, Hokkaido
 * D51 561: Preserved in Kawaba, Gunma (operated at a ski resort hotel using compressed air until 2016)
 * D51 565: Preserved in a park in Saroma, Hokkaido
 * D51 566: Preserved in Akabira, Hokkaido (not on public display)
 * D51 592: Preserved in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi
 * D51 603: Preserved in the "19th Century Hall" at Torokko Saga Station in Kyoto (Front section only)
 * D51 607: Preserved in a park in Fukui, Fukui
 * D51 609: Preserved in a park in Narita, Chiba
 * D51 663: Preserved at a culture centre in Towada, Aomori
 * D51 688: Preserved in Minami Park in Okazaki, Aichi
 * D51 691: Preserved in a park in Tenri, Nara
 * D51 714: Preserved in a park in Kagoshima, Kagoshima
 * D51 718: Preserved in a park in Ichinomiya, Aichi
 * D51 720: Preserved in a park in Hiroshima, Hiroshima
 * D51 724: Preserved in Ekimae Park in Shibukawa, Gunma
 * D51 735: Preserved in Murakami, Niigata
 * D51 737: Preserved in Nagi Park in Yuasa, Wakayama
 * D51 745: Preserved in front of Minakami Station in Minakami, Gunma
 * D51 762: Preserved in a park in Hachinohe, Aomori
 * D51 764: Preserved in Suita, Osaka
 * D51 768: Preserved in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
 * D51 769: Preserved outside a museum in Omi, Nagano
 * D51 774: Preserved outside the former Taisha Station in Izumo, Shimane
 * D51 775: Preserved in front of Kiso-Fukushima Station in Kiso, Nagano
 * D51 777: Preserved in a park in Kariya, Aichi
 * D51 787: Preserved in Miyota, Nagano
 * D51 792: Preserved in a park in Kasugai, Aichi
 * D51 793: Preserved at Nagahama Railway Square in Nagahama, Shiga
 * D51 813: Preserved outside a community centre in Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi
 * D51 822: Preserved in front of Mattō Station in Hakusan, Ishikawa
 * D51 823: Preserved in a park in Inazawa, Aichi
 * D51 824: Preserved in Suwa, Nagano
 * D51 828: Preserved in Heiwa Kannon Temple in Awaji, Hyogo (closed and not open to the public)
 * D51 831: Preserved in a park in Iga, Mie
 * D51 837: Preserved in a park in Komagane, Nagano
 * D51 838: Preserved in a car park in Niimi, Okayama
 * D51 842: Preserved in a park in Kurashiki, Okayama
 * D51 849: Preserved in a park in Toyota, Aichi
 * D51 853: Preserved in Asukayama Park in Kita, Tokyo
 * D51 859: Preserved in a park in Engaru, Hokkaido
 * D51 860: Preserved in a park in Fukuyama, Hiroshima
 * D51 862: Preserved in Machida, Tokyo
 * D51 882: Preserved in Ibaraki, Osaka
 * D51 885: Preserved in Fukaya, Saitama
 * D51 889: Preserved in a park in Sōja, Okayama
 * D51 892: Preserved in a park in Hirosaki, Aomori
 * D51 895: Preserved in a park in Oji, Nara
 * D51 916: Preserved in a park in Maebashi, Gunma
 * D51 917: Preserved in a park in Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama
 * D51 921: Preserved outside Shinonoi Community Centre in Nagano, Nagano
 * D51 923: Preserved in Kurume, Fukuoka
 * D51 930: Preserved in a park in Iwade, Wakayama
 * D51 943: Preserved in a park in Fuji, Shizuoka
 * D51 946: Preserved at the Coal and Fossils Museum in Iwaki, Fukushima
 * D51 947: Preserved in Hakone, Kanagawa
 * D51 953: Preserved outside Chuo Community Centre in Toyoura, Hokkaido
 * D51 954: Preserved outside a community centre in Furano, Hokkaido
 * D51 1001: Preserved in front of the Koshoku Gymnasium in Chikuma, Nagano
 * D51 1032: Preserved in a park in Yufu, Ōita
 * D51 1052: Preserved in Kirin Beer Park Chitose in Chitose, Hokkaido
 * D51 1072: Preserved in front of Kobe Station in Kobe, Hyogo
 * D51 1085: Preserved in Aridagawa Railway Park in Aridagawa, Wakayama
 * D51 1101: Preserved at Mikasa Park in Yokosuka, Kanagawa
 * D51 1108: Preserved at Sendai Shinkansen Depot in Rifu, Miyagi
 * D51 1116: Preserved at The Hirosawa City, Chikusei, Ibaraki
 * D51 1119: Preserved in a park in Atsugi, Kanagawa
 * D51 1142: Preserved in a park in Sasebo, Nagasaki
 * D51 1149: Preserved in Taga SL Park in Taga, Shiga

Russian Class D51

 * D51-1: Niigata Prefecture
 * D51-2: Hokkaido
 * D51-4: Sakhalin (working order, after re-gauging of the Sakhalin Railways to the Russian gauge stay in railway museum in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk station )
 * D51-22: Sakhalin (Plinthed outside Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk railway station)
 * D51-23: Hokkaido
 * D51-25: Hokkaido
 * D51-26: Hokkaido
 * D51-27: Hokkaido

Taiwan Railways Administration DT650

 * DT652: Preserved at Tainan Sports Park.
 * DT654: Preserved at East Stone Township, Chiayi County. (The current number is DT651)
 * DT668: Preserved in operational condition at Changhua Locomotive Depot.
 * DT670: Preserved at Art and Literature Center, Banqiao District, New Taipei City. (The current number is DT675)