JGR Class 8900

The JGR Class 8900 was a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive type formerly used in Japan by the Japanese Government Railways (JGR). The locomotives were built by the American Locomotive Company in the USA. They were the first 4-6-2 Pacific types used in Japan. They were numbered 8900-8935.^[1][2] They remained in service until 1957 when they were scrapped. None were preserved.

Thirty-six locomotives were manufactured in two batches (the tenders were manufactured domestically). The first order of 24 locomotives (serial numbers 49805 - 49828) were manufactured by Brooks Works, and the second order of 12 locos (serial numbers 50535 - 50546) were manufactured by Richmond Works. The type was originally planned to be 8600 series, and the first order of 24 locomotives arrived with numbers 8600 - 8623, but due to a change in the wheel arrangement, the numbers were changed to the 8900 series (8900 - 8923). The second order from Richmond was originally completed with numbers 8924 - 8935. Occasionally these engines were used on royal train duties hauling Emperor Taishō.

• Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification
• JNR Class C51
• JNR Class C53
• JNR Class C57

• Free, Dan (7 November 2017). Early Japanese Railways 1853-1914: Engineering Triumphs That Transformed Meiji-era Japan. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 9780804849739.