The South Manchuria Railway operated a wide variety of locomotives and powered railcars, as well as non-powered passenger and freight cars, initially of foreign (primarily American) manufacture, but later almost all equipment was manufactured in Japan and Manchukuo.
Classification system
The Mantetsu main line was originally built by the Russians to 1,524 mm Russian gauge. During the Russo-Japanese War it was rebuilt by the Imperial Japanese Army to 1,067 mm Cape gauge as used in Japan, and rolling stock from Japan was used on the line. Additionally, the Anpo Line from Andong on the Korea-Manchuria border to Fengtian was also initially a narrow-gauge railway built by the army during the Russo-Japanese War. Thus, after the South Manchuria Railway began operation in 1907, it used the narrow-gauge equipment already on these lines, even as work to convert the lines to standard gauge took place.
The vehicle classification system used by Mantetsu was changed several times over its years of operation. These can be divided into four periods: Period 1: 1907 (from start of operation until completion of the regauging of lines) Period 2: 1907–1920 Period 3: 1920–1938 Period 4: 1938–1945
The Manchukuo National Railway also used the Mantetsu classification system, as did the North China Transportation Company. The Chosen Government Railway used a classification system very similar to the Mantetsu system.
Locomotives
Period 1
The numbering system is unclear for Period 1. Some locomotives – the 2-6-4 tank locomotives later designated Dabui-class, the 2-8-0 tender locomotives that became Sorii-class, and the 2-8-0 tender locomotives that became Sorini class – were numbered starting at 1, but there was no system of type classification.
Period 2
The first system of type classification for locomotives consisted of a letter of the Roman alphabet to indicate the wheel arrangement based on the American names used for the given arrangement. If a second class of locomotive of the same wheel arrangement was introduced, this was indicated by a class number, which followed the type indicator letter. This class designator was then followed by the road number, counted starting at 1.
Class Wheel arrangement(Whyte) Wheel arrangement(UIC) American name A 4-4-0 2′B American B 0-6-2T C1′t Branchliner C 0-8-0 D Eight-Coupled D 2-6-2 1′C1′ Prairie E 4-4-42-6-4 2′B2′1′C2′ Double-Ender F 4-6-0 2′C Ten-Wheeler G 4-6-2 2′C1′ Pacific H 2-8-0 1′D Consolidation K 0-4-2 B1′ Crane Locomotive M 2-8-2 1′D1′ Mikado P 2-10-0 1′E Decapod
Period 3
Steam locomotives
As in Period 2, the American-style wheel arrangement was used as the basis for the classification system introduced in 1920. However, in the new system, the American name was used as the basis for the class name, using two syllables of the American name as the new class name. The class name was made up of three katakana, of which the first two indicated the wheel arrangement, and the third indicated the class number – i.e. first, second, third, etc. of a given wheel arrangement. This was followed by a unit serial number in Roman numerals.
The first two katakana indicated the wheel arrangement, derived from the American naming system:
Class Former Class Wheel arrangement(Whyte) Wheel arrangement(UIC) American nameIn katakana シグShigu - 2-2-0 1′A Singleシングル (shinguru) アメAme A 4-4-0 2′B Americanアメリカン (Amerikan) エトEto C 0-8-0 D Eight-Coupledエイトホイールカップルド (Eito hoīru kappurudo) サタSata - 2-10-2 1′E1′ Santa Feサンタフェ (Santafe) シカShika - 0-6-0 C Six-Coupledシックスホイールカップルド (shikkusu hoīru kappurudo） プレPure D 2-6-2 1′C1′ Prairieプレーリー (Purērī) ダブDabu E 4-4-4T2-6-4T 2′B2′t1′C2′t Double-Enderダブルエンダー (Daburu endā) テホTeho F 4-6-0 2′C Ten-Wheelerテンホイーラー (Ten Hoīrā) パシPashi G 4-6-2 2′C1′ Pacificパシフィック (Pashifikku) ソリSori H 2-8-0 1′D Consolidationコンソリデーション (Konsoridēshion) マテMate - 4-8-2 2′D1′ Mountainマウンテン (Maunten) モガMoga - 2-6-0 1′C Mogulモーガル (Mōgaru) ミカMika M 2-8-2 1′D1′ Mikadoミカド (Mikado) デカDeka P 2-10-0 1′E Decapodデカポッド (Dekapoddo) リクRiku - 2-8-4 1′D2′ Berkshireタイリク "Tairiku(大陸)"means the continent in Japanese. (Tairiku)
Other powered rolling stock
Self-moving rolling stock powered by something other than steam used a different system, which indicated the type of powerplant. Railway cranes were also classified like this.
Class Type Source of Name デセDese Diesel-powered ジーゼル, "Diesel" (to 1934) ジキJiki Diesel-powered ジーゼル, "Diesel" (after 1934) ケキKeki Kerosene-powered ケロシン, "Kerosene" デキDeki Electric-powered 電気, Denki, "Electric" レキReki Crane "Recovery"
The third katakana in the class name was the class number, derived from the first syllable of the corresponding Japanese number: 1 – i (イ), from イチ, "ichi" 2 – ni (ニ), from ニ, "ni" 3 – sa (サ), from サン, "san" 4 – shi (シ), from シ, "shi" 5 – ko (コ), from ゴ, "go" 6 – ro (ロ), from ロク, "roku" 7 – na (ナ), from ナナ, "nana" 8 – ha (ハ), from ハチ, "hachi" 9 – ku (ク), from ク, "ku" 10 – chi (チ), from ヂウ, "jyu"
Period 4
When the operation and management of the Manchukuo National Railway and of the North China Transportation Company were transferred to Mantetsu, their rolling stock was incorporated into the Mantetsu classification system.
The naming system of Period 3 remained in use, but a new numbering system was introduced for road numbers. Numbers 1–500 were allocated to Mantetsu, numbers 501–1500 to the Manchukuo National, and numbers above 1501 to North China Transportation. Thus, パシニ37, パシニ508, and パシニ1523 would all be locomotives of the same class, but the number indicates their ownership.
Passenger cars
The type of car was indicated with one or two katakana, followed by a road number of one to four digits which indicated ownership and serial number. Mantetsu 3rd class coaches were numbered in the 1–2000 range, whilst 3rd class coaches of the Manchukuo National were numbered in the 2001–4000 range. Passenger cars of other types belonging to Mantetsu were numbered in the 1–200 range, and those belonging to the Manchukuo National were numbered in the 201–400 range.
Class Type Class Type Class Type イI 1st class キヒKiHi VIP car イアIA "Comfort" (brothel) car ロRo 2nd class トクToKu Special car シヤShiYa Work car ハHa 3rd class エレERe Memorial car ケヒKeHi Guards car シShi Dining car テンTen Observation car ムテMuTe Car without electricity キKi Kitchen car ネTen Sleeping car シケShiKe Test vehicle テTe Baggage car セリSeRi Medical car - - ユYu Mail car キヨKiYo School car - -
Suffixes were used to express certain specific features of a given car type. オ ("O") indicated cars with independent heating, フ ("Fu") indicated that the car had a cabin for a train attendant, and フセ ("FuSe") indicated that the car had a control cabin for a train attendant.
Freight cars
The type of car was indicated with one or two katakana, followed by a road number.
Class Type Class Type Class Type Closed cars Open cars Tank cars ヤYa Boxcar ムMu Gondola ミMi Water tank car ホHo Insulated boxcar ツTsu Sand car アA Oil tank car レRe Refrigerator car タTa Coal car (hopper) ケKe Light oil tank car(Kerosene, diesel) フFu Ventilated boxcar コKo Ore car オO Heavy oil tank car ウU Livestock car チChi Flatcar マMa Bean oil tank car カKa Caboose アシAShi Cinder car ルRu Tar tank car ヒHi Emergency vehicle - - リRi Sulphuric acid tank car エセESe Sanitation car - - ヨYo Nitric acid tank car キケKiKe Inspection car - - ラRa Paraffin tank car コハKoHa Construction Generator car - - - - シクShiKu Camp car - - - - ユキYuKi Camp car - - - -
Railcars
Period 2
The only powered railcars in use during Period 2 were inspection cars. There was no separate classification system for these; instead, they were classified the same way as locomotives, using the type designation "I" (from "Inspection").
Period 3
The first railcars for passenger use appeared during this time. Passenger railcars were classified into two types based on the ignition method of the engine. Passenger railcars and inspection railcars used a different numbering system. Inspection railcars used a katakana type symbol, a class designation number if needed, and a road number. Passenger railcars added a marker to indicate passenger class. Railcars owned by the Manchukuo National Railway were indicated by prefixing 國 ("nation") to the designation.
Class Type スペSupe Steam-powered inspection railcars モタMota Petrol-powered inspection railcars ケKe Kerosene-powered passenger railcars ジJi Diesel-powered passenger railcars
Period 4
The system used in Period 3 was continued, with some modifications. The use of 國 to mark railcars owned by the Manchukuo National was abolished.
Class Type スペSupe Steam-powered inspection railcars スペキSupeki Petrol-powered inspection railcars モタMota Petrol-powered inspection railcars キKi Petrol-powered passenger railcars ケKe Kerosene-powered passenger railcars ジJi Diesel-powered passenger railcars
Locomotives
Through Periods 1 and 2, locomotives imported from the United States dominated, as prior to the construction of the JGR Class 9550 Japan did not have the capability to build large steam locomotives for trunk lines. From about the middle of Period 3, such locomotives built in Japan and at Mantetsu's Shahekou Works began to appear, eventually eliminating imports entirely.
Steam locomotives
Express passenger locomotives
Class(Period 1) Class(Period 2) Class(Period 3) Class(Period 4) Postwar Wheelarr. Builder In service(SMR+MNR) Totalin class Image Notes SMR: G 800–806 SMR: パシイ 800–806 (Pashii)MNR: パシコ 5900–5905 (Pashiko) SMR: パシイ 1MNR: パシイ 501–506 CR SL11 4-6-2 ALCo 1908 7 6 to MNR in 1933 SMR: G1 850–855 SMR: パシニ 850–855 (Pashini) SMR: パシニ 1–6 CR SL2 4-6-2 Shahekou 1916, 1921 6 SMR: G2 900–905 SMR: パシサ 900–905 (Pashisa; to 1933)SMR: パシハ 5920–5925 (Pashiha; 1933–34)MNR: パシナ 5920–5925 (Pashina; 1934–38) MNR: パシシ 501–506 CR SL4 4-6-2 Baldwin 1919 6 All to MNR in 1933 SMR: G3 920–942 SMR: パシシ 920–942 (Pashishi) SMR: パシシ 1–23 CR SL4 4-6-2 Shahekou 1921–1927 23 SMR: パシコ 950–960 (Pashiko) SMR: パシコ 1–11 CR SL5 4-6-2 Shahekou 1927–1928 11 SMR: パシサ 860–875 (Pashisa)MNR: パシシ 5830–5859 SMR: パシサ 1–16MNR: パシサ 501–530NCTC: パシサ 1501–1550 CR SL3KSR 바시서 4-6-2 HitachiKisha Seizō 1934–1940 46 All 16 Mantetsu units to DPRK in 1945 SMR: パシロ 900–919 (Pashiro)MNR: パシ 800–818 (Pashi; to 9/33)MNR: パシク 5950–5999 (Pashiku)MNR: パシク 15900–15927 SMR: パシロ 1–45MNR: パシロ 501–632NCTC: パシロ 1501–1512NCTC: パシロ 1533–1589 CR SL6 4-6-2 Hitachi, KawasakiShahekou,Kisha SeizōNippon Sharyō 1933–1944 77 566–569 & 571–578 to NCTC,replaced 1938 same nums SMR: パシナ 970–981 (Pashina) パシナ 1–12 CR SL7 4-6-2 Shahekou, Kawasaki 1934–1936 12 SMR: パシハ 811–816 (Pashiha) SMR: パシハ 1–16MNR: パシハ 501 CR SL8 4-6-2 Hitachi, Shahekou 1937, 1940 17
Ordinary passenger locomotives
Class(Period 1) Class(Period 2) Class(Period 3) Class(Period 4) Postwar Wheelarr. Builder In service(SMR+MNR) Totalin class Image Notes SMR: 50−53 SMR: A 50–53 SMR: アメ 50–53 (Ame) SMR: アメイ 1–4 CR AM1 4-4-0 ALCo 1907 4 SMR: 100–101 SMR: F 600–601 (to 1918) MNR: テホニ 5621–5622 (Tehoni) MNR: テホニ 501–502 CR TH10 4-6-0 ALCo 1906 4 to Jichang Jidun Railway in 1918;to MNR 1933 SMR: F1 602–619 SMR: テホイ 602–619 (Tehoi)MNR: テホサ 5650–5651 (Tehosa; from SMR 1933) SMR: テホイ 1–15MNR: テホイ 501–502 CR TH1 4-6-0 ALCo 1908 17 SMR: F1 620–624 SMR: テホニ 620–624 (Tehoni) SMR: テホイ 16–20 CR TH1 4-6-0 ALCo 1912 5 SMR: F2 700–704 SMR: テホサ 700–704 (Tehosa; to 1931)MNR: テホコ 5700–5704 (Tehoko; from 1933) MNR: テホサ501–505 CR ? 4-6-0 Beyer, Peacock & Company 1931 5 SMR: ダブサ 500–501 (Dabusa) SMR: ダブサ 1–2 CR LD1 4-4-4T Kawasaki 1936 2
Express freight locomotives
Class(Period 1) Class(Period 2) Class(Period 3) Class(Period 4) Postwar Wheelarr. Builder In service(SMR+MNR) Totalin class Image Notes SMR: マテイ 1800–1806 (Matei) SMR マテイ 1–7 CR MT1 4-8-2 Kawasaki, Hitachi 1936 7 SMR: ミカニ 1600–1640 (Mikani) SMR: ミカニ 1–41 CR JF2 2-8-2 ALCo, Shahekou,Kawasaki, Kisha Seizō 1924–1932 41 SMR: ミカシ 1650–1664 (Mikashi) SMR: ミカシ 1–15 CR JF4 2-8-2 Kawasaki (1–11),Kisha Seizō (12–15) 1935 15