JNR Class E10

The Class E10 (E10形) was a class of 2-10-4T steam locomotives built for the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) in 1948 and designed by Hideo Shima. They were numbered E10 1-E10 5. Following the end of World War II the JGR was prohibited by GHQ from building new locomotives due to financial difficulties. However, an exception was granted for the E10s to replace the ageing JNR Class 4110 locomotives because it was not possible to substitute existing locomotives on the steep gradients of the Ōu Main Line where they were used. The E10 boiler was a unique design based on the JNR Class D52 with the fire grate area reduced by 0.55 m2 (5.9 ft2). Five locomotives were built by Kisha Seizo in 1948. They were the last steam locomotives built for Japanese National Railways. The last examples were withdrawn in 1962.