Rolling stock of the South Manchuria Railway


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 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:
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.
ClassWheel arrangement
Wheel arrangement
American name
A4-4-02′BAmerican
B0-6-2TC1′tBranchliner
C0-8-0DEight-Coupled
D2-6-21′C1′Prairie
E4-4-4
2-6-4
2′B2′
1′C2′
Double-Ender
F4-6-02′CTen-Wheeler
G4-6-22′C1′Pacific
H2-8-01′DConsolidation
K0-4-2B1′Crane Locomotive
M2-8-21′D1′Mikado
P2-10-01′EDecapod

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:
ClassFormer ClassWheel arrangement
Wheel arrangement
American name
シグ
Shigu
-2-2-01′ASingle
アメ
Ame
A4-4-02′BAmerican
エト
Eto
C0-8-0DEight-Coupled
サタ
Sata
-2-10-21′E1′Santa Fe
シカ
Shika
-0-6-0CSix-Coupled
プレ
Pure
D2-6-21′C1′Prairie
ダブ
Dabu
E4-4-4T
2-6-4T
2′B2′t
1′C2′t
Double-Ender
テホ
Teho
F4-6-02′CTen-Wheeler
パシ
Pashi
G4-6-22′C1′Pacific
ソリ
Sori
H2-8-01′DConsolidation
マテ
Mate
-4-8-22′D1′Mountain
モガ
Moga
-2-6-01′CMogul
ミカ
Mika
M2-8-21′D1′Mikado
デカ
Deka
P2-10-01′EDecapod
リク
Riku
-2-8-41′D2′Berkshire
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.
ClassTypeSource of Name
デセ
Dese
Diesel-poweredジーゼル, "Diesel"
ジキ
Jiki
Diesel-poweredジーゼル, "Diesel"
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:
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.
ClassTypeClassTypeClassType

I
1st classキヒ
KiHi
VIP carイア
IA
"Comfort" car

Ro
2nd classトク
ToKu
Special carシヤ
ShiYa
Work car

Ha
3rd classエレ
ERe
Memorial carケヒ
KeHi
Guards car

Shi
Dining carテン
Ten
Observation carムテ
MuTe
Car without electricity

Ki
Kitchen car
Ten
Sleeping carシケ
ShiKe
Test vehicle

Te
Baggage carセリ
SeRi
Medical car--

Yu
Mail carキヨ
KiYo
School car--

Suffixes were used to express certain specific features of a given car type. オ indicated cars with independent heating, フ indicated that the car had a cabin for a train attendant, and フセ 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.

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".

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 to the designation.
ClassType
スペ
Supe
Steam-powered inspection railcars
モタ
Mota
Petrol-powered inspection railcars

Ke
Kerosene-powered passenger railcars

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.
ClassType
スペ
Supe
Steam-powered inspection railcars
スペキ
Supeki
Petrol-powered inspection railcars
モタ
Mota
Petrol-powered inspection railcars

Ki
Petrol-powered passenger railcars

Ke
Kerosene-powered passenger railcars

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 :ja:国鉄9550形蒸気機関車|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
Class
Class
Class
PostwarWheel
arr.
BuilderIn service
Total
in class
ImageNotes
SMR: G 800–806SMR: パシイ 800–806
MNR: パシコ 5900–5905
SMR: パシイ 1
MNR: パシイ 501–506
CR SL114-6-2ALCo190876 to MNR in 1933
SMR: G1 850–855SMR: パシニ 850–855 SMR: パシニ 1–6CR SL24-6-2Shahekou1916, 19216
SMR: G2 900–905SMR: パシサ 900–905
SMR: パシハ 5920–5925
MNR: パシナ 5920–5925
MNR: パシシ 501–506CR SL44-6-2Baldwin19196All to MNR in 1933
SMR: G3 920–942SMR: パシシ 920–942 SMR: パシシ 1–23CR SL44-6-2Shahekou1921–192723
SMR: パシコ 950–960 SMR: パシコ 1–11CR SL54-6-2Shahekou1927–192811
SMR: パシサ 860–875
MNR: パシシ 5830–5859
SMR: パシサ 1–16
MNR: パシサ 501–530
NCTC: パシサ 1501–1550
CR SL3
KSR 바시서
4-6-2Hitachi
Kisha Seizō
1934–194046All 16 Mantetsu units to DPRK in 1945
SMR: パシロ 900–919
MNR: パシ 800–818
MNR: パシク 5950–5999
MNR: パシク 15900–15927
SMR: パシロ 1–45
MNR: パシロ 501–632
NCTC: パシロ 1501–1512
NCTC: パシロ 1533–1589
CR SL64-6-2Hitachi, Kawasaki
Shahekou,
Kisha Seizō
Nippon Sharyō
1933–194477566–569 & 571–578 to NCTC,
replaced 1938 same nums
SMR: パシナ 970–981 パシナ 1–12CR SL74-6-2Shahekou, Kawasaki1934–193612
SMR: パシハ 811–816 SMR: パシハ 1–16
MNR: パシハ 501
CR SL84-6-2Hitachi, Shahekou1937, 194017

Ordinary passenger locomotives

Class
Class
Class
Class
PostwarWheel
arr.
BuilderIn service
Total
in class
ImageNotes
SMR: 50−53SMR: A 50–53SMR: アメ 50–53 SMR: アメイ 1–4CR AM14-4-0ALCo19064
SMR: 100–101SMR: F 600–601 MNR: テホニ 5621–5622 MNR: テホニ 501–502CR TH104-6-0ALCo19064to Jichang Ry in 1918;
to MNR 1933
SMR: F1 602–619SMR: テホイ 602–619
MNR: テホサ 5650–5651
SMR: テホイ 1–15
MNR: テホイ 501–502
CR TH14-6-0ALCo190817
SMR: F1 620–624SMR: テホニ 620–624 SMR: テホイ 16–20CR TH14-6-0ALCo19125
SMR: F2 700–704SMR: テホサ 700–704
MNR: テホコ 5700–5704
MNR: テホサ501–505CR ?4-6-0Beyer, Peacock19315
SMR: ダブサ 500–501 SMR: ダブサ 1–2CR LD14-4-4TKawasaki19362

Express freight locomotives

Class
Class
Class
Class
PostwarWheel
arr.
BuilderIn service
Total
in class
ImageNotes
SMR: マテイ 1800–1806 SMR マテイ 1–7CR MT14-8-2Kawasaki, Hitachi19367
SMR: ミカニ 1600–1640 SMR: ミカニ 1–41CR JF22-8-2ALCo, Shahekou,
Kawasaki, Kisha Seizō
1924–193241
SMR: ミカシ 1650–1664 SMR: ミカシ 1–15CR JF42-8-2Kawasaki,
Kisha Seizō
193515

General freight locomotives

Class
Class
Class
Class
PostwarWheel
arr.
BuilderIn service
Total
in class
ImageNotes
SMR: ?SMR: B6 various------0-6-2Tvarious1871905
1067 mm gauge.
12 to Taiwan Government Railway, rest returned to Japan in 1908.
SMR: 1–2SMR: H 1000–1001 MNR: ソリシ 6050–6051 2-8-0ALCo19062to Jichang Ry. in 1918
SMR: 3–7SMR: H1 1002–1047SMR: ソリイ 1002–1047
MNR: ソリナ 6200–6214
SMR: ソリイ 1–26
MNR: ソリイ 501–515
CR KD12-8-0ALCo1907–19084115 to MNR in 1933
SMR: H2 1048–1067SMR: ソリニ 1048–1067 SMR: ソリニ 1–20CR KD112-8-0Baldwin190720
SMR: H3 1068–1107SMR: ソリサ 1068–1107
MNR: ソリク
SMR: ソリサ 1–7
MNR: ソリサ 501–533
CR KD32-8-0Beyer, Peacock1910–19114013 to MNR in 1933,
20 to MNR in 1935
SMR: H4 1200–1212
MNR: ソリチ 6280–6292
MNR: ソリサ 534–546CR KD32-8-0Shahekou1914–192013to MNR in 1933
SMR: ソリサ 8–22
MNR: ソリサ 547–561
CR KD102-8-0Baldwin,
Altoona Works
1905–190730From PRR in 1938
SMR: M 1500–1524SMR: ミカイ 1500–1569
MNR: ミカ 1500–1533
MNR: ミカナ 6700–6773
SMR: ミカイ 1–70
MNR: ミカイ 501–574
CR JF12-8-0ALCo, Shahekou,
Kisha Seizō,
Kawasaki, Hitachi,
Nippon Sharyō
1918–1935144
SMR: ミカサ 1400–1442
MNR: ミカロ 6600–6647
SMR: ミカロ 1–43
MNR: ミカロ 501–548
CR JF62-8-2Kawasaki, Kisha Seizō,
Hitachi, Nippon Sharyō
193491
SMR: ミカコ 1570–1587
MNR: ミカナ 6774–6899
MNR: ミカナ 16700–16717
MNR: ミカナ 16737–16738
SMR: ミカイ 71–341
MNR: ミカイ 575–1283
NCTC: ミカイ1501–1769
CR JF12-8-2Shahekou, Kisha Seizō,
Kawasaki, Hitachi
1935–194598020 from MNR to
NCTC in 1938
SMR: ミカロ 1480–1499
SMR: ミカロ 11400–11401
MNR: ミカロ 6648–6699
MNR: ミカロ 16600–16638
SMR: ミカロ 44–101
MNR: ミカロ 549–639
MNR: ミカロ 645–724
NCTC: ミカロ 1501–1620
CR JF62-8-2Kawasaki, Kisha Seizō,
Hitachi, Shahekou,
Nippon Sharyō, Dalian
1935−1944228MNR 640–644 to NCTC
SMR: P 1700–1761SMR: デカ 1700–1761
MNR: デカ 6900–6914
SMR: デカイ 1–47
MNR: デカイ 501–515
CR DK12-10-0ALCo, Shahekou19196215 to MNR in 1935

Shunting locomotives

Class
Class
Class
Class
PostwarWheel
arr.
BuilderIn service
Total
in class
ImageNotes
SMR: C 300-311SMR: エト xxx SMR: エトイ xxx CR ET60-8-0BLW191912
SMR: D 200-234SMR: プレ xxx
MNR: プレシ –
SMR: プレイ 1–?
MNR: プレイ 501–503
CR PL12-6-2ALCo1908353 to MNR 1933
SMR: プレニ 1–20 CR PL22-6-2Nippon Sharyō193520
SMR: プレサ 1–18? CR PL32-6-2TGyeongseong?>18from Sentetsu after 1938
SMR: 1-33SMR: E 400-468SMR: ダブ 4xx
MNR: ダブコ xxx
SMR: ダブイ 1–?
MNR: ダブイ 501–549
CR DB12-6-4TALCo19076915 to Army 1931–33
40 to MNR 1933
SMR: ダブニ xxx CR DB22-6-4T?1934?

Miscellaneous

Class
Class
Class
Class
PostwarBuilderIn serviceTotal
in class
ImageNotes
SMR: ジキイ 7000ジキイ1?Kisha Seizō19311First diesel locomotive in China.
SMR: K xxxSMR: クレ xxx SMR: クレイ xxx to CRBorsig1909?Railway cranes for shop and emergency use
SMR: クレ xxx SMR: クレ xxx ?Kisha Seizō1931180-ton railway crane; proved too large for efficient use.
SMR: クレ xxx SMR: クレ xxx ?Kisha Seizō1933?45-ton railway cranes
MNR: ミカク 501 -Dalian19411Experimental water-recycler for long-distance operation. In testing ran
without taking on water
SMR: リクイ ---02-8-4 derivative of Mikai class, incomplete
SMR: リクニ ---02-8-4 derivative of Mikaro class, incomplete
SMR: シカ xxx SMR: シカイ xxx ?Rogers1898?ex Jinghan Ry; used at Shahekou Works, not for revenue service

Powered railcars

Inspection railcars

Class
Class
Class
Class
PostwarBuilderIn serviceTotal
in class
Notes
SMR: I xxxSMR: スペ xxx SMR: スペ1 1–2 -Baldwin19072Steam railcars. Passenger compartment converted to office space for inspection crew.
SMR: モタ 1–2 SMR: モタ2 1–2 ??1910–191122-axle petrol-powered railcars made in the UK for track maintenance.
SMR: モタ1 1 SMR: スペキ1 1 ?Shahekou19311All-steel railcar with two Mack petrol engines and electric transmission.

Passenger railcars

Due to the inefficiencies of mixed trains for passenger services due to the long station stops needed for the shunting of freight cars to their destinations, Mantetsu opted to begin using passenger railcars on routes with lower passenger demand, for school shuttles, and the like. These railcars were somewhat different in character from those found in Japan, where they were introduced primarily as a competitive measure against the arrival of busses.
As a result of experimentation with different technologies and fuel types, there were a comparatively large number of classes of railcar operated over a relatively short period of time. Eventually, Mantetsu settled on railcars with petrol engines and mechanical transmission, and such railcars became the most numerous. Aside from a number built by the Shahekou Works, these railcars were for the most part built by Nippon Sharyō in Japan.
Although most were introduced in Period 3, due to the overlap in the Mantetsu and Manchurian National classifications of railcars, the list below is presented in the order of the unified classification scheme of 1938.

Petrol railcars

Class
Class
PostwarBuilderIn serviceTotal
in class
CapacityWeightEngineTransmissionNotes
SMR: ケハ1 1 --?19301??Petrol?2-axle 3rd class railcar.
Retired by 1938.
SMR: ケハ2 10–14 MNR: キハ1 201–205 ?Nippon Sharyō193055015.32tWaukesha 6SRL
petrol
mechTo MNR in 1935–36.
SMR: ケハ3 101–112 SMR: キハ2 101–112 ?Nippon Sharyō19301211022.6tWaukesha 6RB
petrol
mech3rd class railcars.
MNR: 國ケハ3 72–73 MNR: キハ2 201–202?Nippon Sharyō1933284
78
22.5tpetrolmech3rd class railcars with
baggage room.
SMR: ケハ4 201–202 SMR: キハ3 101–103?Nippon Sharyō1932384
78
21.5tpetrolmech3rd class railcars.
SMR: ケハ4 203–210SMR: キハ3 104–111??1933884
78
21.5tpetrolmech3rd class railcars.
SMR: ケハ4 211–213SMR: キハ3 112–114?Nippon Sharyō1934384
78
21.5tpetrolmech3rd class railcars.
SMR: ケハ4 214–221SMR: キハ3 115–222??1935884
78
21.5tpetrolmech3rd class railcars.
MNR: 國ケハ2 71 MNR: キハ3 201?Nippon Sharyō1933173
68
22.5tWaukesha 6RB
petrol
mech3rd class railcars with
7-person VIP room.
MNR: 國ケハ1 102–130 MNR: キハ3 200–228?Nippon Sharyō19332984
78
21.5tKawasaki KW127
petrol
mech3rd class railcars.
SMR: ケハ4 222–225?SMR: キハ3 123–126?Nippon Sharyō?1937484
78
21.5tWaukesha 6WRB
petrol
mech3rd class railcars.
-SMR: キハ3 127–129?Nippon Sharyō?1938384
78
21.5tWaukesha 6WRB
petrol
mech3rd class railcars.
-SMR: キハ3 130–135?Nippon Sharyō?1939684
78
21.5tWaukesha 6WRB
petrol
mech3rd class railcars.
-SMR: キハ3 136–145?Nippon Sharyō?19401084
78
21.5tWaukesha 6WRB
petrol
mech3rd class railcars.
SMR: ケハ5 301–302 SMR: キハ4 101–102 ?Nippon Sharyō?1937282petrolmech3rd class railcars.
MNR: 國ケハ4 201–203 MNR: キハ5 201–203 ?Nippon Sharyō?1935392
86
26.5tKawasaki KP170
petrol
mech3rd class railcars.

Diesel railcars

Class
Class
PostwarBuilderIn serviceTotal
in class
CapacityWeightEngineTransmissionNotes
SMR: ジハ2 1 SMR: ケハ3 101 ?Nippon Sharyō1934184
78
21.5t130 hp AEC
Diesel
?3rd class railcar for high-speed testing.
Body based on KiHa-3 100-series.
Streamlined front end.
MNR: 國ジハ1 2101–2104 MNR: ケハ3 202–205?Nippon Sharyō1936484
78
25.5tMitsubishi
Diesel
?3rd class railcar.
Body similar to KiHa-3 100-series.
MNR: 國ジハ2 2201–2206 MNR: ケハ5 201–206?Nippon Sharyō1936692
86
26.3tMitsubishi or
Niigata Tekkō
Diesel
?3rd class railcar.
SMR: ジハ4 101–102 SMR: ケハ6 101–102??1937282
76
34.47tKobe Mitsubishi
8T13.5/T Diesel
Sinclair TC-50
hydraulic
Streamlined 3rd class railcars.
MNR: 國ジハ3 2301–2302 MNR: ケハ7 201–202??1938292
86
34.5t150 hp Mitsubishi
Diesel
Hoyt
hydraulic
Streamlined 2-car 3rd class DMU.

Heavy oil railcars

Class
Class
PostwarBuilderIn serviceTotal
in class
CapacityWeightEngineTransmissionNotes
SMR: ジハ1 1–2 SMR: ジハ1 1–2 ?Dalian Machinery1931265
59
49.23t250 hp Sulzer
Diesel
electric3rd class power car.
SMR: ハト2 1–2 SMR: ハフ2 1–2 ?Shahekou19312104
92
24.2t--3rd class trailer for JiHa-1.
SMR: ジテ1 1–6 SMR: ジテ1 1–6 ?Nippon Sharyō193564t baggage40.0tFirst four:
Sulzer 6VL25
Last two:
Niigata K6D
?Streamlined power car with baggage room.
Usual trainset ジテ1+ロハフ1+ハフ1+ハフセ1
or ジテ1+ロハフ1+2x ハフ1+ロハフ1+ジテ1.
Used by CR around Fushun after the war,
derivatives also built and used until recently.
SMR: ロハフ1 1–6 SMR: ロハフ1 1–6?Nippon Sharyō1935628+58&
---2nd+3rd class trailer for JiTe-1.
Also used as passenger cars behind Dabusa
classlocomotives during oil shortage.
Total train weight:
ジテ1+ロハフ1+ハフ1+ハフセ1 133t.
SMR: ハフ1 1–6 SMR: ハフ1 1–6?Nippon Sharyō19356102---3rd class trailer for JiTe-1.
Also used as passenger cars behind Dabusa
class locomotives during oil shortage.
Total train weight:
ジテ1+ロハフ1+ハフ1+ハフセ1 133t.
SMR: ハフセ1 1–6 SMR: ハフセ1 1–6?Nippon Sharyō1935698---3rd class driving trailer for JiTe-1.
Also used as passenger cars behind Dabusa
class locomotives during oil shortage.
Total train weight:
ジテ1+ロハフ1+ハフ1+ハフセ1 133t.

Passenger cars

Like with locomotives, in Periods 1 and 2 most passenger cars were imported from the US.

Coaches (seat cars)