Kato - 2018-1 - Locomotive, Steam, 2-8-2 D51 - Japanese National Railways - D51 17

Specific Item Information: JNR steam locomotive D51, nicknamed "Degoichi". Introduced in 1935, it is Japan's leading steam locomotive, with the largest number of 1115 cars manufactured in Japan. As a steam locomotive suitable for Japanese railways, it was a great success for both passenger trains and freight trains, from main lines to sub-main lines. Due to its long production, it can be broadly divided into two styles, the primary form and the standard form. In the 1965's, the place where steam locomotives were active was narrowed due to the modernization of power and the progress of electrification on trunk lines in various places. Immediately before the SL boom that captures the brave figure of the disappearing steam locomotive in the picture occurs, at the highest point of the Tohoku Main Line, Jusohonki Pass, it is called D51 Triple Ren to tow a 1000t heavy freight train A hard run was unfolding. Unlike the Hakubi line triple-heading during the SL boom, it was a triple-heading on the northern Taegon line, but not many people have visited it yet, and it appeared in the timetable revision due to electrification in October 1968.

Prototype History: 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.

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 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.

Road Name History: Japanese National Railways (日本国有鉄道 Nihon Kokuyū Tetsudō), abbreviated Kokutetsu (国鉄) or "JNR", was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987.
By 1987, JNR's debt was over ¥27 trillion ($280 billion at 2009 exchange rates) and the company was spending ¥147 for every ¥100 earned. By an act of the Diet of Japan, on April 1, 1987 JNR was privatized and divided into seven railway companies, six passenger and one freight, collectively called the Japan Railways Group or JR Group.

From Wikipedia

Brand/Importer Information: Kato Precision Railroad Models (関水金属株式会社 Sekisui Kinzoku Kabushikigaisha) is a Japanese manufacturer of model railroad equipment in N and HO scales. The Tokyo-based company manufactures models based on Japanese prototypes (such as the Shinkansen bullet train) for the Japanese market, North American prototypes for the North American market and European high-speed trains for European market.
The Kato (pronounced kah-toe) model railroad companies were founded by Yuji Kato, father of current president Hiroshi Kato, of the parent company Sekisui Kinzoku Co., Ltd.

The design and distribution of models for the North American market are handled by their U.S. subsidiary, Kato USA, located in Schaumburg, Illinois.
The design of special models for the European market is handled for some of them by their partner, Lemke, whereas the general distribution of Kato products in Europe is handled by NOCH; both companies are located in Germany.
As a result, some Kato European models are sold as Kato Lemke and others as Kato (alone).