JNR Class C53

{{short description|Class of 97 Japanese 4-6-2 steam locomotives}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = Class C53

| powertype = Steam

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}

| image = JGR-C53SteamLocomotive.jpg

| caption = C53 10 in January 1935

| whytetype = 4-6-2 Pacific

| designer =

| length =

| height =

| builder = Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company Kisha Seizō, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Hitachi

| serialnumber =

| builddate = 1928-1929

| totalproduction = 97

| maxspeed =

| driverdiameter =

| tractiveeffort =

| factorofadhesion =

| locoweight =

| locotenderweight = {{convert|115.50|t|abbr=on}}

| poweroutput = {{convert|1250|PS|kW hp|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}

| poweroutput start =

| poweroutput cont =

| boilerpressure = 199.1 PSI

| fueltype = Coal

| cylindersize =

| cylindercount = Three

| valvegear = Outside: Walschaerts
Inside: Gresley conjugated

| valvetype = Piston valves

| superheaterarea =

| firearea = {{convert|3.25|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| operator = JNR

| numinclass = 97

| fleetnumbers = C53 1-C53 97

| locale =

| deliverydate =

| firstrundate =

| lastrundate =

| retiredate = 1950

| withdrawndate =

| preservedunits = 1

| restoredate =

| scrapdate =

| currentowner =

| disposition = One preserved (C53 45); remainder scrapped

}}

The {{Nihongo|Class C53|C53形}} is a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive built in Japan from 1928 to 1929. The locomotives were designed by Hideo Shima and built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company, Kisha Seizo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hitachi. A total of 97 Class C53 locomotives were built.

The locomotives are notable for being the only non-experimental three-cylinder locomotives in Japan's railway history. They used the Gresley conjugated valve gear, which enabled high performance on the mainline.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-04 |title=BSフジ 鉄道伝説、「C53形蒸気機関車と若き島秀雄 ～鉄路の継承～」5月6日深夜 {{!}} レイルラボ ニュース |url=https://raillab.jp/news/article/31182 |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=レイルラボ(RailLab) |language=ja}} However, their mechanical complexity led to a short service life, especially after better-performing locomotives, such as the Class C59 and C62, entered production in the 1940s during and after the war. All 97 locomotives were retired by 1950.坂上茂樹. "[https://www.i-repository.net/contents/osakacu/kiyo/DBb1100305.pdf C53 型蒸気機関車試論 (4/4): 近代技術史における 3 気筒]."

File:JGR C5343 hauling train.jpg on 9 December 1934]]