Class of diesel locomotives operated in Japan
The is a four-axle Bo-Bo wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotive type operated in Japan since 1972. A total of 65 locomotives were built between 1971 and 1975, and as of   2016[ [update]], one locomotive remains in service, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
Variants.
A total of 65 locomotives were built between 1971 and 1975.
Design.
The Class DD16 was designed to replace the Class C12 and C56 steam locomotives on non-electrified rural lines where locomotives with a low axle load were required. The design featured an offset centre-cab arrangement using the same DML61Z diesel engine used in the Class DD51 locomotives, derated from to .
History.
The first two locomotives, DD16 1 and 2, were built at the Japanese National Railways (JNR) Nagano factory, and these were tested on the Koumi Line and Iida Line.
Between 1979 and 1983, four locomotives (DD16 2, 5, 4, and 13) were converted at JNR's Nagano and Matto workshops to become self-propelled snowplough units, numbered DD16 301 to 304, with the addition of bogie snowplough units on either end.
With the closure of many rural lines and discontinuation of rural freight services in the 1980s, many of the class were withdrawn from operation and scrapped.
With the privatization of JNR in April 1987, just ten Class DD16 locomotives remained in service, transferred to operation by JR Group operating companies.
By 1 April 1995, seven locomotives were still in service, with four (DD16-0 and DD16-300) operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), two (DD16-0) operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), and one (DD16-300) operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West).
As of   2016[ [update]], one locomotive, DD16 11, remains in service, operated by JR East.
Preserved examples.
As of 2014[ [update]], seven Class DD16 locomotives are preserved.
Classification.
The DD16 classification for this locomotive type is explained below.
References.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;