China Railways JF8

China Railways JF8 (解放8) Huainan Railway Class 300
Builder's photo of Huainan Railway No. 307
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Škoda Works Build date 1935 Total produced >7
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2 Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Driver dia. 1,321 mm (4 ft 4.0 in) Length 17,925 mm (58 ft 9.7 in) Total weight 103.89 t (102.25 long tons)
Career Operators Huainan Railway, Central China Railway, China Railway Class HR: 300 series (1935−1939) CR: ㄇㄎ8 (1951−1959) CR: 解放8 (1959–end) Number in class >7 Numbers HR: 301−307... CR: 3651−3670

The China Railways JF8 (解放8, Jiěfàng, "liberation") class steam locomotive was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives operated by the China Railway, originally built by the Škoda Works in Czechoslovakia in 1935 for the Huainan Railway.

History

At least seven of these locomotives were originally built for the Huainan Railway, and after the establishment of the Japanese puppet government of the Reformed Government of the Republic of China, they were operated by the Central China Railway, which had been created in 1939 to manage all railway operations in the territory of the collaborationist government by nationalising all privately owned railways in the territory.

Postwar

After the end of the Pacific War, these locomotives were passed on to the Republic of China Railway. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, China Railways designated them ㄇㄎ8 (MK8) class in 1951. Numbered in the 3651−3670 range, they were reclassified 解放8 (JF8) class in 1959.

JF8 3651, 3661, 3662, and 3669 were noted to be in dump around Hainan Island in May 1985. The last engines of the class were retired in 1990.