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After the Pacific War, freight traffic declined, but on the contrary, passenger demand increased significantly, resulting in a shortage of locomotives for passenger service.
So the type C61, a sub-trunk line locomotive, was built, combining a surplus D51 freight boiler and a newly built C57 running gear.
From 1947 to 1949, 33 were converted and manufactured by Hitachi and Mitsubishi.
To reduce axle weight, the C57's single-axle railing wheel (or trailing axle) was replaced with two axles, making it the first locomotive in Japan with a 4-6-4 axle arrangement.
The type C62 was built at the same time for main line use, but unlike the type C62, the type C61 had a more subdued presence and was last used in Kyushu until 1974.
Currently, 2 are being preserved dynamically (refers to locomotives that have been preserved in a ready-to-operate state, and/or are still running today): 1 by JR East, and 1 by JR West for operation inside the Kyoto Railway Museum.
There are 2 others preserved in Kagoshima and Fukuoka Prefectures.
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