Taiwan 600→D96→DT560 Steam Locomotive

The class 600 was a group of 2-8-0 tender locomotives built by ALCO Schenectady: seven in 1920 and seven in 1921, for a total of fourteen. Around 1920, Japan was producing large numbers of the 8620 and 9600 classes, and domestic locomotive works had little spare capacity. For this reason, the basic drawings of the 9600 class were sent to ALCO, resulting in this class. Although sometimes called the “ALCO 9600,” its American-style appearance differed greatly from the Japanese-built 9600 class. Locomotive No. 613, later DT564, was fitted from new with pulverized-coal firing equipment. Around 1920, many countries were studying locomotives using pulverized coal, and Japan also tested the Lopulco system on the ALCO-built class 8913. This system crushed coal on the locomotive until it became powder and injected it into the firebox by steam power. It was expected to improve combustion efficiency through more complete burning, reduce black smoke, and free the fireman from the heavy labor of hand firing. The Taiwan Governor-General Railway also fitted pulverized-coal firing equipment to four other class 600 locomotives. However, powdered coal readily absorbed moisture and tended to cake, and if the coal injection was not properly controlled there was a risk of dust explosions. Because accidents actually occurred frequently, the locomotives were converted back to hand firing in 1927 and 1934. They were also modified with air brakes, and the driving position was changed to the left side to match other locomotives. In the 1937 class-name revision they became class D96, and after the war they were reclassified by the Taiwan Railways Administration as class DT560. Today, DT561 is preserved at the Miaoli Railway Museum.