The DF200 is a class of diesel-electric locomotives with three two-axle bogies. It was mainly developed for non-electrified mainlines on Hokkaido where the DD51 had to be replaced. Each locomotive has two diesel engines and two generators. The prototype built in 1992 had two MTU 12V 396 with 1,700 hp each. Power supply for the six three-phase motors came from GTO inverters.
After the prototype, twelve series 0 locomotives were built between 1994 and 1998 with the same engines. They received the nickname “Eco Power Red Bear” that was painted onto the locomotives. Later locomotives had two 1,800 hp Komatsu engines. These were 13 locomotives of the series 50 and 23 of the series 100. The latter ones were controlled by IGBT inverters.
A 50th locomotive was DF200-7000 that was ordered by JR Kyushu for the “Seven Stars in Kyushu” passenger train. This had a top speed of only 100 km/h as opposed to 110 km/h for all others. From 2016, locomotives of the series 100 were rebuilt to the series 200 by adding additional insulation and other improvements. After one derailed in 2012, JR Freight today operates 48.
