Sentetsu Amei-class locomotives

Chosen Government Railway Amei class (アメイ) Korean National Railroad Ame1 class (아메1)
An Amei-class locomotive of Sentetsu.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder ALCo Build date 1911 Total produced 6
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-0 Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Driver dia. 1,830 mm (72 in) Length 17,793 mm (700.5 in) Width 3,023 mm (119.0 in) Height 4,228 mm (166.5 in) Loco weight 53.84 t (52.99 long tons; 59.35 short tons) Tender weight 44.58 t (43.88 long tons; 49.14 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 7.2 t (7.1 long tons; 7.9 short tons) Water cap. 14.5 m3 (510 cu ft) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 2.34 m2 (25.2 sq ft) Boiler: ​  • Small tubes 214 x 51 mm (2.0 in) Boiler pressure 12.6 kgf/cm2 (179 psi) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 12.0 m2 (129 sq ft)  • Tubes 118.8 m2 (1,279 sq ft)  • Total surface 130.8 m2 (1,408 sq ft) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 450 mm × 660 mm (18 in × 26 in) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Maximum speed 95 km/h (59 mph) Tractive effort 79.0 kN (17,800 lbf)
Career Operators Chosen Government Railway Korean National Railroad Class Sentetsu: アメイ KNR: 아메1 Number in class 6 Numbers Sentetsu: アメイ1 – アメイ6 (1938-1945) KNR: 아메1-1 – 아메1-6

The Amei class (アメイ) was a class of steam tender locomotives of the Chosen Government Railway (Sentetsu) with 4-4-0 wheel arrangement.^[1] The "Ame" name came from the American naming system for steam locomotives, under which locomotives with 4-4-0 wheel arrangement were called "American".^[2]

Sentetsu introduced the Amei class locomotives in 1911, receiving six from ALCo of the United States. They were fitted with 1,830 mm (72 in) diameter driving wheels, which was a considerable size for the time, giving them a high operational speeds of 95 km/h (59 mph).^[1] Unlike the Tehoi class locomotives, the Amei class were equipped with a four-axle tender. They were found to offer no advantage over the Teho types or Sorii class, and no further 4-4-0 locomotives were ever ordered by Sentetsu.

Sentetsu put them into service on the "Ryūki" express,^[1] Korea's first express train, operating between Sinuiju and Busan via Gyeongseong,^[3] along the Gyeongui Line between Sinuiju and Gyeongseong. Their original numbers are unknown, but they were numbered 401 through 406 in 1918, and then became アメイ1 through アメイ6 numbers in Sentetsu's general renumbering of 1938.

After the Liberation of Korea, all six Amei-class locomotives remained in South Korea, where they were designated 아메1 class by the Korean National Railroad.^[4]