Brick Rigs: JNR Class ED-79 2-pack

This mod adds JNR Class ED-79 2-pack to the Brick Rigs.

This is a pair of ED-79s numbered 13 and 09.

21 Class ED79-0 locomotives were converted between 1986 and 1987 at JNR’s Omiya, Tsuchizaki, and Naebo Workshops from former Class ED75-700 locomotives to haul both freight and passenger trains through the undersea Seikan Tunnel between the main island of Honshu and the northern island of Hokkaido, which opened in March 1988. The gear ratio was reduced from the 4.44 of the original ED75 locomotives to 3.38, giving a top speed of 110 km/h (70 mph) better suited to express passenger and freight workings. With the privatization of JNR on 1 April 1987, all 21 locomotives were transferred to the ownership of JR Hokkaido.

Daytime Kaikyo services previously hauled by Class ED79 locomotives between Aomori and Hakodate through the Seikan Tunnel were discontinued in 2002, replaced by the Hakucho and Super Hakucho limited express services using electric multiple unit (EMU) trains). In 2006, the Nihonkai sleeping car service no longer ran through the tunnel, and JR Freight also ceased using JR Hokkaido locomotives on freight services, due to the increased availability of Class EH500 locomotives.

By 1 April 2013, nine Class ED79-0 locomotives remained in service, owned by JR Hokkaido and based at Hakodate Depot. These were used to haul the Cassiopeia, Hokutosei, Twilight Express, and Hamanasu overnight services between Aomori and Hakodate via the Seikan Tunnel. All remaining locomotives had been withdrawn by March 2016.

These two aren’t the best scaled and are missing a vent, but most of the details are here. Both locomotives are painted in the 70s+ livery of red with the white stripe on the end. Both of the numbers carried by these two locomotives were carried by real prototypes, although they are not direct replicas.

There is no cabin interior due to brick count