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.
Postwar: Korean National Railroad 아메1 (Ame1) class
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]
^Japanese Government Railways (1937), 鉄道停車場一覧. 昭和12年10月1日現在(The List of the Stations as of 1 October 1937), Kawaguchi Printing Company, Tokyo, pp. 483-485
Chosen Government Railway locomotives and rolling stock
Rolling stock of Korail