The EF61 is a direct current electric locomotive for passengers, which was completed in 1961. It is equipped with a steam generator (SG) for heating and a water / fuel tank, so it has a longer body length than the EF60 / EF65. The biggest feature is that it is long. This is the only new DC electric locomotive in which all 18 cars are painted in a single brown color.
When it first appeared in 1961, it was located in the Miyahara engine district, and it drove the express train and the 20-series sleeper limited express "Asakaze" between Tokyo and Okayama / Hiroshima, but it was the EF60 in 1963. With the advent of the 500 series, he took over the role of towing "Asakaze", and since then he has been responsible for towing passenger cars and luggage trains.
Later, it was repainted with Blue No. 15, the standard paint color for new performance DC machines. He was a well-known supporting player who supported the transportation of the Tokaido-Sanyo Main Line during the JNR era, mainly by operating luggage trains and freight trains on the Sanyo Main Line. Luggage trains operated by EF61 and EF58 are famous.