Japanese Government Railways class 7000

At the time when JGR imported electric locomotives from abroad, there were also some from Switzerland. In addition to two class 1020 freight locomotives, there were also two class 7000 express locomotives supplied by SLM Winterthur and BBC. They were used on the Tokaido main line under direct current at 1,500 volts.

The Buchli drive, which is widespread in Switzerland, was used to achieve smooth running at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Here, the axles were driven by a mechanism mounted on one side, which was able to cushion the unevenness of the rail. To improve running characteristics, Java bogies were used, which were also an SLM specialty. With this chassis design, the two middle driving axles were mounted in the frame so that they could be moved sideways, while at each end of the locomotive there was an internally articulated bogie, each with a drive axle and a leading axle designed as an Adams axle.

The locomotives were able to convince with their high power and their good running characteristics, but the small number of two did not allow economical use. The Buchli drive in particular presented the mechanics with difficulties because it had not been used on any other locomotive in Japan. Instruction of the drivers in the peculiarities of the locomotives also represented an effort. As a result, the two locomotives were only used sporadically and the state's own production of electric locomotives soon made them completely superfluous. Finally, in 1948, they were completely phased out. Number 2, which was actually put aside for museum preservation, was also scrapped in the 1960s.