The EF58 is an electric locomotive built from 1946 for passenger and express service. During these times, production of a new electric locomotive was only possible if it was based on pre-war technology and produced to a lower quality, as was the case during the war. It had a 2-C+C-2 wheel arrangement and many common parts with the EF15 freight locomotive.

Between 1946 and 1948, only 31 were completed. These had a boxcab design and were not fully accepted into service due to their low quality. Three locomotives which had not yet been completed were rebuilt into EF18 freight locomotives in 1951. In 1952, production of an improved variant that now had a streamlined body was restarted. Since they also had many improvements in electric parts and production quality, all 31 of the first batch were rebuilt to the improved variant.

The 172 locomotives of this class hauled the major long-distance trains in the fifties, sixties and seventies. Starting in 1970, the steam heating boilers were exchanged for electric train heating. In densely populated areas which required freight trains to be fast, the EF58 also hauled these. Most had been retired by 1987. One that is still operational today is EF58 61 that was built as the official imperial train locomotive and still serves this purpose under JR East.