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EF65 500 P-type locomotives were manufactured in 1965 and 1966 (8 were remodeled from 0-type locomotives in 1968) for pulling high-speed passenger trains. They replaced the EF60 500-type locomotives that pulled 20-series sleeper express trains, and were used to pull the Blue Train on the Tokaido and Sanyo Main Lines (replaced by the PF-type locomotives in 1978). The top-numbered 501 locomotive was newly allocated to the Tokyo Locomotive Depot in 1965, and pulled the Blue Trains "Sakura", "Mizuho", "Hayabusa", "Fuji" and "Asakaze" between Tokyo and Shimonoseki. In 1972, it was transferred to the Shimonoseki Locomotive Depot, and the only time it was used to pull Blue Trains was when the P-type locomotives in the Tokyo Locomotive Depot were used for bogie inspection. In 1978, when the Blue Train locomotives were replaced by the PF-type locomotives, it was transferred to the Numazu Locomotive Depot, and its main role was to pull freight trains. In 1983, it returned to the Tokyo Locomotive Depot, but when the Tokyo Locomotive Depot was abolished in 1985, it was transferred to the Takasaki No. 2 Locomotive Depot and became a freight train towing locomotive again. When the JNR was privatized in 1987, many P-types were transferred to JR Freight, but this one was transferred to JR East and has been in service ever since. Unfortunately, due to aging, it is scheduled to end its commercial operation in November 2024. Other EL and DL locomotives active in the Takasaki area are also scheduled to end their commercial operation as passenger train towing locomotives in November 2024, and 10 round trip trains have been operated in a countdown system since September. https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2024/t... EF65 501 has pulled 10fin, 8fin, and 7fin so far.