# ED31
**Wikidata**: [Q11380916](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11380916)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ed31

## Summary
ED31 is a class of electric locomotive manufactured by the Japanese conglomerate Toshiba. Originally developed for use in Japan, this locomotive class has been operated by several railway entities, including the Japanese Government Railways (Ministry of Railways), Japanese National Railways, and private sector companies such as the Seibu Railway, Ohmi Railway, and Jōshin Electric Railway.

## Key Facts
*   **Entity Type:** Locomotive class (Subclass of electric locomotive).
*   **Manufacturer:** Toshiba.
*   **Operators:** Ministry of Railways, Japanese National Railways, Seibu Railway, Ohmi Railway, Jōshin Electric Railway Company.
*   **Aliases:** 近江鉄道ED31形電気機関車, 国鉄ED31形電気機関車, 上信電鉄ED31形電気機関車, ED31型.
*   **Wikimedia Commons Category:** JNR ED31.
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/11x1npz4w.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the ED31?
A: The ED31 is a class of electric locomotive. It is a category of rail transport vehicle specifically designed to be powered by electricity.

### Q: Who built the ED31 locomotives?
A: The ED31 locomotives were manufactured by Toshiba, a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation with a history of producing heavy electrical equipment and industrial technology.

### Q: Which railway companies operated the ED31 class?
A: The ED31 class was utilized by the Ministry of Railways (Japanese Government Railways) and later the Japanese National Railways. It was also operated by private railway companies, specifically the Seibu Railway, Ohmi Railway, and Jōshin Electric Railway Company.

## Why It Matters
The ED31 class represents a distinct collaboration between Japanese industrial manufacturing and railway operations. Manufactured by Toshiba, a major player in the electrical industry, these locomotives facilitated rail transport across various regions in Japan. Their operation by both national governmental bodies (Ministry of Railways, JNR) and private regional railways (Seibu, Ohmi, Jōshin) highlights the versatility and widespread adoption of this specific locomotive design within the Japanese rail network, contributing to the efficiency of both public and private transport lines.

## Notable For
*   Being a product of Toshiba, a prominent Japanese electronics and electrical conglomerate.
*   Serving a dual role in both national (JNR) and private railway systems.
*   Having multiple specific nomenclatures (aliases) associated with its different operators (e.g., "Ohmi Railway ED31 Type").

## Body

### Classification and Definition
The ED31 is defined as a **locomotive class**. Technically, it is a **subclass of the electric locomotive**, distinguishing it from diesel or steam locomotives. This classification groups together locomotives that share similar design, manufacturing standards, and operational capabilities.

### Manufacturing and Origins
The ED31 locomotives were produced by **Toshiba** (Toshiba Corporation), a Japanese multinational conglomerate founded in 1875. Toshiba has a long history in the electronics and electrical industry, extending beyond consumer electronics to heavy industrial machinery, including rail transport vehicles. The company is also known for manufacturing other locomotive classes, such as the JNR Class ED75 and the TRA E500 for Taiwan.

### Operational History
The ED31 class has been employed by a diverse set of operators throughout its service life, spanning both the nationalized railway system and private sector lines.
*   **National Operators:**
    *   **Ministry of Railways:** The government body responsible for railways in Japan prior to World War II.
    *   **Japanese National Railways (JNR):** The state-owned railway company that operated from 1949 to 1987.
*   **Private Operators:**
    *   **Seibu Railway:** A major private railway operator in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
    *   **Ohmi Railway:** A private railway company operating in Shiga Prefecture.
    *   **Jōshin Electric Railway Company:** A private railway operator in Gunma Prefecture.

### Nomenclature and Aliases
The class is known by several aliases, reflecting its adoption by different railway companies and its evolution through different railway eras. These names include:
*   **近江鉄道ED31形電気機関車** (Ohmi Railway ED31 Type Electric Locomotive)
*   **国鉄ED31形電気機関車** (JNR ED31 Type Electric Locomotive)
*   **上信電鉄ED31形電気機関車** (Jōshin Electric Railway ED31 Type Electric Locomotive)
*   **ED31型** (ED31 Type)

### Digital and Archival Records
Information regarding the ED31 is preserved in various digital databases and archives.
*   **Wikipedia:** The entity has sitelinks to **Japanese Wikipedia** (ja.wikipedia.org) and **Wikimedia Commons**.
*   **Wikimedia Commons:** Images and media related to the ED31 are categorized under **"JNR ED31"**. One specific image cited is `Omi-ED313.jpg`.
*   **Knowledge Graphs:** It is indexed in the Google Knowledge Graph with the ID `/g/11x1npz4w`.