Electrification for the locomotive developed slowly due to financial difficulties at JNR.

The company was not experienced with diesel locomotives, and it lacked test facilities for non-steam engines.

Development of the new diesel locomotive was proposed because existing models were aging and travel demand was increasing.

Since JNR had converted to the policy of abolishing the steam locomotive, the company decided to cancel the C63.

At the Koriyama Plant (currently the Koriyama General Vehicle Center), a 1/5-scale live steam replica was produced based on the design documents, mainly to demonstrate the steam locomotive technology to the young staff; the miniature is currently used during special events.