200 Series Shinkansen

200 Series Shinkansen
Set K41 in June 2012
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1980 – 1991
Number built	700 cars (59 sets)
Dimensions	82 ft (25,000 mm) (intermediate car) x 11 ft 1.3 in (3,385 mm) x 14 ft 6 in (4,410 mm)
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Power supply	pantograph
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC (50 Hz)
Traction system	Thyristor drive
Service information
In service	23 June 1982 – 14 April 2013
Formation	8, 10, 12, 13 or 16 cars per set
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	E1 – E36, F1 – F21, F30 – F43, F51 – F53, F55 – F58, F61 – F66, F80, F90 – F93, G9 – G10, G20 – G24, G26 – G29, G40 – G48, H1 – H6, K1 – K11, K21 – K31, K41 – K51
Scrapped	1997 – 2013
Preservation information
Preserved	5 cars
Number scrapped	695 cars

The 200 Series Shinkansen is a high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways and its successor company the East Japan Railway Company from June 1982 to April 2013. These were the first Shinkansen sets operating in the eastern parts of Japan.

History

Based on the prototype Class 962 Shinkansen set, the 200 Series sets entered service on the Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen in June 1982 as the first Shinkansen trains operating in the eastern regions of Japan. Withdrawals started in 1997, with the last non-refurbished set being withdrawn by May 2007; the remaining sets were all withdrawn by April 2013. The 200 Series sets were actually built before the 100 Series sets; this is due to the old Shinkansen classification rule where even numbers were used for sets that were to be used east of Tokyo.

Five cars have been preserved.

Design

Featuring largely the same design as the 0 Series Shinkansen sets, the 200 Series sets were lighter and more powerful, using new thyristor-driven motors; this was due to the steeper and more mountainous regions the trains operated on. The 200 Series also has a snow plow at the front to aid it on the mountainous lines it was designed for due to frequent snowfall in those regions.

Their original design featured an ivory body with green side stripes; from 1999 this was changed to a new livery with a dark blue side stripe with mint green highlights. Some sets were repainted back into their original liveries from about 2012. Some of these original sets were modified with retractable couplers.

Later 200 Series sets feature a long bullet nosed design mimicking that of the 100 Series Shinkansen sets.

Variants

E sets (1982-1993)

These were the original 12-car 200 Series trainsets. They had a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). In some time between 1986~1989. During inspection. Inspectors found these sets were suffering from various Metal Fatigues. Which is one of the key-factors why the train had to be taken out or withdrawn from operation. This also applied to the future sets G, F, and E sets.

F sets (1983-2007)

These were 12-car sets which could attain a top speed of 240 km/h (150 mph). Four sets (F54, F59, F14 and F16) were upgraded in 1990 to give them a maximum speed of 275 km/h (171 mph), and renumbered F90-93. The service which they ran at their top speed was called the Asahi service. When this service was discontinued in 1998 the sets were then used interchangeably with the other "slower" F sets. Eventually, these same thing happened to the E sets, which suffered Metal Fatigue. And also was the fact that alot of trains like the E2 Series, E4, E1; which were much more successful trains operated services like the "Asahi, Toki, and Yamabiko" which is another reason which it lead to the withdrawal/retirement of these trains.

G sets (1987-1999)

These were 10-car (later 8-car) sets. Which were formed from the earlier 12-car E sets. They entered service in April 1987. Eventually, these same thing happened to the E sets, which suffered Metal Fatigue. Since they were a derivative of the earlier E-sets.

H sets (1990-2005)

There were six 16-car (later converted to 13-car) sets with a maximum speed of 240 km/h (150 mph). Though these were single level sets, they did have two luxury bi-level cars at place nine and ten in the set. They entered service in June 1990. After the 13th of March 2004 all regular services using the 16-car H sets ended. Though sets H4 and H5 had their "Green" (luxury) bi-level cars removed and were used only for the seasonal (summer) use until mid-2005. The end cars are unique due to their pointed noses, similar to the 100-Series. The same thing happened here to the retirement the F-sets as what it did for the F-sets.

K sets (1992-2013)

These 8-car (later 10-car) sets have a top speed of 240 km/h (150 mph), and some have nose-end couplers to work with 400 and E3 Series Shinkansen trainsets. The Tohoku line sets were to be withdrawn starting from the 19th of November 2011, leaving the last 200 Series sets on the Jōetsu line. The last remaining set in service, set K47, was used for various final runs to commemorate the withdrawal of the series.

Specifications

Construction is of aluminium. The intermediate cars are 25 meters long. Top speed is 240 km/h (150 mph), but for sets F90 to F93 the top speed is 275 km/h (171 mph). They run of 25 kV, AC at 60 Hz.

Preservation

The following 200 Series Shinkansen cars have been preserved:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
221-1	Nippon Sharyo	October 1980	December 2000	E1, F30	Sendai General Shinkansen Depot, Sendai, Japan	Ex-first production set E1
237-1
222-35	Kinki Sharyo	March 1982	January 2006	E35, F56, K11, K31	The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan	Coupler system demonstrated at events
221-1505		July 1984	March 2006	K25	JR East General Training Center, Fukushima, Japan	Damaged by 2004 Chūetsu earthquake, formerly located at Niigata Depot
221-1510	Tokyu Car Corporation	October 1984	April 2013	F13, K47	Niitsu Railway Museum, Niigata, Japan	Ex-K47, last operational set; replaced a 200 Series Shinkansen mockup at said museum

The following 200 Series Shinkansen cars were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Last location	Notes
222-1	Nippon Sharyo	October 1980	December 2000	E1, F30	Sendai General Shinkansen Depot, Sendai, Japan	Ex-first production set E1, scrapped March 2009
215-1
226-1
249-5	Tokyu Car Corporation	July 1990	June 2004	H5		Bilevel dining car, scrapped March 2009
221-15	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	October 1980	October 2001	E15, F37	Nagareyama Onsen Station, Kameda, Hokkaido, Japan	Preserved outdoors next to station; scrapped June 2013, station closed March 2022
215-15
222-15

In addition, a set of wheels from set E21, the first set used when the Tōhoku Shinkansen opened, is preserved at Ōmiya Station.

References

• Wikipedia.org

Gallery

Set E21 at the opening ceremony of the Tōhoku Shinkansen on 23 June 1982

Set K51 in March 2013