415100series
-100 subseries
-800 subseries
-1500 subseries

Type index

Photos

original 415-100 series

midified 415-100 series

Background and overview
Japanese National Railways (JNR) developed 415 series suburban dual voltage AC/DC electric multiple unit (EMU) trains in 1971, descended former 401/403 series operated under 1,500VDC or 20,000VAC (50Hz) and former 421/423 series operated under 1,500VDC and 20,000VAC (60Hz). 415 series EMU can be used on the inter running services through 1500V DC, 20kV 50Hz AC, and 20kV 60Hz AC electrified lines. All of 415 series were 4-car formation consisting of 2 intermediate motored cars classified into -0 subseries and 2 trailer end cars classified into -300 subseries.

Car body
They have 2900mm wide body. Their body design incorporates lightweight shaped steel and pressed forming beam to realize a light weight body. The front of the end cars employes a gangway door and curved surface windscreens of the driver's cab. They are equipped with three 1300mm wide double-leaf automatic sliding doors. Double-hung side windows and door case windows are fitted between the doors. Door operating equipments, TK4I, are fitted above the door header of the sliding doors. Class Moha414 cars have the low roof section where the current collector and high voltage equipments are fitted to keep the insulation distance against the extra-high voltage current feeder. Forced ventilators are fitted on the roof. Electric ventilators are fitted under the low roof section. Their livery was rose pink with cream trapezoid below the windscreens.

Bogies
Motored bogies are DT21B, and trailer bogies are TR62, employing swing hanger construction, coil springs as bolster spring, and pedestal type journal supporting system. Their bogies apply the double tread brake device for motored bogies and the disk brake device for trailer bogies.

Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Eight powerful series-wound brushed DC traction motors, MT54D, with a power output of 120kW are controlled by the armature-resistance traction control system, CS12G, fitted to intermediate cars, class Moha415. The gear ratio is 4.82. Class Moha415 vehicles are equipped with a motor generator, MH97-DM61A under their floor. Class Moha414 vehicles are equipped with a traction rectifier, RS22, and a traction transformer, TM14, to operate under both 50Hz and 60Hz. Class Moha414 vehicles are also equipped with a diamond shaped current pickup, PS16B, for high voltage and an air-blast circuit-breaker, CB103A, on their roof. 415 series adopt electromagnetic straight air brake. The rheostatic brake is available.

Accommodation
Seating is arranged as mixture of longitudinal bench seating and transverse seating bays with 1420mm seating pitch. Trailer end cars, Kuha415, have a Japanese style toilet. These cars are not air-conditioned.

Additional delivery
Moha415/414-4 onward and Kuha411-307 onward built in 1974 are fitted with air conditioner, AU75B, rated at 42,000kcal/h. Roller-binding destination screens prepare to be fitted on each side of their body. Odd numbered Kuha411 vehicles are equipped with a high-power motor generator, MH135-DM92, with a power output of for supplying electricity to air conditioners. Their driver's cab was enlarged to guarantee train crew's safety. Headlights were changed into sealed beam light bulbs. Double-hung unit assembled windows are employed. A Japanese style toilet of class Kuha411 is prepared for fitting a chemical holding tank. Oil coolant of a traction transformer is changed from polychlorinated biphenyl into silicon oil for the environmental pollution control measure. A traction rectifier is changed into RS22A featuring air cooling.
Vehicles built from 1978 differ from former 415 series in having some improvements and are classified into -100 subseries. 415-100 series feature improved transverse seating bays with 1490mm seating pitch, which is 70mm wider compared with 1420mm on the 415-0 series. Window arrangement is matched with the increased seating pitch. Only class Kuha411-200 vehicles are equipped with a Japanese toilet, applying an oblong window.
Trailer intermediate vehicles, Saha411-100, were introduced to make 7-car sets for additional capacity of Johban line concerned with the Tsukuba Expo in 1984. Saha411-100s are equipped with a motor generator, MH135-DM92, and an air compressor, MH80A-C1000, under their floor. Their livery was changed into cream with the single blue waistline band running the length of each car below the windows.

Modification and refurbishment
JNR began to fit air conditioners onto not air-conditioned 415 series in 1977. A motor generator fitted to class Moha415 was removed and Kuha411 was fitted with a motor generator, MH135-DM92, for the air conditioners. Roller-binding destination screens prepare to be fitted on each side of their body. Their rectifier was changed into RS22A.
The livery of 415-0/100 series owned by JR Kyushu was changed into white with a blue waistline and a blue headline band running the length of each car below and above the windows. Refurbishment programme was commenced involved fitting roller-binding destination screens, removing ventilators on the roof, making some of windows fixed, and introducing longitudinal bench seating throughout.

Operations
415 series EMU had been used on the rapid services and the ordinary services of Johban, Mito, Sanyo, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Sasebo, and Nippo lines.
At the splitting of JNR into the privatized JR companies, JR East and JR Kyushu received 415-0 series and 415-100 series in 1987.

Scrap
415-0/100 series owned by JR East were withdrawn by replacing by E501 series and E531 series, and remaining vehicles had been withdrawn in 2017. On the other hand, all of 415-0 series vehicles owned by JR Kyushu had been withdrawn by the replacement with 817-2000 series and 821 series EMUs. Finally, 415-100 series owned by JR Kyushu had compeletely been withdrawn in 2023.
Technical Data
Items Data
Supply Voltage 1500VDC, 20000VAC, 50/60Hz
Service speed, etc. Service speed: 100km/h
Length 19500mm
Width 2900mm
Height 3654mm
Bogie DT21B (motored) TR62 (trailer)
Collector PS16B
Traction motor MT54D (120kW)
Gear ratio 4.82
Transformer TM14
Rectifier RS22A
Traction system Armature-resistance control: (CS12G)
Air conditioner AU75B/E
Designed by Japanese National Railways