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 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.
Modification and refurbishment
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 lamps. 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.
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. However, all of 415-0 series vehicles had been
withdrawn by replacing by 817-2000 series EMU and 821 series EMU.
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.
Latest operation status
Now 415-100 series are now used on the ordinary services of Sanyo, Kagoshima,
Nagasaki, and Nippo lines. |
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