Background and overview
Previously, intercity services trains were used on long-distance intercity transport. However, short distance intercity services operated within 200km distance such as "Soyokaze" intercity services linked Tokyo and Karuizawa for leisure had been increasing. In this context, Japanese National Railways (JNR) developed the 183-0 series intercity DC electric multiple int (EMU) trains for short-distance transport in 1972 to start intercity services in Boso region at the completement of electrification of railways in Boso region.
Car body
They have 2946mm wide body. Their body design incorporates lightweight shaped steel and pressed forming beam to realize a lightweight body, employing weatherproof high tension steel sheet for the skin and the roof. They introduce A-A standard for fire protection to travel through the underground section such as the employment of the floor construction which consists of deck plates, floor fillings, and floor coverings. Their end vehicles feature raised driver's cab with plane glass windscreens and storable gangway connection to improve end section appearance. A built-in classification headboard and an inverted triangle gunmetal intercity express emblem are fitted at the front of end vehicles. A headlight employing the sealed beam light bulb and a taillight are longitudinally fitted each side of the cover of the gangway connection. "JNR" logo made of stainless steel is applied to each side of the end section. 1st class vehicles, class saro183-0, are equipped with a 700mm wide single-leaf automatic sliding door, and small fixed double-grazing windows per each. On the other hand, standard class vehicles are equipped with two 700mm wide single-leaf sliding doors and wide fixed double-glazing windows aligned two class seating bays between doors. Heat absorbent glass is employed for all windows. Their door operating equipment, TK100A, is fitted on the door header of the sliding door. A destination rollsign is fitted on each side of the body excepting restaurant cars. Class moha183-0 vehicles are equipped with an air conditioner, AU71A, rated at 28,000 kcal/h and forced draught ventilators on the roof, the others 5 AU13E rated at 5500kcal/h and forced ventilators. Their livery is cream with red wide band around side windows and red narrow skirting.
Bogies
They are equipped with DT32E bogies on the powered vehicles and TR69E bogies on the trailers, featuring diaphragm air springs for the secondary suspension, the top of which is slanted in lateral direction, and pedestal type journal supporting system. Their secondary airbag suspension is not mounted to their body directly but mounted in the bogie unit. The parallel cardan drive with hollow shaft is applied for the power transmission device. The gear ratio is 3.50. Their brake rigging is a single tread brake for powered and double disk brake for trailer.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Eight series-wound brushed DC traction motors, MT54D, with a power output of 120kW are controlled by the armature-resistance traction control system, CS15G, fitted to class moha183-0 powered intermediate vehicles. CS15G features a cut-off current limit booster circuit to enable startup at an underground gradient section even though one of the traction systems among a train set is failed besides holding breaking and free selectable speed control. Class kuha183-0 end vehicles are equipped with a motor generator, MH129-DM88, with a power output of 210kVA, an air compressor, MH113B-C2000M under the floor, and an onboard ATC signaling system in the equipment room behind the cab. They adopt electromagnetic straight air brake with the rheostatic brake with pressure intensifying braking over 120km/h to shorten braking distance.
Accommodation
1st class vehicles have 2+2 abreast reclining seating, R27N, with 1160mm seating pitch, and standard class vehicles have 2+2 abreast simplified reclining seating, R51N, with 910mm seating pitch. All vehicles adopt sliding curtains on side windows and roller blinds are adopted together for 1st class. They are equipped with a Japanese style toilet and a washroom at the end of the vehicle. A All toilets employ a chemical holding tank. Restaurant vehicles have a galley and a service entrance for foodstuff toward the front of the vehicle, and a dining room with ten 4-seat tables on both sides located toward the rear. Class saro183 vehicles are equipped with a catering room having an ice cream freezer and a drink refrigerator located at the front, and a conductor rooms toward the front of the passenger room. The toilet and the washroom are not constructed fibre-reinforced plastic but metal wall plates for the incombustibility.
Additional delivery
Standard class vehicles built in 1973 and onward feature improved reclining seating, R51AN, which employ 25mm higher seat for the comfort improvement. Vehicles built in 1974 and onward introduce the load compensating device and the pressure intensity solenoid valve. Tailer vehicles built in 1975 and onward feature TR69H bogie employing diaphragm rubber cylinder for the brake cylinder freezing prevention.
Operations
They entered "Wakashio" intercity services linking Shinjuku and Awa-Kamogawa via Boso-east line, and "Sazanami" services linking Shinjuku and Chikura via Boso-west line in 1972. They also entered 5 round trips of "Azusa" services linking Shinjuku and Matsumoto via Chuo-east line in 1973. Furthermore, they also entered "Shiosai" linking Tokyo and Choshi via Sobu line, and "Ayame" linking Tokyo and Kashima-Jingu via Narita and Kashima lines in 1975. "Wakashio" service operations were shorten to between Tokyo and Awa-Kamogawa and "Sazanami" Tokyo and Chikura at the same time. In addition, they entered "Suigo" services linking Tokyo and Choshi via Narita line by 6-car sets consisting of 4 powered vehicles and 2 trailers. All "Ayame" services, and some of "Wakashio", "Sazanami", and "Shiosai" services began to be operated by 6-car sets during off season. 183-0 series used on "Azusa" were displaced with 183-1000 series at the same time.
At the splitting of the former Japanese National Railways into the new privatized JR companies in April 1987, JR East received all of 183-0 series.
Some of 183-0 series used on "Sazanami" and "Wakashio" services were displaced with 255 series EMU in 1993. The train sets used on "Shiosai" were changed into 8 cars with getting rid of 1st class vehicles. In 2000, the rest of 9-car set services used on the other services was changed into 8 cars with getting rid of 1st class vehicles. 183-0 series were gradually displaced with 183-1000 series. All services used on 183-0 series were displaced with 255 series or E257-500 series. Eventually, 183-0 series had been scrapped completely in 2006. |
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