Background and overview
In 1986, Japanese National Railways (JNR) added multiple unit control to
some of EF81-0 locos in order to replace superannuated EF30 locos to haul
the passenger and freight services through Kanmon Tunnel between Shimonoseki
and Moji. They were classified into -400 subclass. Jumper couplers for
train-heating was removed because trains running through Kanmon Tunnel
didn't use train-heating. EF81-400 owned by JR Kyushu also removed train
heating indicator lights. Their traction rectifier, RS36A, still included
inverter function for train-heating. The third wiring of the traction transformer,
TM17, also remained.
Operations
Although EF81-400 locos owned by JR Kyushu had been used to haul "Blue Train" coaches between Shimonoseki and Ohita, All EF81-400 locos were withdrawn because of the discontinuance of "Blue Train" coaches.
EF81-400 locos owned by JR Freight had been used to haul "Blue Train"
coaches between Shimonoseki and Hakata, and freight services between Hatabu
and Fukuoka freight terminal. After the discontinuance of hauling "Blue
Train" coaches, their service area was extended to Kagoshima freight
terminal and Nabeshima, Saga Pref, in 2010. Their service area was further
more extended to Minami-Nobeoka, Miyazaki Pref, in 2013.
However, JR Freight delivered new multi-voltage AC/DC electric locomotive, EH500, EF81-400 locos were gradually withdrawn. Now remaining 3 EF81-400 locos are used on the freight services of Sanyo, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, and Nippo lines. |
|
| Technical Data |
| Items |
Data |
| Supply
Voltage |
1,500VDC,
20,000V 50/60Hz AC |
| Service
speed |
115km/h |
| Max power |
2,550kW
(DC), 2,370 (AC) |
| Length |
18,600mm |
| Width |
2,900mm |
| Total
mass |
100.8t |
| Axle arrangements |
B0-B0-B0 |
| Bogie |
DT138
(End), DT139 (Intermediate) |
| Current pickup |
PS22 |
| Traction
motor |
MT52A |
| Rheostatic vernier control system |
CS36B, CS36C |
| Field control system |
CS37B |
| Transformer |
TM17 |
| Rectifier |
RS36A, RS36B |
| Designed
by |
Japanese National Railways |
|
|
