455 series
A JR East 455 series in 2006
In serviceOctober 1965–March 2015 (general service)
2015–2021 (remaining driving cab mixed from 413/455 series trainsets of JR West)
Constructed1965–1971
Number in service2 vehicles
Number preserved3 vehicles
OperatorsJNR (1965–1987)
JR East (1987–2008)
JR Kyushu (1987–2010)
JR West (1987–2015, 2015-2021)
Echigo Tokimeki Railway (2021–)
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in)
Width2,950 mm (9 ft 8 in)
Doors2 per side
Maximum speed110 km/h (70 mph)
Traction systemResistor control
Traction motorsMT54 120 kW traction motors
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC, 20 kV AC 50 Hz
Current collector(s)Overhead catenary
Multiple working451/453/457/471/473 series
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The 455 series (455系, 455-kei) is a Japanese dual-voltage (1,500 V DC and 20 kV AC 50 Hz) electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) on express services in 1965 and later operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), West Japan Railway Company (JR-West), and Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu).[1]

The last sets operated by JR-West were withdrawn in 2015. However, 2 cars remain in service as the driving car of a mixed 413/455 series set until they resold to the private railway operator in 2021 hence ended their overall service by JR West.

Design

Intended for use in the Tohoku region, the basic design and appearance was identical to the 475 series dual-voltage (1,500 V DC and 20 kV AC 60 Hz) EMUs introduced around the same time in Kyushu, and similar to the earlier 453 and 473 series EMUs.[2] The first units built were not equipped with air-conditioning, except for the SaRo 455 "Green" (first class) cars.[2]

Variants

455-0 series

These were the 455 series cars built from new between 1965 and 1971.[3][2]

With the reduction in express services and gradual reassignment of 455 series sets to local services, a number of cab cars were subsequently rebuilt from intermediate cars or other EMU types from 1975 to allow shorter sets to be formed.[2]

455-200 series

455-300 series

455-400 series

455-500 series

455-600 series

455-700 series

Formations

As of 1 October 2019, JR-West operates 2 KuHa 455-700 cars. These cars are included in mixed 413/455 series three-car sets based at Kanazawa Depot and used on the Nanao Line. They are formed as shown below.

413/455 series set B04 painted in madder red Nanao Line livery
Designation Mc M' Tc'
Numbering KuMoHa 413 MoHa 412 KuHa 455-700

Past formations

As of October 1, 2013, JR-West operated 16 KuHa 455 cars (including two KuHa 455-700 cars), included in mixed 413/455 and 475/455 series three-car sets based at Kanazawa Depot and used on the Hokuriku Main Line. They were formed as shown below.

413 series sets B04 and B11

413/455 series set B04 in July 2013, with its KuHa 455 driving car visible at the rear end
Designation Mc M' Tc'
Numbering KuMoHa 413 MoHa 412 KuHa 455-700

475 series sets A05 and A26

Designation Mc M' Tc'
Numbering KuMoHa 475 MoHa 474 KuHa 455

A typical formation for a combined Bandai (455 series, cars 1 to 6, Ueno - Kitakata) and Iwate (451/453 series, cars 7 to 13, Ueno - Morioka) service as of March 1972 is shown below.[2]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Numbering KuHa 455 MoHa 454 KuMoHa 455 SaRo 455 MoHa 454 KuMoHa 455 KuHa 451 SaHaShi 451 MoHa 450 KuMoHa 451 SaRo 455 MoHa 454 KuMoHa 455

JR East 3-car sets (S2 to S51) based at Sendai Depot and used in the Tohoku region until their withdrawal in 2008 were formed as shown below.[4]

Designation Mc M' Tc'
Numbering KuMoHa 455 MoHa 454 KuHa 455
Rebuilt car KuRoHa 455–1 in 2006 with Green car saloon at the outer end

One JR East 3-car set, S40, based at Sendai Depot, was modified in 1999 with a KuRoHa 455 car at the north end including three rows of "Green" car (first class) accommodation arranged 2+2 abreast.[4]

Designation Mc M' Tc'
Numbering KuRoHa 455-1 MoHa 454-40 KuMoHa 455-40

Key

Interior

Designed for use on express services, passenger accommodation consisted of fixed 4-person seating bays.

Liveries

History

A 455 series formation on a Matsushima express service

The 455 series trains were first introduced from the start of the 1 October 1965 revised timetable, operating on Iwate and Kitakami express services between Ueno in Tokyo and Morioka in the north-east of Japan, and also on Matsushima services between Ueno and Sendai.[2]

From 1 July 1967, 455 series trains were introduced on new Bandai express services operating on the Banetsu West Line.[2] From 1 October 1968, with the completion of AC electrification of the route between Fukushima and Sendai via the Ou Main Line and Senzan Line, 455 series trains were introduced on Zaō services operating between Ueno and Yamagata.[2]

From the late 1960s, JNR was beginning to install air-conditioning on its trains, and 455 series cars built from June 1968 were designed to allow air-conditioning to be added easily at a later date. Air-conditioning was subsequently retrofitted between 1969 and 1975.[2]

With the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen, the number of express services in the region were cut back from the start of the 15 November 1982 timetable revision, and discontinued by March 1985. JR East 455 series sets were reassigned to local services, and withdrawn by 2008.[2]

Preserved examples

Preserved car KuMoHa 455–1 in 2007 before being moved to the Railway Museum in Saitama

As of 2012, three 455 series EMU cars are preserved, all at the Railway Museum in Saitama Prefecture.[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to JNR 455.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j JR全車輛ハンドブック1995 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1995]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1995. pp. 208–210.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 写真とイラストで見る国鉄急行型電車のすべて [JNR Express EMUs in pictures]. Japan: Neko Publishing Ltd. 29 November 2013. pp. 76–89. ISBN 978-4-7770-1532-0.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m JR電車編成表 2014冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2014]. Japan: JRR. 1 December 2013. pp. 253–254. ISBN 978-4-330-42413-2.
  4. ^ a b c d JR電車編成表 '05冬号 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2005]. Japan: JRR. January 2005. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-4-88283-042-9.
  5. ^ Sasada, Masahiro (September 2012). 国鉄&JR保存車大全 [JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide]. Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-4863206175.
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