The was a Shinkansen high-speed train type introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in June 1982 for use on the newly opened Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen lines, the first Shinkansen routes built east of Tokyo. Externally, the design was derived from the original 0 series, but were lighter and more powerful to handle the steeper gradients and mountainous terrain on these lines, and incorporated features for winter operation. A total of 700 vehicles, arranged into 66 sets, were built between 1980 and 1991 by Hitachi, Kawasaki, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, and the Tokyu Car Corporation.
The 200 series predated the 100 series; under JNR's numbering scheme, Shinkansen types operating east of Tokyo were assigned even-numbered designations, while those to the west received odd numbers. Following JNR's privatization in 1987, the trains were transferred to the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), and many sets were refurbished during their service lives before being withdrawn from service in 2013.
Design
The 200 Series Shinkansen trains resembled the earlier 0 series trains in styling (some later units had the pointed 'shark nose' of the 100 series), but were lighter and more powerful, since these two lines are mountain routes and have steeper gradients. These lines are also prone to snowfall and the trains had small snowplows fitted, as well as protection of equipment against snow.
It was one of the two recipients of the 23rd Laurel Prize presented by the Japan Railfan Club, the first Shinkansen type to receive that award.
They were originally painted in ivory with a green window band and lower bodyside band, but a number of sets were refurbished and painted into a white-upper/dark blue-lower scheme with new wrap-around cab windows from 1999.
The first units were capable of but later ones can do , and four were converted to be capable of . Some units were also modified with retractable couplers in the nose for coupling with Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa and Akita Shinkansen Komachi Mini-shinkansen sets. In addition, some of the later 200 series Shinkansen trains were fitted with double-deck cars, which had semi-open standard-class compartments on the lower deck and green class (first class) seating on the upper deck. These too have been removed from service.
Withdrawal of the earlier units began in 1997, and the last remaining unrefurbished set was withdrawn in May 2007.
Variants
Since their introduction in 1982, the 200 series sets have been operated in a number of different formations as described below.
E sets (1982–1993)
12-car sets for Tōhoku Shinkansen Yamabiko and Aoba services, and for Jōetsu Shinkansen Asahi and Toki services. These had a maximum speed of , and remained in service until early 1993.
The 12-car E sets were formed as follows.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No. !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 7 !! 8 !! style="background: #FFE6EE"| 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12
|-
! Designation
| Mc || M' || M || M' || Mk || M' || style="background: #F5FFF5"| Ms || M' || style="background: #FFF5F8"| MB || M' || M || M'c
|-
! Numbering
| 221 || 226 || 225 || 226 || 225-400 || 226 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| 215 || 226 || style="background: #FFF5F8"| 237 || 226 || 225 || 222
|}
F sets (1983–2007)
thumb|right|12-car set F19, March 2006
thumb|right|12-car set F8 on [[Gala-Yuzawa Line with pointed nose, January 2006]]
12-car 200-1000 series sets with a maximum speed of which were introduced in November 1983.
From March 1990, four selected 12-car F sets (F90–F93, formerly F54, F59, F14, F16) were upgraded allowing them to run at a maximum of on a small number of down Asahi services. services were discontinued on the Jōetsu Shinkansen from 1998, with the introduction of E2 series trains, and the F90 sets were subsequently used interchangeably with other F sets.
Some F sets are similar to the H sets in that the driving trailer cars were built with a pointed nose, just like the latter. These trains however, feature a solid green line unlike the H sets, where they have two green lines, one thick and one thin, separated by a thin white section near the bottom.
Formations
The 12-car F sets were formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. Car 11 was a Green (first class) car, and car 9 had a buffet counter.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No. !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! style="background: #FFE6EE"| 9 !! 10 !! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 11 !! 12
|-
! Designation
| Mc || M' || M || M' || Mk || M' || M || M' || style="background: #FFF5F8"| MB || M' || style="background: #F5FFF5"| MS || M'c
|-
! Numbering
| 221 || 226 || 225 || 226 || 225-400 || 226 || 225 || 226 || style="background: #FFF5F8"| 237 || 226 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| 215 || 222
|}
Cars 2, 4, 10, and 12 were each fitted with one cross-arm pantograph. (3, 5, 7, and 9 for sets F90-93) Maximum speed was limited to when operating on the Nagano Shinkansen. These sets entered service from 23 June 1990. The last remaining sets were withdrawn from regular service by the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013.
Formations
The K sets are formed as follows.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No. !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 9 !! 10
|-
! Designation
| Mc || M' || M || M' || M || M' || Mpk || M' || style="background: #F5FFF5"| Ms || M'c
|-
! Numbering
| 221 || 226 || 225 || 226 || 225 || 226 || 225 || 226 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| 215 || 222
|}
Interior
<gallery class="center">
File:200 K refurb green car interior Sendai 20020825.jpg|Refurbished Green car, August 2002
File:200 K refurb interior Echigo-Yuzawa 20020101.jpg|Refurbished standard-class car, January 2002
</gallery>
Special event train services
Tohoku Shinkansen 25th anniversary
thumb|Refurbished 10-car set K47 in "revival livery" on a special 25th anniversary working, 23 June 2007
On 23 June 2007, 10-car set K47 was used for a special Yamabiko 931 service from Omiya to Morioka to mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen. Set K47 was specially repainted back into its original ivory and green livery for this event.
Joetsu Shinkansen 30th anniversary
On 17 November 2012, 10-car set K47 was used for a special service, running as Toki 395, from Omiya to Niigata.
Sayonara 200 series Yamabiko
On 30 March 2013, 10-car set K47 was used for a special train operated from Morioka to Tokyo, following the withdrawal of 200 series trains from regular scheduled services on 16 March.
Arigato 200 series
On 13 April 2013, a special service ran from Sendai to Ueno in Tokyo.
Sayonara 200 series
On 14 April 2013, 10-car set K47 was used for two final services from Niigata to Tokyo and from Omiya to Niigata, marking the last public operation of the 200 series trains.
Derailment
thumb|View of the derailed train several days after the earthquake
A refurbished 200 series train (set K25 on the Toki 325 service) derailed on the Jōetsu Shinkansen line while travelling at a speed of approximately between Nagaoka Station and Urasa Station on 23 October 2004 during the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake. Eight of the ten cars were derailed. This was the first derailment of a Shinkansen train in service. None of the 155 passengers on board were injured. Set K25 was officially withdrawn on 25 March 2005.
- 222-35 (ex-set K31) at The Railway Museum in Saitama, Saitama
- 221-1505 (ex-set K25) was at JR East General Training Center in Shirakawa City. Fukushima Prefecture where it was displayed until it was scrapped.
<gallery class="center">
File:Rifu Line 701 EMU train runs.JPG|Five cars of former set F30 stored at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot in January 2003
File:200 249-5 H5 Sendai General Shinkansen Depot 20080726.jpg|Car 249-5 of former set H5 stored at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot in July 2008
File:Nagareyama-Onsen station Platform 20110827.jpg|Preserved 200 series cars next to Nagareyama Onsen Station in Hokkaido in August 2011
</gallery>
See also
- List of high speed trains
Further reading
References
External links
- 200 Series Toki/Tanigawa (Archived on 22 July 2011)