The 121 series is a Japanese outer suburban electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways and later the Shikoku Railway Company from March 1987 to October 2018.
History[]
The 121 series was one of the last train sets designed for JNR before it was privatized in 1987. The first set entered service in 23 March 1987 with the introduction of that year's revised timetable, just nine days before JNR's privatization. Apparently, the 121 series was designed as a "future prospect" to be used by the then-soon to be opened JR Shikoku, which was considered to be financially vulnerable at the time. Nineteen two-car sets were built for a total of thirty-eight cars.
Sets 001 and 002 were modified for wanman-only driver operation (driver-only operation) in November 2011 and repainted back into their original liveries of stainless steel with red accents; both sets entered service on 16 December 2011. Starting in 2016, the 121 series are being converted into 7200 series cars; all sets are slated to be converted into 7200 series sets by the end of fiscal 2018, with a special final run program known as the Last Red Belt Final Run Tour to be held on 27 October 2018 to celebrate the retirement of the 121 series sets. The last set, 002, was modified into 7200 series R02 on 18 February 2019.
Design[]
The 121 series' body style is reminiscent of that of the 105 series and similar train sets; this is due to the 121 series being based on the 105 series, with the addition of stainless steel bodies.
Specifications[]
Construction is of stainless steel. Each car is 20 meters long. Traction motors are resistor controlled, which was somewhat obsolete at the time due to the advent of the variable frequency drive. The trains' bogies and pantographs were recovered from withdrawn 101 and 103 series cars.
References[]
JGR/JNR rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JGR | Wooden-bodied EMUs | Commuter: 963 • 6250 • 6260 • 6280 • 6285 • 6300 • 6310 • 6340 • 33400 • 33500 • 43200 • 63100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Steel-bodied EMUs | Commuter: 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 40 • 42 • 50 • 51 • 62 • 63 • 70 • 72 Express: 52 • 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-revenue EMUs | Non-revenue: 7 • 93 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Constant mesh gearbox: KiHa 01 • KiHa 04 • KiHa 07 • KiHa 5000 • KiHa 40000 Diesel-electric: KiHaNi 36450 • KiHa 43000 • KiHa 44000 Miscellaneous: KiSaHa 04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Miscellaneous | Steam railcar: HoJi 6005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JNR | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: 0 • 100 • 200 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922 • 925 • 941 • 951 • 961 • 962 • 1000 Commuter: 711 • 713 • 715 • 717 Limited Express: 781 Non-revenue: 791 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 101 • 103 • 105 • 111 • 113 • 115 • 117 • 119 • 121 • 123 • 201 • 203 • 205 • 207 • 211 • 213 • 301 Limited Express: 151 • 153 • 155 • 157 • 159 • 161 • 165 • 167 • 169 • 181 • 183 • 185 • 189 • 381 Conversions: 1 • 10 • 11 • 12 Non-revenue: 141 • 143 • 145 • 147 • 191 • 193 Proposed: 187 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dual-current EMUs | Commuter: 413 • 415 • 417 • 419 Limited Express: 451 • 453 • 455 • 457 • 471 • 473 • 475 • 481 • 483 • 485 • 489 • 581 • 583 Non-revenue: 21 • 22 • 90 • 441 • 443 • 493 • 495 • 591 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 08 • KiHa 10 • KiHa 15 • KiHa 20 • KiHa 31 • KiHa 32 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 37 • KiHa 38 • KiHa 40 • KiHa 45 • KiHa 54 • KiHa 66 Express: KiHa 55 • KiHa 56 • KiHa 57 • KiHa 58 • KiHa 60 • KiHa 65 • KiHa 90 Limited Express: KiHa 80 • KiHa 181 • KiHa 183 • KiHa 185 Non-revenue: KiYa 191 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GTLs | Non-revenue: KiHa 391 |
JR Shikoku rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Active | DC EMUs | Commuter: 113 • 121 • 5000 • 6000 • 7000 • 7200 Limited Express: 8000 • 8600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 32 • KiHa 40 • KiHa 54 • 1000 • 1200 • 1500 Limited Express: KiHa 185 • 2000 • N2000 • 2600 • 2700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Withdrawn | DC EMUs | Commuter: 111 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 20 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 45 Express: KiHa 57 • KiHa 58 • KiHa 65 Limited Express: KiHa 181 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Future | Hybrid MUs | Commuter: Unclassified |
JR rolling stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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