The 157 series, originally classified as the 22 series, is a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways from September 1959 to February 1980.
History[]
The 157 series sets were originally produced from 1959 to 1963 to speed up the Nikkō services on the recently electrified Nikkō Line. When originally designed, the 153 series sets were known as the 22 series sets, but were reclassified as the 157 series sets due to the redesgination of various trains on 1 June 1959.
The sets were used on various services such as the Amagi and Shirane services. The last sets were removed from regular service on 28 February 1976 and were officially retired on 15 February 1980.
Design[]
The sets had body styles similar to the ones used on the 153 series sets; the sets also somewhat resemble the 155 and 159 series sets.
Imperial car KuRo 157-1[]

Stored at Tamachi Depot in March 1989
This is an imperial car that was manufactured by Kawasaki Sharyō (now known as Kawasaki Heavy Industries) in July 1960. The car was originally manufactured as an alternative car to the KuRo 49 series car manufactured in 1931. One end of the car featured a driving cab similar to that of the 153 series cars; sets were however very rarely used with this car leading, with this car inserted between various other cars of a 157 series set instead.
The car was officially retired from the JNR fleet in February 1982. The set was moved to Shinmaebashi Depot (today's Takasaki Depot) in March 1983 by a 183 series set. The imperial car was repainted into a new color scheme of ivory with a green stripe the same year after it arrived at the depot as the 185 series sets were to be allocated there; ostensibly this was to allow the car to be used with the 185 series cars which had roughly the same paintscheme.

Being stored at the Tokyo General Rolling Stock Center in December 2012
When the JNR was privatized on 1 April 1987, ownership of the car was transferred to JR East. The car was originally planned to be used as the imperial car for the then-Heir apparent Akihito, but he apparently disliked special treatment. The car was also planned to be used as a car in a charter train, but various circumstances such as the difficulty of sourcing spare parts for what was extremely dated technology became very apparent and the plans fell through. The last operation of the car was 8 September 1993.
The car was stored at the now-inactive Tamachi Depot for many years, where people could enter the depot for free and take photos of the rolling stock there, including the imperial car; the car was later moved to Tokyo General Rolling Stock Center in the early hours of 2 December 2012 by 145 series tractor unit KuMoYa 145-112 and 143 series tractor units KuMoYa 143-8 and KuMoYa 143-9 and stored out of public view.
The car remains registered in JR East's fleet register.
Preservation[]
The following 157 series cars have been preserved:
Car number | Manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Previous sets | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KuRo 157-1 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | June 1960 | February 1982 | N/A | Tokyo General Rolling Stock Center, Tokyo, Japan | Imperial car, stored out of public view; remains registered in JR East's fleet register |
Specifications[]
Construction is of steel. Traction motors are resistor controlled, which was standard for the time.
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 East rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||
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Active | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: E2 • E3 • E5 • E6 • E7 • E8 Non-revenue Shinkansen: E926 • E956 Commuter: 701 • 719 • E721 Limited Express: E751 | ||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 115 • E127 • E129 • E131 • 205 • 209 • 211 • E217 • E231 • E233 • E235 Limited Express: 185 • 253 • E257 • E259 • E261 • E353 Non-revenue: 209-0 | |||||||||||||||
Dual-current EMUs | Commuter: 415 • E501 • E531 Limited Express: E653 • E657 Charter: E655 Non-revenue: E491 • E493 | |||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 40 • KiHa 100 • KiHa 110 • KiHa E120 • KiHa E130 Non-revenue: KiYa E193 • KiYa E195 | |||||||||||||||
AC BEMUs | Commuter: EV-E801 | |||||||||||||||
DC BEMUs | Commuter: EV-E301 | |||||||||||||||
Hybrid MUs | Commuter: KiHa E200 • HB-E210 • GV-E400 Charter: E001 • HB-E300 Non-revenue: GV-E197 | |||||||||||||||
Fuel cell MUs | Non-revenue: FV-E991 | |||||||||||||||
Other MUs | Non-revenue: E991 | |||||||||||||||
Withdrawn | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: 200 • 400 • E1 • E4 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 925 • 952/953 • E954 • E955 Commuter: 715 • 717 Non-revenue: 740 • 743 | ||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 12 • 101 • 103 • 105 • 107 • 113 • 123 • 201 • 203 • 207 • 215 • 301 • E331 Limited Express: 157 • 165 • 167 • 169 • 183 • 189 • 251 • 255 • E351 Non-revenue: 90 • 143 • 145 • 193 • 901 • E993 | |||||||||||||||
Dual-current EMUs | Commuter: 417 • 451 • 453 • 455 • 457 Limited Express: 485 • 489 • 583 • 651 Non-revenue: 441 • 443 • 497 • E991 | |||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 20 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 37 • KiHa 38 • KiHa 45 Express: KiHa 58 Charter: KiHa 141 Non-revenue: KiYa 191 | |||||||||||||||
Hybrid MUs | Non-revenue: KiYa E991 • KuMoYa E995 | |||||||||||||||
Future | Hybrid MUs | Commuter: HB-E220 |
JR rolling stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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