183 series

183 series
OM103 and OM101 in January 2013
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	JR West's Matsutō Works, JR West's Suita Works, JR West's Takatori Works, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1972 – 1982 1990 – 1991, 1996, 2004, 2009 (JR West conversions)
Number built	353 cars
Dimensions	21,000 mm (end cars) × 2,946 mm × 3,475 – 3,991 mm
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Traction system	Resistor control
Service information
In service	15 July 1972 – 20 May 2015
Formation	4, 6, 9, 10, 11 or 12 cars per set
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	Various A41 – A47, B41, B61 – B66, BB67 – BB69, C1 – C4, C31 – C36, M1 – M32, OM101 – OM103 (known numbers as of March 2018)
Preservation information
Preserved	6 cars
Number scrapped	347 cars

The 183 series is a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways and its various successor companies from July 1972 to May 2015.

History

The 183 series was designed in 1972 and put into service from 15 July 1972. The 512 cars built were originally based at Makuhari Depot, but were then moved to various other depots. Two variants of the trains were built.

JR West's fleet of 183 series trains was completely retired on 16 March 2013, while the last set owned by JR East retired on 20 May 2015. Before their retirement, the 183 series sets were mainly used on additional seasonal services.

Design

The 183 series uses a traditional design directly based on the later-design 485 or 489 series sets.

Specifications

Construction is of steel. End cars are 21 meters long while intermediate cars are 20.5 meters long. Traction motors were resistor controlled, which was standard for the time.

A unique trait of the 183 series sets is that there are two distinct variants of the sets. JR East's 183 series sets are new-build sets, and can be differentiated from 485 or 489 series sets by a lack of a gangway door and having two doors per side as opposed to one. JR West's 183 series sets, however, are actually DC-only conversions of 485 and 489 series sets used by JR West, with the AC equipment either disconnected or removed.

Preservation

The following 183 series cars have been preserved:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
KuHa 183-1529	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	July 1978	January 2014	OM101	Kezōji-yuen, Gunma, Japan	Offered as a replacement for C61 20 which was removed for restoration to operational condition; displayed since March 2014
KuHa 183-1009	Tokyu Car Corporation	September 1975	June 2008	C4	The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan	Coupled to MoHa 188-31, acts as resting area
KuHa 183-1020		January 1976				Coupled to MoHa 189-31, acts as resting area
KuHa 183-21	Kinki Sharyo	July 1972	May 2006	M23	Poppo-no-oka, Chiba, Japan	Cab only, only preserved 183-0 series car
KuHa 183-1527	Nippon Sharyo	June 1978	March 2015	OM103, N104		Preserved since April 2015
KuHa 182-102	Kinki Sharyo	March 1974	February 2015	OM102
KuHa 183-1002	Nippon Sharyo	December 1974	December 1996	M16	Yume House Azusa, Nagano, Japan	Used as guesthouse

Gallery

A42 on a Monju service in February 2011

M32 on a Moonlight Echigo service in April 2010

See also

• 189 series, very similar sets able to cope with the 66.7‰ grades of the Usui Pass

References

• Wikipedia.org