30 series

30 series
Consist led by KuMoHa 11111 (ex-MoHa 30147) in March 1965
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Kawasaki Sharyō, Kisha Seizō, Nippon Sharyo, Tanaka Sharyō
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1926 – 1928
Number built	258 cars
Dimensions	17,000 mm × Unknown × Unknown
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Traction system	Resistor control
Traction system model	CS5
Service information
In service	1926 – 1980
Formation	Single car, 3 cars per set
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	Various
Scrapped	1958 – 1980
Preservation information
Preserved	None
Number scrapped	253 cars

The 30 series is a Japanese commuter electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1926 to 1980.

Description

The 30 series was an early electric multiple unit used in Japan. The class was intended to replace the wooden DeHa 63100 series cars in service and be capable of carrying more passengers and at faster speeds; obtaining wood following World War I was deemed to be too expensive, which resulted in what was then the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opting to produce new rolling stock out of steel instead. A total of 258 cars were manufactured by four companies from 1926 to 1928; they were originally numbered in as the DeHa 73200, SaRo 73100 and SaHa 73500 series, but due to to naming regulations coming into force in October 1928 they were reclassified the MoHa 30, SaRo 35 and SaHa 36 series respectively.

Intended for use in metropolitan regions, the 30 series cars were first introduced on the Keihin Line (now the Keihin-Tōhoku Line) in 1926; some cars would also be introduced on the Chūō and Yamanote Lines from 1928. Many cars were destroyed during World War II, while numerous other modifications were conducted on the cars. Many cars were renumbered again following naming regulations introduced on 1 June 1953, being renumbered in the MoHa 10, MoHa 11, KuHa 16 and SaHa 17 series among others, while others were further modified into maintenance of way vehicles, such as the KuMoE 21 series. Many other cars were transferred to private railways, such as the Sagami Railway where they were incorporated into the 2000 series. The last remaining 30 series cars were withdrawn by 1980.

Specifications

The 30 series cars were the first steel-bodied trains in use by the JGR and JNR. It used a CS5 traction system controller, an improved version of Shibaura Seisakushō RPC101 controller, which was itself a copy of a General Electric PC controller.

There were a number of significant design changes made to the rolling stock over its production run.