Class 922 Shinkansen

Class 922 Shinkansen
Set T3 in April 2005
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	T1: Hitachi, Kawasaki Sharyō, Kinki Sharyo T2: Hitachi T3: Hitachi, Tokyu Car Corporation
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Family name	Doctor Yellow
Constructed	1964, 1974, 1979
Number built	18 cars (3 sets)
Dimensions	990.2 in (25,150 mm) (end cars) × 133 in (3,380 mm) × 156.5 in (3,975 mm)
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC (60 Hz)
Traction system	Low pressure tap control
Service information
In service	T1: July 1964 – 15 August 1975 T2: October 1974 – October 2001 T3: November 1979 – September 2005
Formation	4 or 7 cars per set
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	T1 – T3
Preservation information
Preserved	1 car
Number scrapped	17 cars

The Class 922 Shinkansen is a non-revenue earning high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways and its successors the Central and West Japan Railway Companies from July 1964 to September 2005.

History

The first Class 922 set, set T1 (also called 922-0), was converted from Class 1000 Shinkansen set B in 1964. With the conversion, the train's paintjob of white with blue accents was changed to yellow with a blue stripe. By 1975, the trainset was considered obsolete and was scrapped.

Before the set became obsolete, a second set, T2 (also called 922-10), was built in 1974 based on the 0 Series Shinkansen. Inspection was carried out in the day at first, but due to the increase in the speed limit on the San'yō Shinkansen to 220 km/h (140 mph), more testing was carried out at night. Once the Japanese National Railways was privatized in 1987, set T2's ownership was transferred to JR Central. Set T2 became surplus to requirements once Class 923 set T4 was delivered and was withdrawn and scrapped in October 2001.

A third set, T3 (also called 922-20), was built in 1979 based on later batches of the 0 Series Shinkansen. T3 was built to help supplement set T2. Once the Japanese National Railways was privatized in 1987, set T3's ownership was transferred to JR West. Set T3 became surplus to requirements once Class 923 set T5 was delivered and was withdrawn and scrapped in September 2005.

Design

Set T1's appearance is identical to that of what it was converted from. Sets T2 and T3 are based on 0 Series Shinkansen cars, and as such, look very similar, if not identical to them.

A commemorative triangular plaque celebrating the Class 1000 Shinkansen's 256 km/h (159 mph) speed record was displayed below the rectangular number plates of set T1.

Specifications

The end cars are 25.015 meters long, cars 2, 3, 4 and 6 are 25 meters long and car 5 is 17.5 meters long. All cars used brushed DC motors with secondary tap changer drives.

Each car on each set would serve a different purpose; the same car on two sets could serve different purposes when compared. Set T1 was 4 cars long; the other two sets were 7 cars long.

Preservation

The following Class 922 Shinkansen cars have been preserved:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
922-26	Hitachi	November 1979	September 2005	T3	SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, Japan	Ex-T3, last operational set

Gallery

Set T1

Set T2

Car 922-26 (ex-T3) in March 2011

References

• Wikipedia.org