The E491 series, branded the East i-E, is a Japanese non-revenue dual-voltage electric multiple unit operated by the East Japan Railway Company since March 2002 for track and overhead line inspection.
History[]
This three-car set was introduced in 2002 to replace the aging 193 and 443 series track inspection sets and MaYa 34 series non-powered inspection cars. The set is based at Katsuta Depot.
The set was given an identification number of ID-23 in 2018.
Design[]
This three-car set had a non-streamlined design with large headlights. The end cars have provisions for a camera mount which holds a special omnidirectional camera.
Specifications[]

Double-headed coupler
The set is constructed of stainless steel. Car 1 is used to inspect communication equipment and signals, car 2 is used to inspect overhead lines while car 3 is used to inspect track; car 2 has special lozenge-type pantographs used to inspect the overhead lines. Cars are 20 meters long, 2.9 meters wide and 4.051 meters tall. Traction motors are powered by Hitachi insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives which produce a melodic cadence as the train accelerates from idle.
The E491 series set also has a double-headed coupler with both knuckle- and Shibata-type coupler heads (the Shibata-type couplers are a modified version of Scharfenberg couplers). This allows it to connect to both electric multiple units and diesel multiple units. Both couplers are situated perpendicularly from each other and mounted on a rotating post, so a simple rotation allows it to couple to a train with either Shibata-type couplers or knuckle couplers.
The E491 series is equipped with a later version of a musical horn that is standard on most of JR East's limited express fleet. The musical horn is usually blasted when the set is about to depart.
See also[]
- KiYa E193 series, non-revenue diesel multiple unit that is similar in appearance and is used for a very similar purpose
References[]
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 |
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