The 2000 series, branded the TSE (Trans Shikoku Experimental) is a tilting Japanese limited express diesel multiple unit operated by the Shikoku Railway Company since March 1989.
History[]
The 2000 series sets were built from 1989 to improve speeds on curvy sections of mountainous lines in the Shikoku region. The trains were co-developed with the Railway Technology Research Institute.
Fifty-nine cars were built by Fuji Heavy Industries (now known as Subaru Corporation); the first set, pre-production three-car TSE set 2001, was delivered on 28 February 1989 and entered service on 11 March the same year with the introduction of the revised timetable; the first full-production sets first entered service on 30 June 1990, with the remaining sets entering service over the coming years. The 2000 series sets also spawned an improved variant, the N2000 series, introduced in 1997; some cars have also been used by the Tosa Kuroshio Railway since 1990. The prototype TSE set was withdrawn from regular service on 17 March 2018.
Due to its outstanding functional and design features, it is one of two recipients of the 1990 Laurel Prize; the other being the JR West 221 series.
Design[]
The 2000 series cars uses a different body design when compared to other diesel multiple units of the era; the design of the sets are far more streamlined than when compared to its contemporaries. The sets feature two cab ends with drastically different appearances; a panoramic cab end and a gangwayed cab end. On the pre-production set, a very large TSE can be seen on the windshields of both cab cars.
Cab variations[]
There are four cab variations of the 2000 series sets; one of which is the standard panoramic front end, the second is the standard gangwayed front end and the other two are used on the pre-production set.
Specifications[]
Construction is of stainless steel. Cars are 21.3 meters long, 2.839 meters wide and 3.385 meters high. The cars use SA6D125H prime movers that produce 330 PS (325 HP, 243 kW) each.
The sets use an inertial tilting mechanism that is controlled by a computer. The system allows them to tilt up to five degrees around curves.
References[]
JR Shikoku rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Active | DC EMUs | Commuter: 113 • 121 • 5000 • 6000 • 7000 • 7200 Limited Express: 8000 • 8600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 32 • KiHa 40 • KiHa 54 • 1000 • 1200 • 1500 Limited Express: KiHa 185 • 2000 • N2000 • 2600 • 2700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Withdrawn | DC EMUs | Commuter: 111 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 20 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 45 Express: KiHa 57 • KiHa 58 • KiHa 65 Limited Express: KiHa 181 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Future | Hybrid MUs | Commuter: Unclassified |
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