The Odakyu 3000 series SE (Super Express) is an articulated Japanese limited express electric multiple unit operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway from July 1957 to July 1968.
History[]
The 3000 series sets were the first of the Odakyu Electric Railway's Romancecars, articulated semi-exclusive resort trains; these were designed by Odakyu, having just spun itself off from the Tokyu Corporation, as a new type of train which could take its passengers from Shinjuku to Hakone in about 60 minutes. At the time as well, the Japanese National Railways's Railway Technology Research Institute was also conducting research regarding high-speed trains which used aviation technology; Odakyu paid attention to this, with the first developments of these trains being a joint development between Odakyu and the JNR.
Construction of the trains was undertaken by Kawasaki Sharyō (now Kawasaki Heavy Industries) and Nippon Sharyo. The trains were tested on the Tōkaido Main Line, where one hit a speed of 145 km/h (90.1 mph); this was the world speed record for narrow gauge trains at the time, with JNR using data from this to further develop their trains. The data used from these tests would ultimately come into play with the introduction of the Shinkansen; as such the 3000 series trains are often credited as the train which caused the impetus for developing the Shinkansen. The trains were introduced into service on 6 July 1957 and given the suffix of SE, standing for "Super Express" but also came to mean "Super Electric Car". The trains were also the recipient of the inaugural Blue Ribbon Award, awarded in 1958.
In the 1960s, complications regarding union struggles at the time arose, with rumors stating opposition if a new type of train was introduced. As a result, for optimization of transport capacity on various lines like the Gotemba Line, it was decided to rebuild and shorten the trains; these entered service on 1 July 1968 as the SSE sets, with all sets ultimately converted.
1 car, 3021, has been preserved; it is currently located at the Romancecar Museum in Ebina, Kanagawa; this was an SSE set with car 3021 restored to its original appearance after retirement.
Odakyu later operated another train with the same 3000 series designation; apart from their name both trains are unrelated.
Design[]
The 3000 series sets use a streamlined front end with mid-mounted circular headlights.
Specifications[]
Construction is of steel. The trains use resistor-controlled traction systems, as well as being the first trains to use disc brakes on the wheel.
The 3000 series trains were also the first to pioneer the use of the musical horn, in this case being variations on a four-note ditty; this was accomplished through the use of an endless magnetic tape reel, with the audio being played through an omnidirectional speaker located on the roof of the cab cars. The tone of the musical horn, described at the time as an "auxiliary alarm", was so distinct that the trains were often affectionately nicknamed the "music box train". The melody was composed by Toshiro Mayuzumi.
Given this relatively new technology however it often had its faults; in particular the tape used to produce the melody often snapped or stretched, rendering it unplayable. Later trains, particularly the 3000 SSE, 3100 and 7000 series trains, used a transistor oscillator circuit instead to produce a synthesized version of the ditty. Due to concerns of noise pollution the horn was largely removed from all trains but returned with the 50000 series sets.
| Odakyu rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Romancecars | 30000 "EXE/EXEα" • 60000 "MSE" • 70000 "GSE" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commuter vehicles | 1000 • 2000 • 3000 (gen 2) • 4000 (gen 2) • 5000 (gen 2) • 8000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-revenue | KuYa 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withdrawn | Limited Express | Romancecar: 3000 (gen 1) "SE/SSE" • 3100 "NSE" • 7000 "LSE" • 10000 "HiSE" • 20000 "RSE" • 50000 "VSE" Diesel: KiHa 5000 • KiHa 5100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| High-performance commuter vehicles | Medium-length body: 2200 • 2220 • 2300 • 2320 • 2400 "HE Car" Long body: 2600 "NHE Car" • 4000 (gen 1) • 5000 (gen 1) • 9000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commuter vehicles | Odawara Express Railway: 1 • 101 • 151 • 201 • 601 ABF cars: 1600 • 1700 • 1900 • 2100 Transferred to Odakyu: 51 • 1500 • 1800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monorails | 500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||