The Tobu 1720 series, branded DRC (Deluxe Romance Car), is a mid-capacity limited express electric multiple unit used by the Tobu Railway from October 1960 to September 1991.
History[]
The 1720 series was produced as a competitor to the JNR's 151 series sets; these were noted as being faster than their 151 series counterparts. The trains were intended to be used around the Nikkō area and to cater to tourists. Service began on 9 October 1960. From 1960 to 1973, a total of seven six-car sets were built by Naniwa Kōki (now Alna Sharyo) and Nippon Sharyo. Both 1700 series sets were later upgraded to 1720 series-specifications, essentially bringing the 1720 series fleet to nine six-car sets.
In November 1960, higher-speed tests were conducted with a goal of increasing train speeds from 100 km/h (62 mph) to 110 km/h (68 mph) with 115 km/h (71 mph) as a goal. An experimental four-car consist was used for this test; while traveling at 115 km/h the emergency brake was applied, causing the train to screech and wear out the wheels. All further tests were canceled on the account that upgrading equipment to 115 km/h operation had too prohibitive a cost, so it was decided that equipment would be upgraded for 110 km/h operation. This work was completed by September 1962.
The trains were refurbished from 1967 to 1969, giving the trains more modern equipment such as new upholstery for seats and new carpeting and flooring. From the late 1980s, the 1720 series sets were considered "antique" by numerous publications; due to Tobu's apparently conservative stance on procuring new trains the 1720 series sets remained in service for over 20 years, while by this time many of the other railways had begun retiring or had fully retired their fleets of early limited express trains. Come 1990, the 100 series sets entered service to replace the 1720 series sets, with all 1720 series sets retired by 31 August 1991. In commemoration of the 100 series sets being the recipient of the 1991 Blue Ribbon Award, a 1720 series service was operated on special and return trips for a commemorative service on 8 September 1991. This was the last time a 1720 series set would operate. After their retirement, the 1720 series's traction motors, bogies, seats and other parts were reused for the production of the 200 series sets.
Four 1720 series cars have been preserved, consisting of two cab cars and two intermediate cars. MoHa 1721, the first car built, is located at the Tobu Museum; only its cab is preserved. Moha 1724 and MoHa 1725, two intermediate cars, are preserved near Kobe Station on the Watarase Keikoku Railway and act as restaurants. MoHa 1726 is preserved near Iwatsuki Castle in Saitama. All cars can be entered but they are not always open for visitors.
Design[]
The 1720 series sets feature a "bonnet"-style design similar to that of the 151 series sets these were intended to compete against. The cab design takes inspiration from contemporary automotive design with a fender-like design. The sets feature a cluster of three lights on the front arranged in two rectangular columns. A headboard on the cab indicates what service the trains operate on, such as the Kegon or Kinu services. These are manually replaced for each service. The trains's color scheme is based on JNR's limited express livery of cream and light brown.
Specifications[]
Construction is of steel. The sets feature a 20 meter length, the first of its kind on the Tobu Railway for a limited express vehicle.
The trains used a decentralized air-conditioning system. All cars were equipped with three-stage locking and reclining rotating seats with footrests. Each seat had a folding table which could fold down and be used even when the seats were facing each other. Car 4 featured a salon room with eight swiveling seats and a jukebox; the jukebox's needle was designed specifically to not bounce when the train vibrating and prevent garbled audio as a result. With the advent of portable music players and CDs it became difficult to find records for the jukebox and the jukebox was ultimately removed in 1989 and replaced with standard seating. There were initially no plans to install these eight seats and the jukebox until complaints from Tobu's design office arose.
Cars 2 and 5 were dining cars with buffet-style spreads. The saloon room initially featured a landline telephone; due to a lack of progress regarding installation of the service equipment required for these to function the telephones were removed. A card-type public telephone would later be added in 1987.
Incidents[]
On 15 December 1984, 1751 collided into a car at a level crossing. MoHa 1755 and MoHa 1756 were damaged in the incident and were removed from the formation; the remaining four cars were towed away by a two 7800 series cars. 5700 series cars were deployed as a temporary measure for use on some timetables coupled in six-car formations, although there was a marked performance difference. Limited express ticket holders asked to get on the 5700 series services did so if they wanted to, with the premium for a limited express seat refunded. MoHa 1755 and MoHa 1756 were repaired and returned to service on 12 January 1985.
Gallery[]
| Tobu rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Limited Express | 100 (gen 2) "Spacia" • 200 (gen 2) "Ryōmō" • 500 "Revaty" • N100 "Spacia X" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Express | 634 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commuter vehicles | 800 • 850 • 8000 • 9000 • 9050 • 10000 • 10030 • 10080 • 10400 • 20000 • 20050 • 20080 • 30000 • 50000 • 50050 • 50070 • 50090 • 60000 • 70000 • 70090 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withdrawn | Limited Express | 250 "Ryōmō" • 300 • 350 • 1700 • 1720 "DRC" • 1800 • 5300 • 5700 • 6000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commuter vehicles | Original: DeHa 1 • 32 • 54 • KuHa 450 • 2000 • 2080 • 3000 • 3050 • 3070 • 5000 • 5050 • 5070 • 6050 • 7300 • 7800 Transferred to Tobu: MoHa 1600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Streetcars | Single car: De 1 • De 10 • 100 (gen 1) Articulated: 200 (gen 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DMUs | KiHa 1 (from various railways) • KiHa 2 (from various railways) • KiHa 3 • KiHa 4 • KiHa 10 • KiHa 20 • KiHa 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Future | Commuter | 80000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||