Toden 7000 series

Toden 7000 series
7003 in July 2016
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo, Naniwa Kōki, Nippon Sharyo, Shibaura Works, Tokyu Car Corporation, Tōyō Kōki Alna Kōki (new bodies)
Type of locomotive	Light rail vehicle
Constructed	1954 – 1956
Number built	93 cars
Dimensions	12,500 – 12,550 mm × 2,700 mm × 3,100 mm
Gauge	4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)
Power supply	600 V DC
Electric system(s)	Pantograph
Traction system	Resistor control
Traction system model	Nippon Sharyo KR-8 Toshiba PC200K Nippon Sharyo NC-170
Service information
In service	February 1954 – 10 June 2017
Formation	Single car
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	7001 – 7093
Refurbished	1977 – 1978, 1986, 2002
Scrapped	1967 – 1972, 1991 – 2017
Preservation information
Preserved	5 cars
Number scrapped	65 cars

The Toden 7000 series is a Japanese streetcar type operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei) on the Tokyo Toden network from February 1954 to June 2017.

History

The 7000 series was a series of streetcars manufactured for the Tokyo Toden network; the cars were introduced in February 1954, having both front and middle doors. A total of 93 cars were built in three different batches from 1954 to 1956, including ten cars which were rebuilt by Kinki Sharyo from 1000 and 1100 series cars. They were deployed on all lines apart from the Suginami Line.

The abolition of a significant number of lines on the Toden network starting in the mid-1960s resulted in the withdrawals of most of the class; 10 cars were transferred to the Hakodate City Transport Bureau in 1970. By 1972, only 31 cars remained in service, all from the third batch of cars, only operating on Routes 27 and 32 on the Toden network. Although the Toden system was scheduled to be abolished, the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation made the decision to merge both Routes 27 and 32 into a singular line named the Arakawa Line; all 31 cars would continue their operation on these lines.

In preparation for wanman operation on the line to be implemented in 1978, all 31 cars were rebuilt with new bodies manufactured by Alna Kōki from 1977 to 1978. In 1986, air conditioning was fitted and their bow collectors replaced with a pantograph. Withdrawals would commenced again in 1991 with the introduction of more modern rolling stock such as the 8500 series, with further withdrawals occurring in the coming years. In the mid-2010s, Toei announced they would take eight 7000 series cars and update them to more modern standards, becoming what would be known as the 7700 series; these cars entered service in May 2016. The last car, 7022, was withdrawn on 10 June 2017, itself being replaced by a 7700 series car, bringing to an end the 63-year service life of the 7000 series sets.

Design

When built the 7000 series cars featured a standard streetcar design typical of the 1950s; they were painted in Toden's corporate colors of yellow with red accents. The cars were later rebuilt with a more modern angular body design; their new body design is stated to have influenced a number of future streetcar designs in Japan. The cars were later repainted in Toei's new corporate livery of cream with green accents.

Specifications

Construction of the cars is of steel. The cars use a Nippon Sharyo-manufactured resistor controlled traction system and nose suspension driveshaft. Many of the cars' parts have been replaced over time due to their age; an example is shown with 7001, where the only original parts include the throttle handle, throttle casing and bogie journals and casing.

Incidents

7020 was heavily damaged in a rear-end collision during a test run between Kajiwara and Sakaemachi on 13 June 2006. 7020 was immediately taken out of service with a blue tarp placed over it; it was then cannibalized for parts and scrapped in 2008.

Preservation

The following 7000 series cars have been preserved:

Number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Former number	Location	Notes
7001	Nippon Sharyo	December 1955	April 2017	7055	Arakawa Depot, Tokyo, Japan	Lead member of class; operationally preserved
7008			December 2012	7062	Haginaka Park, Tokyo, Japan	Displayed outdoors
7011			December 2012	7065	Owada Park, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan	Displayed outdoors within fence; number rubbed off
7022	Kinki Sharyo	March 1954	January 1968	N/A	Atarashiki-mura, Moroyama, Saitama, Japan	Unrebuilt, body only; displayed under shelter
7024					Motoyoshiwara Elementary School, Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan	Unrebuilt, displayed indoors with C57 30; visits must be arranged with school after 4 pm
7006	Nippon Sharyo	December 1955	March 1991	7060	Toei Training Center, Tokyo, Japan	Front half only; used as teaching material

The following 7000 series cars were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:

Number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Former number	Last location	Notes
7021	Kinki Sharyo	March 1954	January 1968	N/A	Iwaki Shiritsu Uchimachi Elementary School, Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan	Unrebuilt; scrapped at unknown date
7023					Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan	Unrebuilt, numbered 7030; scrapped at unknown date
7033	Nippon Sharyo	1955	November 1972		Hakodate Dairy Corporation, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan	Unrebuilt, car body only; scrapped 2019