The is a tilting DC

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a numbe ...

(EMU) train type introduced in 1973 by

Japanese National Railways The abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987. Network Railways As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pref ...

(JNR), and currently operated by

West Japan Railway Company , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...

(JR-West), and formerly also operated by

Central Japan Railway Company is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as JR Tōkai ( ja, JR東海, links=no). ''Tōkai'' is a reference to the geographical ...

(JR Central) in Japan.

Fleet

, 136 vehicles were operated by JR-West.

Operations

JR Central

* '' Shinano'' (1973–May 2008)

JR-West

* ''

Kuroshio The , also known as the Black or or the is a north-flowing, warm ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean basin. It was named for the deep blue appearance of its waters. Similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, the K ...

'' (from October 1978 until 30 October 2015) * '' Yakumo'' (from July 1982 to 2023) * '' Kounotori'' (until 31 May 2011, from 1 June 2012 until 30 October 2015) * '' Kinosaki'' (from 1 June 2012 until 30 October 2015) * ''

Hashidate The is a limited express train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Japan. One of the services making up JR West's "Big X Network", it connects Kyoto Station, Amanohashidate Station and Toyooka Station via the Sanin Mai ...

'' (from 16 March 2013 until 30 October 2015) * ''Hanwa Liner'' rapid service (until March 2011) * ''Yamatoji Liner'' rapid service (until March 2011)

Livery variations

File:CentralJapanRailwayCompanyType381-1.jpg, JNR Livery (JR Central ''Shinano'' set), July 2006 File:JRKuroshio-goWakayamaStationM0866.jpg, JR-West ''Kuroshio'' refurbished set File:JR West kuro380 super kuroshio kyoto.jpg, 381 series ''Super Kuroshio'' set, 1992 File:Super-Kuroshio(2).JPG, 381 series ''Super Kuroshio'' KuRo 380 refurbished car File:JRW 381 kantuu.jpg, JR-West ''Yakumo'' set, July 2007 File:JRW yakumo 381 super yakumo color.jpg, JR-West set in ''Super Yakumo'' livery, September 2007 File:JRW the 381 series yuttari yakumo color in soja.jpg, JR-West set in ''Yuttari Yakumo'' livery, December 2009

History

The 381 series EMU was developed from the experimental 591 series 3-car articulated tilting EMU tested from 1970. Trainsets entered revenue service from 10 July 1973 on the '' Shinano'' limited express between Nagoya and Nagano. JR-West 381 series trains were removed from ''

'', '' Kounotori'', '' Kinosaki'', and ''

'' limited express services in October 2015, with the last services operating on 30 October.

Preserved examples

* KuHa 381-1: (built 1973 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries)

SCMaglev and Railway Park The is a railway museum owned by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) in Nagoya, Japan. The museum opened on 14 March 2011. The museum features 39 full-size railway vehicles and one bus exhibit, train cab simulators, and railway model dio ...

, Nagoya. * KuRo 381-11: (built 1974 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) formerly at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, removed in June 2019. * KuRo 381-1104: (built 1978 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) Suita Depot, Osaka. File:Kuha381-1.jpg, Preserved KuHa 381-1 at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, April 2011 File:Kuro 381 Electric Railcar.JPG, KuRo 381 at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, March 2016 File:クロ381-1104.jpg, KuRo 381-1104 in May 2019

References

{{JR-West rolling stock Electric multiple units of Japan Central Japan Railway Company Tilting trains Train-related introductions in 1973 Hitachi multiple units Kawasaki multiple units Kinki Sharyo multiple units 1500 V DC multiple units of Japan