485 Series

The (and the earlier 481 and 483 series variants) is a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) type introduced in 1964 by Japanese National Railways (JNR), and subsequently operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), West Japan Railway Company (JR-West), and Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). Approximately 1,500 vehicles were built, although by April 2016, JR East is the only operator still using this type.

Variants

* 481 series: Dual-voltage (1,500 V DC / 20 kV AC (60 Hz), introduced 1964
* 483 series: Dual-voltage (1,500 V DC / 20 kV AC (50 Hz), introduced 1965
* 485 series: Dual-voltage (1,500 V DC / 20 kV AC (50 Hz/60 Hz), introduced 1968

481 series

The 481 series trains were introduced in 1964 for use on Hokuriku Line limited services, and were capable of operating under 1,500 V DC or 20 kV AC (60 Hz) overhead wire power supplies. These train were subsequently operated by JR-West and JR Kyushu.

File:JNR-KURO481-1.jpg, A 481 series trainset on a ''Midori'' service circa 1982
File:JNR saro481-1051.jpg, 481 series Green car SaRo 481–1051 in 1985
File:JNR sashi481-52.jpg, 481 series restaurant car SaShi 481–52 in 1985

Interior

File:JNR sashi481-40- syanai.jpg, Interior of SaShi 481-40 restaurant car in 1985

483 series

The 483 series trains were introduced in 1965 for use on Tohoku Main Line limited express services, and were capable of operating under 1,500 V DC or 20 kV AC (50 Hz) overhead wire power supplies. The non-powered trailer cars used in these sets were classified 481 series.

485 series

Variants

* 485 series (original) (from 1968)
* 485–200 series (from 1972)
* 485–300 series (from 1974)
* 485–1000 series (from 1975)
* 485–1500 series (from 1974)
* 485–3000 series (converted from former 485–1000 series trains between 1996 and 2001)
* Joyful Train variants

The 485 series trains were introduced in 1968. These trains were capable of operating under 1,500 V DC or 20 kV AC (50/60 Hz) overhead wire power supplies. The original design was closely based on the bonnet-style 181 series EMU, with the primary difference being ceilings that were higher. However, trains produced from 1972 onwards, starting with the 485–200 series, featured a new design with a cab adapted from the 583 series sleeper expresses, which became the standard on nearly all subsequent JNR limited-express EMUs. The 485–200 series trains had gangway doors at the cab ends to allow trains to be operated in multiple, but the 485–300 series trains introduced from 1974 had no gangways. The 485–1500 series trains were built in 1974 for use in Hokkaido. The 485–1000 series trains built from 1975 onward incorporated design improvements from the DC-only 183-1000 series trains.

Operations

485 series trains were also used on the ''Raichō'' and ''Super Raichō'' services from 1968 until the service ended in March 2011. These trains sometimes utilized a panoramic cab car (numbered KuRo 481–2000) which was a " Green Car".

The '' Inaho'' and '' Hokuetsu'' services have used 485 and 485–3000 series trains since 1969.

The '' Hitachi'' service used 485 series trainsets from 1969 to 1998, when it was replaced by ''Super Hitachi'' and ''Fresh Hitachi'' services.

The ''Tsugaru'' service has used 485–3000 series trains since 2002, when the service started.

The ''Nikkō'' service used a dedicated 6-car 485 series set from March 2006 until 4 June 2011, which was occasionally substituted by a reserve 189 series set nicknamed ''Ayano''. It was replaced by two 6-car 253 series sets from 4 June 2011.

The ''Noto'' has used a single 6-car 485 series train since March 2010, replacing the previous 489 series train.

Currently owned by JR East and formerly by JR-West and JR Kyushu, they also operated in the JR Hokkaido area on regular '' Hakuchō'' services, and in JR Central and JR Shikoku areas providing extra services. The last original JNR-style trainset (Sendai-based set A1+A2) operated by JR East was withdrawn in June 2016 after a series of special farewell ''Hibari'', ''Aizu'', and ''Tsubasa'' runs on 18 and 19 June.

Limited express

File:WestJapanRailwayCompanyType485.jpg, A 485 series train with panoramic cab car (KuRo 481–2000) on a ''Raichō'' service in December 2006
File:JR West 485 superraicho 3.jpg, A JR-West ''Super Raichō'' KuMoHa 485-200 coach
File:JRkyushu485Kirishima.jpg, A JR Kyushu 485–200 series on a ''Kirishima'' service in July 2009
File:JRW 485 series konko extra train kurashiki.jpg, A JR-West 485–300 series in October 2009
File:4851am.jpg, A 485–1000 series set in August 2003
File:JNR 485 katsuta color K60.jpg, A JR East 485–1500 series in November 2007
File:485 G58 Nikko omiya.JPG, A 485 series train on ''Nikkō'' service in May 2011
File:485系3000番台.jpg, A Niigata-based 485–3000 series refurbished train on a Rapid service in September 2018
File:Limited express hakucho 485-3000 bandai.JPG, An Aomori-based 485–3000 series refurbished train on a ''Hakucho'' service in March 2016

Joyful Train sets

File:JRE-485-yu-K30.JPG, ''Resort Express Yū'', May 2006
File:JRE485 Utage Higashi-Koganei 20130621.jpg, ''Utage'', June 2013
File:JRE485 Hana Higashi-Koganei 20130606.jpg, ''Hana'', June 2013
File:JReast485 New Nanohana-131019.jpg, ''New Nanohana'', October 2013
File:Model 485 of YAMANAMI.jpg, ''Yamanami'', April 2007
File:JRE-485-Seseragi.jpg, ''Seseragi'', May 2009
File:Series485-NoDoKa.jpg, ''No.Do.Ka'', December 2016
File:JRE 485 Irodori 20100724.jpg, ''Irodori'', July 2010
File:JRE-Series485-Yamadori.jpg, ''Resort Yamadori'', May 2017
File:Series485-Zipangu Koriyama.jpg, ''Zipangu'', April 2017

Formations

485-3000 series

, only two 485–3000 series refurbished sets remain in service, based at Niigata Depot for use on limited-stop "Rapid" services between and on the Nihonkai Hisui Line. The six-car sets are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Itoigawa end.
The last 485–3000 series-operated rapid trains were discontinued.

* Car 1 includes "Green car" (first class) seating.
* Cars 2 and 4 each have two pantographs.

Preserved examples

, five 485 series cars are preserved, as follows.
* KuHa 481 26: Preserved at the Railway Museum in Saitama, Saitama.
* KuHa 481 246: Preserved at the Kyushu Railway History Museum in Kitakyushu. (front end section only)
* KuHa 481 256: Preserved at the JR Kyushu Kokura Depot in Kitakyushu since October 2016.
* KuHa 481 603: Preserved at the Kyushu Railway History Museum in Kitakyushu.
* MoHa 484 61: Preserved at the Railway Museum in Saitama, Saitama.

File:Railway Museum in Saitama, Japan (3600592549).jpg, KuHa 481 26 preserved at the Railway Museum in Saitama
File:Kyushu Railway History Museum Cut body place.jpg, The cab end of KuHa 481 246 (left) preserved at the Kyushu Railway History Museum in Kitakyushu
File:Kuha481-603.JPG, KuHa 481 603 preserved at the Kyushu Railway History Museum in Kitakyushu

See also

* 489 series

References

Further reading

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{{JR Kyushu rolling stock

Electric multiple units of Japan
East Japan Railway Company
20 kV AC multiple units
West Japan Railway Company
Kyushu Railway Company
Hitachi multiple units
Train-related introductions in 1964
Kinki Sharyo multiple units
Tokyu Car multiple units
Kawasaki multiple units
Nippon Sharyo multiple units
1500 V DC multiple units of Japan