EMU JR East 400 series is preserved in the Railway Museum
One of the new exhibitions in the Railway Museum is the EMU JR East 400 series. The 400 series was the Yamagata "shinkansen" (new trunk line for high speed trains) train, which was a kind of mini-shinkansen that was not constructed the same as the standard full-sized shinkansen. The Yamagata shinkansen was originally constructed as a conventional line with a narrow gauge (1,067 millimeters); however, the gauge was later changed to the standard gauge (1,435 millimeters). The 400 series could enter the mini-shinkansen (the Yamagata shinkansen) directly from the standard shinkansen (the Tohoku shinkansen).
The 400 series was launched in 1992. A total of 12 sets, 84 units, were built by Tokyu Sharyo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi. The length of the body is 20 meters, while a full-sized shinkansen train body is 25 meters. The width of the body is 2.945 meters, which is narrower than that of a full-sized shinkansen train. Because of its narrow width, the 400 series has special steps that are automatically drawn from the body to fill in the gaps between the passenger doors and the platform at stations on the standard shinkansen.
The technical specification of the 400 series is rather old. For instance, its electric control system is not the advanced VVVF (variable frequency drive), but the old thrystor drive. However, the design of the body is futuristic, specifically its long nose and the silver metallic body.
The 400 series was replaced by the E3 series, and retired from the track in 2010. Currently, only one unit (number 411-3) is preserved in the Railway Museum.
The 400 series was launched in 1992. A total of 12 sets, 84 units, were built by Tokyu Sharyo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi. The length of the body is 20 meters, while a full-sized shinkansen train body is 25 meters. The width of the body is 2.945 meters, which is narrower than that of a full-sized shinkansen train. Because of its narrow width, the 400 series has special steps that are automatically drawn from the body to fill in the gaps between the passenger doors and the platform at stations on the standard shinkansen.
The technical specification of the 400 series is rather old. For instance, its electric control system is not the advanced VVVF (variable frequency drive), but the old thrystor drive. However, the design of the body is futuristic, specifically its long nose and the silver metallic body.
The 400 series was replaced by the E3 series, and retired from the track in 2010. Currently, only one unit (number 411-3) is preserved in the Railway Museum.
EMU JR East 400 series (left) and the mock-up of the EMU JR East E5 series (right)