The Shinkansen of a phantom. DANGAN TRAIN

YASUZIRO SHIMA carried out the opinion to change the railroad orbit width in Japan. He had a talent as a producer rather than an engineer. Therefore, he was engaged in the management of the South Manchuria Railway. In 1931, war started in China. Then, the traffic of the main Tokaido line was saturated instantly and the Japanese government considered construction of a new railroad in 1938. As the island parent and child had participated in this plan, naturally, this railroad was planned on the orbit of an international standard width. Here, the important thing is that this was a plan of the phantom different from the present Shinkansen. In fact, the word "Shinkansen" was made by this time and was used to mean a new main line. However, this plan was called the train of a high-speed like a bullet in those days and was called a DANGAN-TRAIN. A 200-km/h operation was planned in the section of electrification of this plan. This plan was to be constructed from Tokyo to Shimonoseki. Furthermore, there was a plan to build an undersea tunnel in the Tsushima Strait. This considered connection to Manchuria and Korea which Japan of those days governed. However, the Pacific War soon followed and despite the purchase and construction of some long tunnels already being started, this plan is called off because of the war. Therefore, this plan is called the Shinkansen of a phantom. However, this plan had a very important meaning for construction of the next Tokaido Shinkansen.

History of the Shinkansen of Japan "Ltd Exp ASIA"

A narrow gauge was used for the railroads of the Meiji Era in Japan because of a problem of cost. Therefore, in Japan, high speed driving like European and American railroads was not completed. The top speed of the railroads of Japan was 100km/h or less in 1950. Some Japanese politicians and engineers demanded a change of orbital width. However, it was not successful after all from a political situation, a budget problem, etc. Development of the realistic high speed train in Japan started in South Manchuria Railway before the Pacific War. It is in the north-eastern part of present China. This company was managed by capital and technology from Japan. Therefore, almost all the management and engineers were Japanese. The South Manchuria Railway of those days was steam locomotive traction. However, the width of the track was an orbit of the width of a 1,435-mm international standard. In 1934, South Manchuria Railway developed the PASINA series which is the streamlined steam locomotive set by fashion of the West of those days. The South Manchuria Railway connected organization of a streamlined coach with this engine. This is Ltd Express Asia. However, there was a train of a 180-km/h steam locomotive in the West. YASUZIRO SHIMA was in the developer of this limited express ASIA. He is a father of Shinkansen chief engineer HIDEO SHIMA. The Shinkansen was completed by the dream of these two great engineers' parent and child.

JAPAN JNR The 485 Series Ltd.Express Electric Multiple-Unit

The 485 series are the groups of memorable JNR representation vehicles used for the limited express trains which are the most numerous limited express trains used by JNR. The feature of the electrified section is able to run anywhere.
The 485 series were operated from Hakodate in Hokkaido to Kagoshima in Kyushu. The design is very characteristic. In particular, the body of an early bonnet is famous. The designs of the 485 series are the vehicles which almost all Japanese know and they first appeared in 1964. The first 485 series were employed on the Hokuriku Line. It is the track famous for the fire accident in the Hokuriku tunnel.
The head already had a characteristic bonnet type. These vehicles converted a motor in 1968 and came to be called the 485 series and it the area of their activity was extended to all parts of Japan. Then, the design of the top of the vehicle was changed.
A door was attached to it, which was a reconstruction for the connection of a train.
These 485 series are still used as a limited express in Japan.
Moreover, the Seikan Tunnel which is the longest undersea tunnel in the world, is where the 485 series is also operated.

JAPAN JNR The 457 Series Express Electric Multiple-Unit

The latest express in Japan carries a new style motor from the 153 series Electric Multiple-Unit. JNR promoted electrification of the local routes. Electrification of the main line till then was electrification by direct current. JNR promoted electrification by alternating current on the local routes. The electrification by alternating current has simple equipment for the power transmission. Therefore, the train which runs both of the electrification systems was developed. It is an express of the 457 series Electric Multiple-Unit. JNR developed it in 1969. When it was used on the electrified route, these 457 series were able to run on every route. The 457 series were used everywhere in Japan as express trains. They are the same in the Tohoku district and the Kyushu district.
Then, the 457 series were used for the local trains. On the railroads of Japan, the classification called express was almost lost. The classification of the JR trains turned the trains into limited express, rapid, and local trains. Moreover, these 457 series received reconstruction of the various bodies. It was reconstruction for the organization of the trains. This train also appeared in Only Yesterday of Hayao Miyazaki's anime.
This train was a typical train of the district route in Japan. Now, a part of this train is saved in the JR museum.

JAPAN JNR The 165 Series Electric Multiple-Unit

The 153 series Electric Multiple-Units were developed for use on a flat route like the main Tokaido line. However, Japan is a country with many mountains and cold districts. The route of such a district was electrified in the 1960s. A new train was developed for the expresses on the route with the new electrification. It succeeded the design of the 153 series trains.
However, the motor was strengthened sharply for the express 165 series Electric Multiple-Units. This was actually operated from March, 1963.
These 165 series Electric Multiple-Units were operated in Nagano Prefecture or in the direction of Niigata at first. There was a JNR track with a steep slope which is known as the famous Usui Peak. Also, Niigata Prefecture is a heavy snowfall area famous for the Snow Country in Yasunari Kawabata's novel. These vehicles had been designed with the cold weather in mind. This express Electric Multiple-Unit was driven as a typical JNR train of Japan. The engine with exclusive use was required for the passage through Usui peak in those days. It is an EF63 type electric locomotive. For connection to the engine, the train needed a special design.
Therefore, JNR remodeled the 165 series and designed the 169 series. The present Usui peak is only used by the Nagano Shinkansen. However, the scenery exceeding the peak brings back impressive memories.

JAPAN JNR The 153 Series "TOKAI" Electric Multiple-Unit

JNR were using the train of 80 series Electric Multiple-Unit for the semi-express in 1957. It was called the SYONAN train. The famous semi-express, TOKAI, operated between Tokyo and Nagoya Stations. There was also HIEI, a semi-express train operating between Nagoya and Osaka Station. The 80 series realized the operation of a speed quicker than the express of those days. It was technically successful also as a business. However, the equipment in the car of 80 series was the same as that of a local train. Therefore, the equipment in the car for long-distance trains of 80 series was slightly insufficient. It was inferior also to the coaches used for the express or semi-express of those days. Moreover, the drivers window of the 80 series was a characteristic big window made up of two sheets and there was no door of a passage there. Therefore, when it connected, the crew were not able to pass through and an excessive crew was needed. Moreover, the motor of the 80 series was still an old form. Therefore, the local express train was newly developed using the motor of the 101 series Electric Multiple-Unit. This is a train of the local express of 153 series Electric Multiple-Unit. The interior of this train exceeded the conventional coach completely. This train became the foundation in the design of the express train of JNR. This train was called the TOKAI type Electric Multiple-Unit.

The 151 Series Lmt.Express "KODAMA"

The whole of the main-Tokaido-line was made electric in the autumn of 1956. For this reason, the limited express of a new model train which would take 8 hours and 30 minutes to travel between Tokyo Station and Osaka-Station was planned. This new train was an electric Multiple-Unit of the 151 historically famous series. In 1957, JNR produced an electric Multiple-Unit as the first new model. This was the electric Multiple-Unit for limited expresses which were developed based on the design of the 101 series trains. The 151 series were called KODAMA from the name of the first train used in November, 1958.
KODAMA means 'an echo' in English. The name of this is used on the Tokaido Shinkansen even now. The 151 series are the vehicles which symbolize not only the main Tokaido line before Tokaido Shinkansen started business but the golden age of JNR. The impression of the body of this series was the form of its head. This train was driven at 110 km/h. Moreover, the 151 series had new features which included a first-class car and a dining car. The first-class cars were beautiful cars which also ensured a great view. The dining cars were the first ones created as electric Multiple-Units in Japan.
These 151 series became the foundation of the present electric Multiple-Units of the limited express in Japan. In this way, the railroad of Japan became a time of the train. It meant a decline of the engine and the coach.