591 series

591 series

The set circa 1970s

Technical specifications

Manufacturer(s)

Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Type of locomotive

Electric multiple unit

Constructed

1970

Number built

3 cars (1 set)

Dimensions

Unknown

Gauge

3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

Power supply

Pantograph

Electric system(s)

20 kV AC (50/60 Hz), 1,500 V DC

Traction system

Resistor control

Service information

In service

1970 – 1973

Formation

2/3 cars per set

Number in service

None

Fleet numbers

None

Scrapped

1980

Preservation information

Preserved

None

Number scrapped

3 cars (1 set)

The 591 series was an experimental Japanese dual-voltage tilting electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways from 1970 to 1973.

History

The 591 series was designed in 1967 to be a train that could increase speeds on curved sections of various lines; this was during a time when railway companies like Odakyu Electric Railway were experimenting with tilting trains.

The train was built in 1970 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and entered service from there on the Tōhoku Main Line. The train was also used as a prototype for the first mass-produced Japanese tilting electric multiple unit; the 381 series. With the introduction of the 381 series in 1973, however, the role of the 591 series as a test train ended and it was stored at Okaya Station until 26 March 1980 where it was scrapped on-site.

Despite its storage at Okaya Station for some time, JNR tried various ways to get the 591 series back in use, such as fitting it experimentally with gas turbines like the KiHa 391 series; however, none of these plans came to fruition.

A DT96 bogie from the set was preserved at the Modern Transportation Museum in Minato-ku, Osaka until its closure in 2014 and is currently unaccounted for.

Design

The 591 series had two design variations for its cab cars. One end uses a traditional design externally somewhat similar to trains of the time, such as the 485 and 183 series; this cab design would carry over to the later 381 series in some form. The other cab car has a more subdued, non-streamlined design.

Specifications

Very little information is available about the construction of the 591 series. There was a mounting slot on the cab cars which could mount a plaque, à la limited express trains of the time like the 183 and 381 series; the plaque could have various sayings, but the saying of "Tilting Train KuMoHa 591" was most commonly seen. Other plaques said things like "High Speed KuMoHa 591", "High Speed on Curves" or "Test Running by Kawasaki Heavy Industries". The streamlined cab car's mounting slot is prominently placed in the middle of the car, while the non-streamlined cab car's mounting slot is mounted above the right headlight fixture. The set used a simple inertial tilting system with a roller shaft mounted in a heart-shaped track which allowed the set to tilt and maintain speed around curves.

The set initially featured an intermediate car mounted on shared bogies connected to the cab cars; the intermediate car was later removed when problems were found with the shared bogies and the set was rebuilt as a two-car set with fixed bogies at JNR's Kōriyama Works; it remained in this form until it was scrapped. The train used a combination of both resistor and chopper-controlled traction motors.

Gallery

Gangwayed cab end

References

JGR/ JNR rolling stock
JGR	Wooden-bodied EMUs	Commuter: 963 • 6250 • 6260 • 6280 • 6285 • 6300 • 6310 • 6340 • 33400 • 33500 • 43200 • 63100
	Steel-bodied EMUs	Commuter: 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 40 • 42 • 50 • 51 • 62 • 63 • 70 • 72 Express: 52 • 80
	Non-revenue EMUs	Non-revenue: 7 • 93
	DMUs	Constant mesh gearbox: KiHa 01 • KiHa 04 • KiHa 07 • KiHa 5000 • KiHa 40000 Diesel-electric: KiHaNi 36450 • KiHa 43000 • KiHa 44000 Miscellaneous: KiSaHa 04
	Miscellaneous	Steam railcar: HoJi 6005
JNR	AC EMUs	Shinkansen: 0 • 100 • 200 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922 • 925 • 941 • 951 • 961 • 962 • 1000 Commuter: 711 • 713 • 715 • 717 Limited Express: 781 Non-revenue: 791
	DC EMUs	Commuter: 101 • 103 • 105 • 111 • 113 • 115 • 117 • 119 • 121 • 123 • 201 • 203 • 205 • 207 • 211 • 213 • 301 Limited Express: 151 • 153 • 155 • 157 • 159 • 161 • 165 • 167 • 169 • 181 • 183 • 185 • 189 • 381 Conversions: 1 • 10 • 11 • 12 Non-revenue: 141 • 143 • 145 • 147 • 191 • 193 Proposed: 187
	Dual-current EMUs	Commuter: 413 • 415 • 417 • 419 Limited Express: 451 • 453 • 455 • 457 • 471 • 473 • 475 • 481 • 483 • 485 • 489 • 581 • 583 Non-revenue: 21 • 22 • 90 • 441 • 443 • 493 • 495 • 591
	DMUs	Commuter: KiHa 08 • KiHa 10 • KiHa 15 • KiHa 20 • KiHa 31 • KiHa 32 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 37 • KiHa 38 • KiHa 40 • KiHa 45 • KiHa 54 • KiHa 66 Express: KiHa 55 • KiHa 56 • KiHa 57 • KiHa 58 • KiHa 60 • KiHa 65 • KiHa 90 Limited Express: KiHa 80 • KiHa 181 • KiHa 183 • KiHa 185 Non-revenue: KiYa 191 • KiHa 391

JR rolling stock

Shinkansen Active JR West 500 • 700 • N700 • N700S • W7 JR East E2 • E3 • E5 • E6 • E7 • E8 JR Central N700 • N700S JR Kyushu N700 • N700S • 800 JR Hokkaido H5 Withdrawn JR West 0 • 100 • 300 JR East 200 • 400 • E1 • E4 JR Central 0 • 100 • 300 • 700 Future JR Central L0 Non-revenue JNR 922 • 925 • 941 • 951 • 961 • 962 • 1000 JR West 922 • 923 • 500-900 JR East 925 • 952/953 • E926 • E954 • E955 • E956 JR Central 922 • 923 • 955 RTRI FGT-9000 • GCT01 • GCT01-200 • ML100 • ML500 • ML500R • MLU001 • MLU002 • MLU002N • MLX01 Other JR Central Super Hikari Model JR East rolling stock Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: E2 • E3 • E5 • E6 • E7 • E8 Non-revenue Shinkansen: E926 • E956 Commuter: 701 • 719 • E721 Limited Express: E751 DC EMUs Commuter: 115 • E127 • E129 • E131 • 205 • 209 • 211 • E217 • E231 • E233 • E235 Limited Express: 185 • 253 • 255 • E257 • E259 • E261 • E353 Non-revenue: 209-0 Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 415 • E501 • E531 Limited Express: E653 • E657 Charter: E655 Non-revenue: E491 • E493 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 40 • KiHa 100 • KiHa 110 • KiHa E120 • KiHa E130 Non-revenue: KiYa E193 • KiYa E195 AC BEMUs Commuter: EV-E801 DC BEMUs Commuter: EV-E301 Hybrid MUs Commuter: KiHa E200 • HB-E210 • GV-E400 Charter: E001 • HB-E300 Non-revenue: GV-E197 Fuel cell MUs Non-revenue: FV-E991 Other MUs Non-revenue: E991 Withdrawn AC EMUs Shinkansen: 200 • 400 • E1 • E4 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 925 • 952/953 • E954 • E955 Commuter: 715 • 717 Non-revenue: 740 • 743 DC EMUs Commuter: 12 • 101 • 103 • 105 • 107 • 113 • 123 • 201 • 203 • 207 • 215 • 301 • E331 Limited Express: 157 • 165 • 167 • 169 • 183 • 189 • 251 • E351 Non-revenue: 90 • 143 • 145 • 193 • 901 • E993 Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 417 • 451 • 453 • 455 • 457 Limited Express: 485 • 489 • 583 • 651 Non-revenue: 441 • 443 • 497 • E991 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 20 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 37 • KiHa 38 • KiHa 45 Express: KiHa 58 Charter: KiHa 141 Non-revenue: KiYa 191 Hybrid MUs Non-revenue: KiYa E991 • KuMoYa E995 JR West rolling stock Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: 500 • 700 • N700 • N700S • W7 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 923 DC EMUs Commuter: 103 • 105 • 113 • 115 • 117 • 123 • 125 • 201 • 205 • 207 • 213 • 221 • 223 • 225 • 227 • 321 • 323 Limited Express: 271 • 273 • 281 • 283 • 285 • 287 • 289 • 381 Non-revenue: 145 Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 521 Limited Express: 681 • 683 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 40 • KiHa 120 • KiHa 121/126 • KiHa 122/127 Limited Express: KiHa 187 • KiHa 189 Non-revenue: KiYa 141 • KiYa 143 Hybrid DEMUs Charter: 87 Non-revenue: DEC700 • DEC741 Withdrawn AC EMUs Shinkansen: 0 • 100 • 300 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922 • 500-900 DC EMUs Commuter: 42 • 83 • 84 • 101 • 211 Limited Express: 165 • 167 • 183 Non-revenue: 90 • 91 • 213/223-9000 • 441 Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 413 • 415 • 419 • 455 • 457 • 471 • 475 Limited Express: 485 • 489 • 583 Non-revenue: 443 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 33 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 37 • KiHa 45 • KiHa 52 Express: KiHa 58 • KiHa 65 Limited Express: KiHa 181 Non-revenue: KiYa 191 Hybrid BEMUs Commuter: DGBC2 JR Central rolling stock Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: N700 • N700S Non-revenue Shinkansen: 923 DC EMUs Commuter: 211 • 213 • 311 • 313 • 315 Limited Express: 285 • 373 • 383 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 11 • KiHa 25 • KiHa 75 Limited Express: HC85 Non-revenue: KiYa 95 • KiYa 97 Withdrawn AC EMUs Shinkansen: 0 • 100 • 300 • 700 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922 • 955 DC EMUs Commuter: 12 • 103 • 105 • 113 • 115 • 117 • 119 • 123 Limited Express: 165 • 371 • 381 Non-revenue: 90 • 145 • 193 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 30 • KiHa 40 Express: KiHa 58 • KiHa 65 Limited Express: KiHa 80 • KiHa 85 Future DC EMUs Limited Express: 385 Maglevs Maglev: L0 Proposed AC EMUs Shinkansen: Super Hikari Model JR Kyushu rolling stock Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: N700 • N700S • 800 Commuter: 713 • 811 • 813 • 815 • 817 • 821 Limited Express: 783 • 787 • 883 • 885 DC EMUs Commuter: 103 • 303 • 305 Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 415 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 40 • KiHa 125 • KiHa 200 Limited Express: KiHa 71 • KiHa 72 • KiHa 183-1000 • KiHa 185 Charter: KiHa 125-400 Non-revenue: BE220 AC BEMUs Commuter: BEC819 Hybrid MUs Commuter: YC1 Withdrawn AC EMUs Commuter: 715 • 717 Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 457 • 475 Limited Express: 485 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 20 • KiHa 31 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 45 Express: KiHa 58 • KiHa 65 • KiHa 66 JR Hokkaido rolling stock Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: H5 Commuter: 721 • 731 • 733 • 735 • 737 Limited Express: 785 • 789 DMUs Commuter: H100 • KiHa 40 • KiHa 54 • KiHa 141 • KiHa 150 • KiHa 201 Limited Express: KiHa 261 • KiHa 281 • KiHa 283 Non-revenue: KiYa 291 Withdrawn AC EMUs Commuter: 711 Limited Express: 781 Dual-current EMUs Limited Express: 485 • 583 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 22 • KiHa 45 • KiHa 130 Express: KiHa 56 Limited Express: KiHa 80 • KiHa 183 series • ( KiHa 183-5000 • KiHa 183-5100 • KiHa 183-5200) Non-revenue: KiHa 160 • KiHa 285 Future Fuel cell MUs Commuter: Unclassified JR Shikoku rolling stock Active DC EMUs Commuter: 113 • 121 • 5000 • 6000 • 7000 • 7200 Limited Express: 8000 • 8600 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 32 • KiHa 40 • KiHa 54 • 1000 • 1200 • 1500 Limited Express: KiHa 185 • 2000 • N2000 • 2600 • 2700 Withdrawn DC EMUs Commuter: 111 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 20 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 45 Express: KiHa 57 • KiHa 58 • KiHa 65 Limited Express: KiHa 181 Future Hybrid MUs Commuter: Unclassified JR Group motive power JNR Diesel prototype DB10 • DC10 • DC11 • DD10 4-axle diesel DD11 • DD12 • DD13 • DD14 • DD15 • DD16 • DD17 • DD20 • DD21 • DD40 • DD41 • DD42 • DD50 • DD51 • DD53 • DD54 • DD90 • DD91 • DD92 • DD93 5-axle diesel DE10 • DE11 • DE15 • DE50 6-axle diesel DF40 • DF41 • DF50 • DF90 • DF91 (gen 1) • DF91 (gen 2) • DF92 • DF93 Shinkansen 911 • 912 Narrow-gauge diesel Ke DB10 • Ke DB11 Early 2/4-axle freight electric AB10 • EB10 • ED10 • ED11 • ED12 • ED13 • ED14 • ED15 • ED16 • ED17 • ED18 (gen 1) • ED18 (gen 2) • ED19 • ED23 • ED24 Early 4-axle passenger electric ED50 • ED51 • ED52 • ED53 • ED54 • ED55 • ED56 • ED57 Early 6-axle freight electric EF10 • EF11 • EF12 • EF13 • EF14 • EF15 • EF16 • EF18 Early 6-axle passenger electric EF20 • EF50 • EF51 • EF52 • EF53 • EF54 • EF55 • EF56 • EF57 • EF58 • EF59 • HEF10 • HEF50 Early 8-axle electric EH10 • EH50 • HEH50 • HEH150 Early Abt rack rail electric EC40 • ED40 • ED41 • ED42 Acquired from private railways ED20 • ED21 • ED22 • ED25 (gen 1) • ED25 (gen 2) • ED26 (gen 1) • ED26 (gen 2) • ED27 (gen 1) • ED27 (gen 2) • ED28 (gen 1) • ED28 (gen 2) • ED29 (gen 1) • ED29 (gen 2) • ED30 (gen 1) • ED31 • ED32 • ED33 • ED34 • ED35 • ED36 • ED37 • ED38 • Ke ED10 • DeKi 1 • RoKo 1 • DeKi 501 • RoKo 1000 DC 4-axle ED60 • ED61 • ED62 • ED63 • ED95 AC 4-axle ED44 • ED45 • ED70 • ED71 • ED72 • ED73 • ED74 • ED75 • ED76 • ED77 • ED78 • ED79 • ED90 • ED91 • ED93 • ED94 DC 6-axle EF60 • EF61 • EF62 • EF63 • EF64 • EF65 • EF66 • EF67 • EF90 AC 6-axle EF70 • EF71 Dual-current ED30 (gen 2) • ED46 • ED92 • EF30 • EF80 • EF81 Other AH100 JR Group Dual-current electric ED500 • EF500 • EF510 • EH500 DC electric EF200 • EF210 • EH200 DC EMU M250 AC electric EH800 Diesel DD18 • DD19 • DB500 • DD200 • DF200 • ENR-1000 Hybrid HD300 Railway Technical Research Institute rolling stock Active DC BEMUs LH02 Dual-current EMUs FGT-9000 Fuel cell MUs R291 Withdrawn Dual-current EMUs 497 • GCT01 • GCT01-200 Maglev ML100 • ML500 • ML500R • MLU001 • MLU002 • MLU002N • MLX01 JGR/ JNR rolling stock JGR Wooden-bodied EMUs Commuter: 963 • 6250 • 6260 • 6280 • 6285 • 6300 • 6310 • 6340 • 33400 • 33500 • 43200 • 63100 Steel-bodied EMUs Commuter: 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 40 • 42 • 50 • 51 • 62 • 63 • 70 • 72 Express: 52 • 80 Non-revenue EMUs Non-revenue: 7 • 93 DMUs Constant mesh gearbox: KiHa 01 • KiHa 04 • KiHa 07 • KiHa 5000 • KiHa 40000 Diesel-electric: KiHaNi 36450 • KiHa 43000 • KiHa 44000 Miscellaneous: KiSaHa 04 Miscellaneous Steam railcar: HoJi 6005 JNR AC EMUs Shinkansen: 0 • 100 • 200 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922 • 925 • 941 • 951 • 961 • 962 • 1000 Commuter: 711 • 713 • 715 • 717 Limited Express: 781 Non-revenue: 791 DC EMUs Commuter: 101 • 103 • 105 • 111 • 113 • 115 • 117 • 119 • 121 • 123 • 201 • 203 • 205 • 207 • 211 • 213 • 301 Limited Express: 151 • 153 • 155 • 157 • 159 • 161 • 165 • 167 • 169 • 181 • 183 • 185 • 189 • 381 Conversions: 1 • 10 • 11 • 12 Non-revenue: 141 • 143 • 145 • 147 • 191 • 193 Proposed: 187 Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 413 • 415 • 417 • 419 Limited Express: 451 • 453 • 455 • 457 • 471 • 473 • 475 • 481 • 483 • 485 • 489 • 581 • 583 Non-revenue: 21 • 22 • 90 • 441 • 443 • 493 • 495 • 591 DMUs Commuter: KiHa 08 • KiHa 10 • KiHa 15 • KiHa 20 • KiHa 31 • KiHa 32 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 37 • KiHa 38 • KiHa 40 • KiHa 45 • KiHa 54 • KiHa 66 Express: KiHa 55 • KiHa 56 • KiHa 57 • KiHa 58 • KiHa 60 • KiHa 65 • KiHa 90 Limited Express: KiHa 80 • KiHa 181 • KiHa 183 • KiHa 185 Non-revenue: KiYa 191 • KiHa 391