JNR (later JR East) 485 series Limited Expresses
JNR 485 series was a Limited Express EMU first introduced in 1968 with a bonnet style front / rear ends. These are dual voltage type trains (1500V DC / 20KV AC) which operated on JNR, JR Kyushu,JR West and JR East. A few were converted to tourist “joyful” trains.
All Photos: Stephen Turner
Seen at an event at Shinagawa Station / Tamachi Depot on 25th August 2003 - an original 485 series “Bonnet” type train. Although the headboard says it is a “Kodama” Limited Express (that operated on the Tōkaidō Main Line) this particular train (unit K26) is actually a Jōban Line train that was used on Hitachi Limited Express Services.
This picture was taken on the 20th September 2010 of unit N201 based in Nagano operating a “holiday special” to Yokohama called Hamamirai. At the time this train was used exclusively for special and extra services and was named “Irodori”
The last regular Limited Express service that 485s were used on was the Hakucho Limited Express between Shin Aomori / Aomori and Hakodate before the Hokkaidō Shinkansen opened (for those services operated by JR East). This is a refurbished 485-3000 type. This picture was taken on the 9th January 2012 at Shin Aomori Station.
An example of a 485 series converted to a tourist train - JR East’s "Kirakira Uetsu" that operated on the Uetsu Main until being retired in 2019. Picture was taken on the 31st July 2010 at Niigata Station.
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