Tobu 8000 series

The Tobu 8000 series (東武8000系, Tōbu 8000-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since 1963. A total of 712 vehicles were built between 1963 and 1983, making this the most numerous EMU type operated by any private railway operator in Japan.[2]

Tobu 8000 series
A 10-car formation on the Tojo Line in June 2008
ManufacturerAlna Kōki, Fuji Heavy Industries, Kisha Seizō, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Constructed1963–1983
Entered service1963
Refurbished1986–2008
Scrapped2005, 2008–
Number built712 vehicles
Number in service242 vehicles (as of 1 October 2017)
Number preserved6 vehicles
Formation2/3/4/6/8 cars per trainset[1]
Operator(s) Tobu Railway
Depot(s)Kasukabe, Nanakōdai, Tatebayashi, Shinrinkōen, Shin-Tochigi[1]
Line(s) servedIsesaki Line, Kameido Line, Daishi Line Kiryu Line, Sano Line, Koizumi Line, Utsunomiya Line, Urban Park Line, Tojo Line, Ogose Line
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Width2,850 mm (9 ft 4 in)
Doors4 pairs per side
Maximum speed100 km/h (60 mph)
Traction systemResistor control
Traction motorsTM63
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC
Current collection methodOverhead lines
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Operations

Isesaki Line

The Isesaki Line fleet based at Tatebayashi Depot consists of two-car trainsets. This fleet includes three-car 800 and 850 series trains converted from 8000 series units, which are also based at Tatebayashi Depot. Both types are modified for local driver-only operation services north of Tatebayashi.

Kameido Line, Daishi Line
A two-car Kameido Line set in January 2007

The Kameido Line and Daishi Line fleet based at Kasukabe Depot consists of two-car trainsets modified for driver-only operation.

Sano Line

Tobu Sano Line services are operated by 800 and 850 series three-car driver-only-operation sets introduced from the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2006.[2]

Kiryu Line, Koizumi Line

The Kiryu Line and Koizumi Line fleet based at Tatebayashi Depot consists of two-car trainsets modified for driver-only operation.

Utsunomiya Line

The Utsunomiya Line fleet based at Shin-Tochigi Depot consists of four-car trainsets modified for driver-only operation.

Urban Park Line

The Urban Park Line fleet based at Nanakōdai Depot consists of six-car trainsets.

Tojo Line
Interior view of a Tojo Line 8000 series, July 2008

The Tōjō Line fleet based at Shinrinkōen Depot consists of 11 four-car trainsets. These are used in local driver-only operation services north of Ogawamachi, where four sets are required every day.

Ogose Line
A refurbished four-car set on an Ogose Line service, with external speakers visible, in May 2008

From the start of the revised timetable on 14 June 2008, only refurbished four-car driver-only-operation sets are used on the Tobu Ogose Line. These are also stationed in Shinrinkōen, and five sets are required every day.

History

Production

The first 8000 series appeared in November 1963 as four-car sets. These were joined from December 1964 by two-car sets (formed MoHa8500 + KuHa8600). Between 1971 and 1972, 14 pairs of additional intermediate cars (SaHa8700 + MoHa8800) were built and inserted into four-car sets 8101 to 8114 to lengthen them to six cars. 8000 series trains built up to this point were not equipped with air-conditioning, but from June 1972, three 6-car air-conditioned sets (8156 to 8158) were delivered. The originally non-fitted sets were also modified with air-conditioning from October 1973 until 1983 at the Alna Kōki (now Alna Sharyō) factory in Osaka and Tsuha Sharyō factory in Nishiarai, Tokyo.

In May 1977, the first eight-car 8000 series set (8173) was delivered for use on the Tojo Line.

October 1979 saw the last two digits of individual car running numbers exceed 99, resulting in some cars receiving five-digit (8xxxx) running numbers.

The last two sets built, 81120 and 8580, were delivered in 1983.[2]

The fleet changes between 1963, when the first sets were built, and 1983, when construction ended, are shown below.[3]

Fiscal year2-car sets4-car sets6-car sets8-car setsTotal vehicles
19630150060
19648150076
1965212100126
1966272700162
1967393600222
1968474300266
1969585100320
1970625500344
19716242130370
19726241170390
19736341220422
19746841250450
19767041310490
19777041315530
19787042319566
197970423114606
198073453216646
198175473316664
198280503617712
Two 8000 series sets awaiting cutting up at Kita-Tategayashi in Gunma Prefecture in March 2014

The fleet changes from 2005, when withdrawals commenced, are shown below. (Including 800/850 series 3-car sets)[3]

Fiscal year2-car sets3-car sets4-car sets6-car sets8-car setsTotal vehicles
20057010404612702
20067010404612702
2007661051446678
2008521047426622
2009371042415558
2010291038364488
2011281031343438
2012251029343424

Refurbishment
Unrefurbished 8000 series with original front end but with LED destination indicators, June 2006

Life-extension refurbishment began in 1986, and sets treated from 1987 received redesigned cab ends based on the 6050 series design. Sets refurbished from 1997 onward received HID headlights and LED external destination indicators, replacing the original roller blind type.

2001 saw the first appearance of two-car sets modified for driver-only-operation. This included the addition of an automated bilingual (Japanese and English) passenger announcement system, internal LED passenger information displays, and external speakers.

Some of the remaining unrefurbished sets also received LED destination indicators.[2]

800 and 850 series conversion
A three-car 850 series train at Tatebayashi Station in March 2006

From 2004, five eight-car sets were reformed to create pairs of three-car 800 and 850 series driver-only-operation sets for use on Sano and Kiryu Line services. This conversion involved adding new cabs to former MoHa8300 and MoHa8200 intermediate cars.[2]

The new sets are formed as follows.[1]

800 series
  • KuHa800-1
  • MoHa800-2 (with two pantographs)
  • MoHa800-3

850 series
  • MoHa850-1 (with two pantographs)
  • MoHa850-2
  • KuHa850-3

Livery changes
An 8000 series set in "sage cream" livery in 1977

When first built, the 8000 series sets were finished in a livery of "royal beige" and "international orange". From May 1974, sets were repainted into a simpler all-over livery of "sage cream". From 1985, sets were repainted into a new livery of "jasmine white" with dark and light blue bodyside stripes.

Commemorative liveries

One six-car set, 8108, was repainted into the original beige and orange livery between October 2004 and June 2005 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Tojo Line. This unit was subsequently returned to standard livery following overhaul in July 2005.[4]

In August 2012, six-car set 8111, preserved in running order by the Tobu Museum, was repainted into its original "royal beige" and "international orange" livery for a series of special event runs.[5]

In March 2014, to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Tobu Tojo Line, four-car set 81111, based at Shinrinkoen Depot, was repainted into the all-over "sage cream" livery carried by sets from the 1970s.[6] This set operates on Tobu Tojo Line services between Ogawamachi and Yorii, and on Tobu Ogose Line services between Sakado and Ogose.[6]

In November 2014, four-car set 81107, based at Shinrinkoen Depot, was repainted into the original "royal beige" and "international orange" livery.[7]

From 28 November 2015, four-car set 8198, based at Shinrinkoen Depot, was repainted into the dark blue with yellow stripe livery carried by 54 series and 53 series EMUs used on Flying Tojo limited express services on the Tobu Tojo Line during the 1950s.[8]

From 23 March 2016, two-car set 8577, used on the Tobu Kameido Line and Tobu Daishi Line, received the "international orange" and "medium yellow" livery carried by 7300 and 7800 series trains between 1958 and 1964.[9]

Preserved six-car set 8111 was repainted from its "royal beige" and "international orange" livery into all-over "sage cream" livery in August 2016.[10]

From 16 February 2017, two-car set 8568, used on the Tobu Kameido Line and Tobu Daishi Line, received the green and "jasmine white" livery carried experimentally by one 7860 series train in the 1950s.[11]

From 13 July 2017, two-car set 8575, used on the Tobu Kameido Line and Tobu Daishi Line, received the yellow and orange livery carried experimentally by a 7800 series train in the 1950s.[12]

  • Set 8108 repainted in original beige and orange livery in June 2005
  • Preserved set 8111 in May 2013
  • Set 81111 in "sage cream" livery in June 2014
  • Interior of reliveried set 81111 with original colour seat covers in April 2014
  • Set 81107 repainted in original beige and orange livery in December 2014
  • Set 8198 in blue and yellow "Flying Tojo" livery in December 2015
  • Two-car set 8577 in orange and yellow livery in April 2016
  • Two-car set 8568 in green and white livery in February 2017
  • Two-car set 8575 in experimental yellow and orange livery in July 2017

References
  1. "大手私鉄車両ファイル：車両配置表" (Major Private Railway Allocation Data), published with September 2008 issue of Japan Railfan Magazine
  2. ２００６東武鉄道通勤車両カタログ [2006 Tobu Railway Commuter Rolling Stock Catalogue]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 35 no. 263. Kotsu Shimbun. March 2006. pp. 31–37.
  3. Hanaue, Yoshinari (October 2013). 東武鉄道8000系電車あれこれ [Everything about the Tobu 8000 series EMUs]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 42 no. 354. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. pp. 29–33.
  4. リバイバル塗装車、一般色に戻る ["Revival" repainted set reverts to standard livery]. Rail Magazine. No. 265. Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. October 2005. p. 160.
  5. 東武8000系8111編成が試運転 [Tobu 8000 series set 8111 test run]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  6. 東武8000系81111編成がセイジクリーム色に [Tobu 8000 series set 81111 repainted into sage cream livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  7. 東武8000系81107編成がツートンカラーに [Tobu 8000 series set 81107 repainted into two-tone livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  8. 行楽列車「フライング東上号」リバイバルカラー車両２編成を運行します！ ["Flying Tojo" tourist train revival livery to be applied to two trains] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  9. ３月２３日（水）より亀戸線で昭和３０年代の「標準色」リバイバルカラー車両を運行します！ [Train to run in 1950s standard livery on Kameido Line from 23 March] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  10. 東武鉄道8000系8111編成がセイジクリーム色となって出場試運転 [Tobu 8000 series set 8111 test run after being reliveried in Sage cream]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 30 August 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  11. 東武8000系8568編成が試験塗装リバイバルカラーに [Tobu 8000 series set 8568 repainted in revival experimental livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  12. 東武8000系8575編成がリバイバルカラーに [Tobu 8000 series set 8575 repainted in revival livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 19 July 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.

Further reading
  • Hanaue, Yoshinari (December 2012). 東武鉄道8000系　登場から49年のあゆみと動態保存 [Tobu 8000 series: 49 year history and preservation]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 41 no. 344. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. pp. 20–29.
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