Class E926 Shinkansen
{{Short description|Japanese high-speed inspection train}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox train
| name = Class E926 "East i"
| image = File:Shinkansen E926 East-i.jpg
| caption = East i series inspection train
| service =
| manufacturer = Tokyu Car Corporation
| designer =
| factory =
| family =
| replaced =
| yearconstruction = 2001
| yearservice = 2001
| refurbishment =
| yearscrapped = 2015 (E926-13)
| numberconstruction =
| numberbuilt = 7 vehicles
| numberservice = 6 vehicles (1 set)
| numberpreserved =
| numberscrapped = 1 vehicle
| formation = 6 cars per trainset
| capacity =
| operator = JR East, JR Hokkaido
| depots =
| lines = Hokuriku Shinkansen,
Jōetsu Shinkansen,
Tōhoku Shinkansen,
Hokkaido Shinkansen,
Yamagata Shinkansen,
Akita Shinkansen
| carbody =
| trainlength = {{Convert|125.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| carlength = {{Convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}} or {{Convert|22.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| width = {{Convert|2.94|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| height = {{Convert|4.29|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| doors =
| maxspeed = {{Convert|275|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
(Tōhoku Shinkansen,
Jōetsu Shinkansen,
Hokuriku Shinkansen,
Hokkaido Shinkansen)
{{Convert|130|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=10}}
(Yamagata Shinkansen,
Akita Shinkansen)
| weight =
| acceleration = {{convert|1.6|km/h/s|abbr=on}}
| deceleration =
| traction motors = Mitsubishi Electric three-phase induction AC motor MT-205
| poweroutput =
| aux =
| powersupply =
| hvac =
| electricsystem = 25 kV 50/60 Hz AC,
20 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary
| collectionmethod = Pantograph
| bogies = DT207A, TR8012 (E926-3, 13){{cite web |title=TR8012 / JR東日本E926形 East-i |trans-title=TR8012 / JR East E926 East-i |url=https://rail.hobidas.com/library/7498/ |website=Tetsudo Hobidas |publisher=Neko Publishing |access-date=22 October 2024 |location=Japan |language=Japanese |date=5 November 2008}}
| brakes = Regenerative braking combined with electric command type air braking
| safety =
| coupling =
| multipleworking =
| gauge = {{track gauge|sg}}
}}
The {{Nihongo|Class E926|E926形}} also known as the East-i, is a high-speed diagnostic train used on JR East's Shinkansen lines. Entering service in 2001, it is based on the E3 series and carries out line inspections at a maximum speed of {{Convert|275|km/h|mph|0|round=|abbr=on}}. It operates on the Jōetsu Shinkansen, the Tōhoku Shinkansen as well as its two mini-shinkansen branch lines, the Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen; the train also operates on the Hokkaido Shinkansen, owned by JR Hokkaido, as well as sections of the Hokuriku Shinkansen owned by JR West. Similar types of diagnostic trains called Doctor Yellow operate on the Tokaido Shinkansen and San'yo Shinkansen.
Overview
The Class E926 is a non-revenue earning diagnostic train designed to replace the aging Class 925 inspection train. The Class 925, based on the 200 series, had a lower top speed than newly introduced trainsets at the time, such as the E3 series. Its loading gauge was also incompatible with the mini-shinkansen, which used narrower trains. At the time, the mini-shinkansen relied on KuMoYa 743 series inspection railcars. In response to these needs, the Class E926 was introduced in 2001, with the Class 925 withdrawn that same year.
The i in East i stands for intelligent, integrated, and inspection.{{Cite book |title=Railway Pictorial |date=January 2002 |publisher=Electric Vehicle Research Group |pages=96 |language=Ja}} Since the routes and times of operation of the East i train are not publicly disclosed, it is considered lucky by railway enthusiasts when the viewer sees it.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=12 May 2018 |title=「見ると幸せになる」列車 あなたは見たことある？ |trans-title=Have you ever seen the train that brings you happiness when you see it? |url=https://sp.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201805/20180512_13028.html |url-status= |work= |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003061938/https://sp.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201805/20180512_13028.html |archive-date=3 October 2018 |access-date=18 October 2024 |language=Japanese}}
Formation
There are 7 East i series inspection train cars that were built. Cars 2 and 4 are equipped with a single arm pantograph. Prior to the scrapping of car E926-13 in 2015, when the 6-car train was being maintained, a spare track inspection car was inserted into the pre-production E2 series N21 set.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=3 August 2011 |title=E2系N21編成＋E926-13が検測 |trans-title=E2 series N21 train + E926-13 inspection |url=https://railf.jp/news/2011/08/03/091600.html |language=Japanese |work=railf.jp |location= |access-date=18 October 2024}}{{cite news |last= |first= |date=8 July 2011 |title=E2系N21編成＋E926-13が試運転 |trans-title=E2 series N21 train + E926-13 test run |url=https://railf.jp/news/2011/07/08/185900.html |language=Japanese |work=railf.jp |location= |access-date=18 October 2024}}{{cite web |title=【すごい段差】新幹線史上類を見ない凸凹編成 E2系の検測列車ってなに？ |trans-title=[Huge bump] An uneven train formation unlike any other in Shinkansen history: What is the E2 series inspection train? |url=https://rail.hobidas.com/feature/473102/ |website=RM News |publisher=Neko Publishing |access-date=22 October 2024 |location=Japan |language=Japanese |date=12 August 2023}}
| class="wikitable" | |||||
| Car No.
! 1 | 2 | 3 (13) | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uses
| Communication, signal, and catenary testing car | Communication and power supply testing car | Track inspection car | Catenary inspection car | Power supply and signal detection car | Communication, signal, and catenary testing car |
File:E926_S51_East_i_E926-1.jpg|E926-1 (Car 1)
File:E926_S51_East_i_E926-2.jpg|E926-2 (Car 2)
File:E926_S51_East_i_E926-3.jpg|E926-3 (Car 3)
File:E926_S51_East_i_E926-4.jpg|E926-4 (Car 4)
File:E926_S51_East_i_E926-5.jpg|E926-5 (Car 5)
File:E926-1.jpg|E926-6 (Car 6)
File:JR_E2_N21_E926-13 omiya_20131112.jpg|E926-13 (The spare carriage that is inserted into an E2 series set when the 6-car set is being maintained) (Scrapped in 2015)
File:JReastE2_N21_E926-13_Ueno_20131112.jpg|E2 series set N21 with the track inspection car in the background