Doctor Yellow
Encyclopedia
is the nickname for the high-speed test trains that are used on the Japanese Shinkansen
("Bullet Train") dedicated express passenger train routes.
The trains have special equipment on board to monitor the condition of the track and overhead wire
, including special instrumented bogie
s and observation blisters.
The 'Doctor' part of the name is obvious from their test and diagnostic function, and the 'Yellow' part comes from the bright yellow color they are all painted. Some have a blue waistline stripe, some a green one. The original color scheme of yellow with a blue stripe (applied to the Class 921 track-recording cars) was created by reversing the colors (blue with yellow stripe) used on narrow-gauge track-recording cars.
In build and appearance, they are very similar to production, passenger carrying Shinkansen trains, and line inspection is carried out at full line speed (i.e. up to 270 km/h (168 mph) on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen).
For Tōkaidō & Sanyō Shinkansen
For Tōhoku
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
("Bullet Train") dedicated express passenger train routes.
The trains have special equipment on board to monitor the condition of the track and overhead wire
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
, including special instrumented bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s and observation blisters.
The 'Doctor' part of the name is obvious from their test and diagnostic function, and the 'Yellow' part comes from the bright yellow color they are all painted. Some have a blue waistline stripe, some a green one. The original color scheme of yellow with a blue stripe (applied to the Class 921 track-recording cars) was created by reversing the colors (blue with yellow stripe) used on narrow-gauge track-recording cars.
In build and appearance, they are very similar to production, passenger carrying Shinkansen trains, and line inspection is carried out at full line speed (i.e. up to 270 km/h (168 mph) on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen).
For Tōkaidō & Sanyō ShinkansenSanyō ShinkansenThe is a line of the Japanese Shinkansen high-speed rail network, connecting Shin-Ōsaka in Osaka with Hakata Station in Fukuoka, the two largest cities in western Japan...
- Non-powered track recording cars (Yellow with blue stripe):
- 921-1: Built in 1962 (initially numbered 4001), and withdrawn in 1980.
- 921-2: Converted in 1964 from former MaRoNeFu 29-11 sleeping car, and withdrawn in 1976.
- 0 series0 Series ShinkansenThe trains were the first Shinkansen trainsets built to run on Japan's new Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed line which opened in 1964. The last remaining trainsets were withdrawn in 2008.-History:...
type (Yellow with blue stripe):- 922-0 (Set T1): 4-car set converted in 1964 from the prototype set (class 1000 Set BClass 1000 Shinkansenwas the classification given to the two prototype Japanese Shinkansen trains built for high-speed testing ahead of the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964.-Set A:# 1001 built by Kisha, seating capacity 56 , DT9002 bogies...
) built in 1961, and withdrawn in 1976. - 922-10 (Set T2): 7-car set owned by JR CentralCentral Japan Railway CompanyThe is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
. Built in 1974 and withdrawn in 2001. - 922-20 (Set T3): 7-car set owned by JR WestWest Japan Railway Company, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
. Built in 1979 and withdrawn in 2005.
- 922-0 (Set T1): 4-car set converted in 1964 from the prototype set (class 1000 Set B
- 700 series700 Series ShinkansenThe is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type built between 1997 and 2006, and entering service in 1999. Originally designated as "N300", they formed the next generation of shinkansen vehicles jointly designed by JR Central and JR West for use on both Tōkaidō and Sanyō Shinkansen...
type (Yellow with blue stripe):- 923 (Set T4): 7-car set owned by JR Central. Delivered in 2000.
- 923-3000 (Set T5): 7-car set owned by JR West. Delivered in 2005.
For TōhokuTohoku ShinkansenThe is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
, JōetsuJoetsu ShinkansenThe is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...
, NaganoNagano ShinkansenThe is a Shinkansen high-speed rail line operated by East Japan Railway Company between Takasaki and Nagano in Japan. It opened on 1 October 1997, connecting Tokyo and Nagano in time for the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano...
, YamagataYamagata ShinkansenThe is a Mini-shinkansen route in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It provides service between Tokyo and Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture over the tracks of the Tōhoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line....
& Akita ShinkansenAkita ShinkansenThe is a Mini-shinkansen high-speed rail line in Japan. Serving the Kantō and Tōhoku Regions of the country, it links Tokyo and Akita in Akita prefecture with direct service. From Tokyo to Morioka in Iwate prefecture, it operates on the Tōhoku Shinkansen tracks. From there to Ōmagari, it uses the...
- 200 series200 Series ShinkansenThe is a Shinkansen high-speed train type introduced by Japan National Railways for the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail lines in Japan, and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company . They actually predate the 100 series trains, having been built between 1980 and 1986...
type (Yellow with green stripe):- 925/0 (Set S1): 7-car set owned by JR EastEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
. Delivered in 1979 and withdrawn in 2001. - 925/10 (Set S2): 7-car set owned by JR East. Converted from former Class 962Class 962 ShinkansenThe was a 6-car Japanese Shinkansen train built in 1979 as the prototype for the new trains to be operated on the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen routes.-Design:...
test train in 1982 and withdrawn in 2002.
- 925/0 (Set S1): 7-car set owned by JR East
- E3 seriesE3 Series ShinkansenThe is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type built for Komachi services which commenced on 3 June 1997, coinciding with opening of the new Akita Shinkansen 'mini-shinkansen' line, a regular narrow-gauge line between Morioka and Akita upgraded to . Later versions of the E3 series were also...
type (White with red stripe)- E926 (Set S51): "East i" 6-car set owned by JR East. Delivered in August 2001.
Preserved examples
- 922-26 (ex-set T3, built 1979 by Hitachi) at SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, since March 2011