The EH500 class of electric locomotives are two-unit multi-system

Multi-system (rail)

A Multi-system locomotive is one that is able to operate using more than one railway electrification system, such as the British Rail Class 92 which can operate from both 750 V DC third rail and 25 kV, 50 Hz AC from overhead lines.As well as multi-system electric...

 AC

Alternating current

In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....

/DC

Direct current

Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...

 freight locomotives operated by JR Freight in Japan. They have a Bo-Bo+Bo-Bo wheel arrangement

Wheel arrangement

In rail transport, a wheel arrangement is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed beneath a locomotive.. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and connections, with the adopted notations varying by country...

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The locomotives are built at the Tōshiba

Toshiba

is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...

 factory in Fuchū, Tokyo

Fuchu, Tokyo

is a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 255,394 and a population density of 8,700 persons per km². The total area was 29.34 km²...

. Initially, they were all based at Sendai depot for use on long-distance container trains from the Tokyo area to Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

 via the Tōhoku Main Line, replacing DC EF65

JNR Class EF65

The EF65 is a 6-axle electric locomotive designed for freight used by Japanese National Railways and currently operated by its descendents JR West, JR East, and JR Freight....

s south of Kuroiso, pairs of AC ED75s north of Kuroiso, and pairs of AC ED79s through the Seikan Tunnel

Seikan Tunnel

The Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line...

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In 2004, locomotives EH500-25 and EH500-27 were loaned in turn to Kitakyūshū depot for trials. From 2007, a number of EH500s were transferred to Kitakyūshū depot for use on 1,300 tonne freight trains between Honshū

Honshu

is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...

 and Kyūshū

Kyushu

is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....

 through the Kanmon Tunnel

Kanmon Tunnel

The Kanmon Railway Tunnel, Kanmon Roadway Tunnel, and Shin-Kanmon Tunnel are undersea tunnels crossing the Kanmon Straits between Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi and Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka in western Japan...

, replacing ageing AC ED76

JNR Class ED76

The ED76 class of electric locomotives are Bo-2-Bo wheel arrangement AC electric locomotives operated on passenger and freight services in Japan.-ED76-0:94 class ED76-0 locomotives were built from 1965 to 1976 and numbered ED76 1 to ED76 94.-ED76-500:...

s and dual-voltage EF81-300s and EF81-400s

JNR Class EF81

The EF81 class of electric locomotives are Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement multi-voltage AC/DC electric locomotives operated on passenger and freight services in Japan.-EF81-300:...

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As of 1 April 2009, the fleet totalled 63 locomotives (EH500-901 and EH500-1 to EH500-62).

Four EH500 locomotives are scheduled to be delivered during fiscal 2009, with six more scheduled for fiscal 2010.

EH500-901 prototype

The pre-production prototype, EH500-901, was delivered to Sendai depot in March 1998 for extensive testing. The livery is red and grey with black cab surrounds.

Pre-production 1st batch: EH500-1 and EH500-2

Two pre-production locomotives were delivered in March 2000. The livery is maroon and grey with black cab surrounds.

Full-production 2nd batch: EH500-3 to EH500-9

Built from March 2000 to January 2001. The headlamps were moved to a higher position to reduce problems of blockage by snow. New "Kintaro Eco-Power" logos were added to the sides.

Full-production 3rd batch: EH500-10 onward

Locomotives from EH500-10 (delivered in August 2001) onward are painted in a revised colour scheme using bright red instead of the earlier maroon colour.

Models

The EH500 is available in model form in N gauge from both Kato

Kato Precision Railroad Models

Kato Precision Railroad Models is a Japanese manufacturer of model railroad equipment in N and HO scales...

 and Tomix

Tomix

Tomix is model railway brand of the Japanese company Tomytec, a subsidiary of toy manufacturer Takara Tomy .-Product outline:...

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