JNR 169 series

Data (as of 11 Feb 2022)

*Including 22 carriages converted from 165 series and 19 carriages converted from 153 series.

History

The 169 series was a type of express train developed by Japanese National Railways. It was based on 165 series, another type of express train that JNR developed earlier. The 169 series looked identical to the 165 series, but the 169 series could be fully controlled by bank engines Class EF63 electric locomotive (in service: 1962-97).

The 169 series was initially introduced to Express Myoko (Ueno - Naoetsu via Nagano), Shiga (Ueno - Yudanaka, through-service to Nagano Electric Railway) and Shinshu (Ueno - Nagano). They were formed of up to twelve coaches including Green Cars (first class) and a buffet car. As many of these services were rearranged to Limited Express Asama (Ueno - Nagano or Naoetsu), some redundant carriages were reallocated to express services on Chuo Main Line. A few more carriages were also converted to 165 series and 455 series in 1984-85. All Green Car carriages and buffet cars were scrapped by 1985.

When JNR was privatised in 1987, JR East took all 78 remaining carriages over, and used them for Express Kamoshika (Nagano - Iida, later rearranged to Rapid Misuzu) and regional services in Nagano area. Some units were also used for seasonal and chartered trains in the Greater Tokyo Area. When Nagano Shinkansen (now Hokuriku Shinkansen) high-speed rail opened in 1997, four three-carriage units were transferred to Shinano Railway, but others were withdrawn by 2003.

Shinano Railway had used the 169 series for stopping services and Rapid Shinano Sunliner (Karuizawa - Nagano, through-service to JR Shin-etsu Line), formed of up to nine coaches. Shinano Sunliner was renamed Shinano Sunrise and Shinano Sunset in 2002. However, they became unable to run JR lines as a ministerial decree concerning new safety requirements has been amended in 2011. After that, the 169 series was used only for a few stopping services between Karuizawa and Shinonoi, and all units retired by 2013.

Photo

Shinano Railway painted the 169 series in such a way.