Toei 7000 series

Toei 7000 series
7000 series car 7023 in June 2009
In service1955 – 10 June 2017
ManufacturerHitachi, Nippon Sharyo, Alna Koki
Constructed1955–1956
Refurbished1977; 2016 (8 vehicles)
Scrapped1991–
Number built31 vehicles
Number in serviceNone
Number preserved2 vehicles
FormationSingle car
Fleet numbers7001–7031
OperatorsTokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
DepotsArakawa
Lines servedToden Arakawa Line
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Doors2 sliding doors per side
Electric system(s)600 V DC Overhead wire
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Track gauge1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in)

The Toei 7000 series (東京都交通局7000形) is a tramcar type formerly operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei) on the Toden Arakawa Line in Tokyo, Japan. The tramcars date from the 1950s, but were rebuilt in 1977 with new bodies.[1] The last remaining 7000 series tramcars were withdrawn following the final day of operations on 10 June 2017.

Operations

The interior of a 7000 series car in March 2012

The fleet was based at Arakawa Depot, operating on the sole remaining tram line in Tokyo, the Toden Arakawa Line.[2]

History

Original car 7024 preserved in Shizuoka Prefecture in 2002
Car 7001 repainted in original yellow livery with red stripe (for two-man operation cars) in December 2013
Car 7022 repainted in later yellow livery with blue stripe (for one-man operation cars) in June 2009

The original cars were built between 1955 and 1956 by Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo. In 1977, the fleet was modernized with new bodies built by Alna Sharyo, re-using the original bogies and electrical equipment.[3] The cars were renumbered at the same time.[3]

In 1978, the new 7000 series design was awarded the Laurel Prize, presented annually in Japan since by the Japan Railfan Club.[4]

The last remaining car in service, 7022, was withdrawn on 10 June 2017.[5]

Rebuilding

Eight 7000 series cars were rebuilt as 7700 series cars during fiscal 2016, with refurbished bodies, new electrical equipment including VVVF control, and new bogies.[6]

Fleet build details

Car 7018 stored at Arakawa Depot in April 2016, prior to rebuilding as 7700 series car 7705
Toyohashi Railroad car 3503 (former Toei 7017)

As of 1 January 2017, three vehicles were still in service.[6] The individual car build histories are as follows.[6][7]

Car No. Original number Original manufacturer Original build date Date rebuilt Date withdrawn Notes
7001 7055 Nippon Sharyo December 1955 February 1978 10 June 2017
7002 7056 January 1978
7003 7057 February 1978 13 December 2016
7004 7058 1955 December 1977 31 March 2011
7005 7059 December 1955 March 1978 → Rebuilt as 7707
7006 7060 1955 January 1978 31 March 1991
7007 7061 December 1955 November 1977 → Rebuilt as 7701
7008 7062 December 1977 31 December 2012 Preserved in Ota, Tokyo
7009 7063 1955 January 1978 6 June 1992 Sold to Toyohashi Railroad (Mo 3501)
7010 7064 December 1955 February 1978 → Rebuilt as 7708
7011 7065 Hitachi 1955 January 1978 31 January 1991 Preserved in Ichikawa, Chiba
7012 7066 1955 December 1977 20 May 1993
7013 7067 December 1955 March 1978 26 October 2015
7014 7068 1955 February 1978 20 May 1993
7015 7069 December 1955 December 1977 → Rebuilt as 7704
7016 7070 28 September 2016
7017 7071 1955 28 April 1999 Sold to Toyohashi Railroad (Mo 3503)
7018 7072 January 1956 January 1978 → Rebuilt as 7705
7019 7073 November 1977 14 December 2015
7020 7074 Nippon Sharyo 1956 February 1978 31 March 2008
7021 7075 1956 December 1977 28 April 1999 Sold to Toyohashi Railroad (Mo 3504)
7022 7076 September 1956 January 1978 10 June 2017
7023 7077 November 1977 15 December 2015
7024 7078 February 1978 → Rebuilt as 7706
7025 7081 March 1978 27 October 2015
7026 7082 → Rebuilt as 7702
7027 7083 1956 December 1977 19 September 2011
7028 7084 1956 November 1977 6 June 1992 Sold to Toyohashi Railroad (Mo 3502)
7029 7086 September 1956 14 December 2016
7030 7087 Hitachi 29 September 2016
7031 7089 February 1978 → Rebuilt as 7703

Preserved examples

References

  1. ^ Takai, Kunpei (30 June 2014). Morokawa, Hisashi; Hattori, Akihiro (eds.). 全国私鉄超決定版 電車・機関車・気動車1700 [Nationwide Private Railway Ultimate Edition: 1700 EMUs, Locomotives, and DMUs] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Sekaibunka-sha. p. 65. ISBN 978-4-418-14219-4.
  2. ^ 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. pp. 34, 197. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.
  3. ^ a b 路面電車年鑑2015 [Tramcar Annual 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Ikaros Publishing. 20 January 2015. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-4863209527.
  4. ^ ブルーリボン賞・ローレル賞 選定車両一覧 [Blue Ribbon Award & Laurel Prize Winner List] (in Japanese). Japan: Japan Railfan Club. 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  5. ^ さようなら都電荒川線7000形 60年余の運行の歴史に幕 [farewell to Toden Arakawa Line 7000 series - closing the curtain on 60 years of service]. Nifty News (in Japanese). Japan: Nifty Corporation. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d Horikiri, Kunio (April 2017). 都電7000形 64年の軌跡 [Toei 7000 series - a 64-year journey]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57, no. 672. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 102–107.
  7. ^ 路面電車年鑑2013 [Tramcar Annual 2013] (in Japanese). Japan: Ikaros Publishing. 1 January 2013. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-4863206694.
  8. ^ 都電7008号車が大田区の公園へ [Toden 7008 moved to park in Ota Ward]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
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