Tobu Railway Series 5000 emus -- a memorandum

Noda Line of Tobu Railway in Japan was once famous for its fleet of over 200 electric multiple unit (emu) railcars, all with nose-suspension drive mechanisms. However, that was towards the end of 1980s; Series 5070 fleet, which was expected to dominate the line for some time after the withdrawal of even older Series 3000, has now reduced to only 3 trainsets and is expected to disappear before late this year. Being in UK now and not having any plan of immediate visit to Japan, I am a bit saddened to think of the fact that I will never see them run on Noda Line again with my eyes.

Therefore, I dedicate this page to the history of Series 5000, its predecessor Series 7800, or Tobu Railway's infamous and singular fleet policy of "car body renewal", probably with a bit of criticisms.

• Nose-suspension drives   (Tobu's Series 5000 memo)
  The focus of interest towards Tobu's Series 5000 -- nose suspension drives, with technical explanation.
  (Page published 18 Jun 2003)
• "Ration" of National Railway's Series 63 emus to private railways   (Tobu's Series 5000 memo)
  The pre-history of Series 78, predecessor of Series 5000 -- Series 63 emus that the Ministry of Transport "rationed" the private railway companies in the period of postwar chaos.
  (Page published 27 Jun 2003)
• Introduction of Series 7330   (Tobu's Series 5000 memo)
  In 1953, Tobu introduces 7330, the first commuting cars newly built by private railways in Japan that came with 20-metre car body. The design, however, was with only minor modifications to Series 73.
  (Page published 20 Aug 2003)
• Repeat orders of Series 78   (Tobu's Series 5000 memo)
  The repeat orders of Series 78 continues. However, by 1960, the fleet was already desperately old and obsolete.
  (Page published 21 Oct 2003)
• (More will come soon.)