183 series

The 183 series is a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways and its various successor companies from July 1972 to May 2015.
==History==
The 183 series was designed in 1972 and put into service from 15 July 1972. The 512 cars built were originally based at Makuhari Depot, but were then moved to various other depots. Two variants of the trains were built.
JR West's fleet of 183 series trains was completely retired on 16 March 2013, while the last set owned by JR East retired on 20 May 2015. Before their retirement, the 183 series sets were mainly used on additional seasonal services.
==Design==
The 183 series uses a traditional design directly based on the later-design 485 or 489 series sets.
==Specifications==
Construction is of steel. End cars are 21 meters long while intermediate cars are 20.5 meters long. Traction motors were resistor controlled, which was standard for the time.
A unique trait of the 183 series sets is that there are two distinct variants of the sets. JR East's 183 series sets are new-build sets, and can be differentiated from 485 or 489 series sets by a lack of a gangway door and having two doors per side as opposed to one. JR West's 183 series sets, however, are actually DC-only conversions of 485 and 489 series sets used by JR West, with the AC equipment either disconnected or removed.
==Preservation==
The following 183 series cars have been preserved:
Car number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Previous sets	Location 	Notes
KuHa 183-1529	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	July 1978 	January 2014 	OM101 	Kezōji-yuen, Gunma, Japan 	Offered as a replacement for C61 20 which was removed for restoration to operational condition; displayed since March 2014
KuHa 183-1009	Tokyu Car Corporation 	September 1975 	June 2008 	C4 	The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan	Coupled to MoHa 188-31, acts as resting area
KuHa 183-1020	Tokyu Car Corporation 	January 1976 	June 2008 	C4 	The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan	Coupled to MoHa 189-31, acts as resting area
KuHa 183-21 	Kinki Sharyo 	July 1972 	May 2006 	M23 	Poppo-no-oka, Chiba, Japan 	Cab only, only preserved 183-0 series car
KuHa 183-1527	Nippon Sharyo 	June 1978 	March 2015 	OM103, N104 	Poppo-no-oka, Chiba, Japan 	Preserved since April 2015
KuHa 182-102 	Kinki Sharyo 	March 1974 	February 2015	OM102 	Poppo-no-oka, Chiba, Japan 	Preserved since April 2015
KuHa 183-1002	Nippon Sharyo 	December 1974 	December 1996	M16 	Yume House Azusa, Nagano, Japan 	Used as guesthouse
==Gallery==
183 A42 Monju Fukuchiyama 2011.jpg|A42 on a Monju service in February 2011 
183 MaRi32 Moonlight Echigo Niigata 2010.jpg|M32 on a Moonlight Echigo service in April 2010
File:KuHa 183-1009 2023.jpg
File:KuHa 183-1020 2023.jpg
==See also==
*189 series, very similar sets able to cope with the 66.7‰ grades of the Usui Pass
==References==
*Wikipedia.org
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Kawasaki locomotives
Category:Kinki Sharyo locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives
Category:Tokyu Car locomotives
Category:Matsutō Works locomotives
Category:Suita Works locomotives
Category:Takatori Works locomotives