181 series

The 181 series and the similar 151 and 161 series, originally classified as the 20 series, are Japanese limited express electric multiple units operated by the Japanese National Railways from November 1958 to November 1982. They were used around the eastern and central parts of Japan.
==History==
The 151 series sets, the effective predecessor of the 181 series sets, were originally produced in 1958 to be used on the new Kodama services; three eight-car sets were produced and were stationed at Tamachi Depot (now inactive). When originally introduced, the 151 series sets were known as the 20 series sets, but were reclassified as the 151 series sets on 1 June 1959.
More 151 series cars were produced after the reclassification until around December 1959; 161 series cars were produced from then after production of the 151 series sets had halted. The 181 series sets were produced slightly later, from around 1961 to 1966. The sets were refurbished starting from around that time to around 1969 or so, with some 181 series cars being converted to become 481 series cars.
The sets were used on a variety of limited express services, such as the Kodama, Hato, Tsubame, Toki and Tōkai services, with the sets most famous for plying the Kodama service. The sets were slowly retired starting in the late 1970s, and all were retired by November 1982.
The 181 series is the recipient of the 1959 Blue Ribbon Award (the most outstanding design of the previous year).
==Design==
The sets featured a bonnet-shaped front end which resembled the hood of a car. This body style was carried over onto early 485 series sets; many styling trends for express trains in Japan at the time, particularly for the JNR and Tobu, featured many elements inspired by automotive design.
==Specifications==
Construction is of steel. Traction motors are resistor controlled, which was standard for the time.
==Preservation==
The following 181 series cars have been preserved:
Car number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Previous sets 	Location 	Notes
KuHa 181-1 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	1958 	1976 	B1/B2, B1, Toki1	Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing Hyōgo Factory, Hyōgo, Japan	Ex-first production 151 series set, displayed next to 21-7008; restored to original number KuHa 26001 in 2016
KuHa 181-45	Kisha Seizō 	January 1965 	November 1982	N/A 	The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan 	Initially manufactured as a KuHa 161 car but was completed as a KuHa 181 car midway through production; preserved next to KuMoHa 455-1
In addition, a mockup of a 181 series cab is also on display at the Railway Museum in Saitama. No new-build 181 series cars have been preserved; the aforementioned cars were converted from 151 and 161 series cars respectively.
== Gallery ==
KuHa 181-45 2024.jpg|KuHa 181-45 in January 2024
File:181 181-45 Toki Saitama 2015.jpg|KuHa 181-45 preserved at the Railway Museum in Saitama in January 2015
File:KuHa 181-45 2023.jpg
==References==
*Wikipedia.org
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Kawasaki locomotives
Category:Kinki Sharyo locomotives
Category:Kisha Seizō locomotives