123 series

The 123 series is a Japanese single-car electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways and its successor companies since November 1986.
==History==
The 123 series cars were converted by JNR's various workshops around the country from various 143, 145 and 147 series baggage and postal cars which were deemed to have been made surplus.
A total of thirteen cars were built, numbered KuMoHa 123-1 through 6, KuMoHa 123-41 through 45 and KuMoHa 123-601 and 602; KuMoHa 123-1 was named Mini-Echo and used around the eastern regions of Japan, the 123-40 and 123-600 series cars were used in the central regions of Japan and the rest around western Japan. Operations began on 1 November 1986 with the introduction of the revised timetable and the discontinuation of postal and baggage services on the JNR, with KuMoHa 123-1 put into service around the Matsumoto region. 
When the JNR was privatized and split into seven different constituent companies, KuMoHa 123-1 came under the ownership of JR East, KuMoHa 123-41 through 45, 601 and 602 under JR Central and the remaining five under JR West. JR Central would then modify KuMoHa 123-41 through 45 in 1989, equipping them with air conditioning systems; they would be renumbered KuMoHa 123-5041 through 5045. KuMoHa 123-5045 would be further modified in 1990, being fitted with equipment for wanman operation and a gangway door installed; after these modifications it was renumbered to KuMoHa 123-5145.
Despite owning the most 123 series cars of the three divisions of JR that owned these cars, JR Central was the first to retire their 123 series cars. Retirements began with KuMoHa 123-5041 in September 2006; all seven cars were retired by June 2007 and scrapped. KuMoHa 123-1, the only car operated by JR East, was retired on 16 March 2013 with the introduction of the revised timetable; it was replaced by the E127 series trains. All five cars operated by JR West remain in use.
==Design==
The cars's designs was based on the cars they were converted from, though some cars had more modern body styles or gangways.
==Specifications==
Construction was of steel. The cars used resistor control, similar to the 143, 145 and 147 series cars they were converted from.
==References==
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:Hamamatsu Works locomotives
Category:Hiroshima Works locomotives
Category:Nagano Works locomotives
Category:Shizuoka Works locomotives
Category:Suita Works locomotives