52 series

The 52 series is a Japanese express commuter multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways from May 1936 to August 1983. These sets were the first and only fully-streamlined express electric railcars on the Japan National Railways network.
==History==
The 52 series were intended mainly for use on the Keihanshin Lines and other related lines in the region. A total of five four-car sets were built as part of three batches. The first set of cars was manufactured by Kawasaki Sharyō in March 1936; it entered service on 13 May 1936. Two more sets were built in March 1937, entering service on 25 June and 22 August 1937; two further sets were later completed in August 1937. These four sets were jointly manufactured by Kawasaki and Nippon Sharyo. 
The sets featured a streamlined design taking advantage of the streamliner boom sweeping the industrial sector, with many countries streamlining their trains and other vehicles; due to this they were nicknamed Ryūden (lit. "flowing train"). During the war the sets were not given extensive modifications apart from changing the internal seating arrangements and by the end of the war disrepair was evident, although repair works for the sets quickly picked up in pace. A high-speed test was conducted on 23 April 1949 with MoHa 52002 and MoHa 52005 used for the test with a wooden test car, KuYa 16001, coupled in between; it recorded a speed of 119 km/h (74 mph), with these results used to develop the 80 series trains which would be used on long-distance suburban express trains.
To cope with increasing passenger numbers, some of the cars were modified with an additional set of doors. 18 of the cars remained in active service until around 1975, with withdrawals commencing in 1976. All 52 series cars were withdrawn from service by August 1983, these being the last old-style JNR electric railcars to operate in service.
==Design==
The 52 series, when manufactured, featured a streamlined design taking advantage of the streamliner boom where numerous countries were streamlining their trains. Its design followed in the veins of the EF55 electric locomotives and the KiHa 43000 series diesel railcars.
Its design was strongly influenced by the design of the DRG Class SVT 877, nicknamed the Fliegender Hamburger (lit. "flying hamburger").
==Specifications==
Underfloor mechanicals were heavily based on that of the older 42 series cars. In comparison to the riveted 42 series design, the 52 series cars were all welded.
==Preservation==
The following 52 series cars have been preserved:
Car number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location 	Notes
KuMoHa 52001	Kawasaki Sharyō	March 1936 	1978 	N/A 	Suita Works, Osaka, Japan 	Ex-first set; open for viewing on depot open days
KuMoHa 52004	Kawasaki Sharyō	March 1937 	1978 	N/A 	SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, Japan	Formerly located at Sakuma Rail Park until 2009
== Gallery ==
File:52004KuMoHa640.jpg
File:MoHa 52004 2023.jpg
File:MoHa 52004 2009.jpg
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Japan
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:Kawasaki locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives
Category:Built in 1936
Category:Built in 1937