E491 series

The E491 series, branded the East i-E, is a Japanese non-revenue dual-voltage electric multiple unit operated by the East Japan Railway Company since March 2002 for track and overhead line inspection.
==History==
This three-car set was introduced in 2002 to replace the aging 193 and 443 series track inspection sets and MaYa 34 series non-powered inspection cars. The set is based at Katsuta Depot.
The set was given an identification number of ID-23 in 2018.
==Design==
This three-car set had a non-streamlined design with large headlights. The end cars have provisions for a camera mount which holds a special omnidirectional camera.
==Specifications==
The set is constructed of stainless steel. Car 1 is used to inspect communication equipment and signals, car 2 is used to inspect overhead lines while car 3 is used to inspect track; car 2 has special lozenge-type pantographs used to inspect the overhead lines. Cars are 20 meters long, 2.9 meters wide and 4.051 meters tall. Traction motors are powered by Hitachi insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives which produce a melodic cadence as the train accelerates from idle.
The E491 series set also has a double-headed coupler with both knuckle- and Shibata-type coupler heads (the Shibata-type couplers are a modified version of Scharfenberg couplers). This allows it to connect to both electric multiple units and diesel multiple units. Both couplers are situated perpendicularly from each other and mounted on a rotating post, so a simple rotation allows it to couple to a train with either Shibata-type couplers or knuckle couplers.
The E491 series is equipped with a later version of a musical horn that is standard on most of JR East's limited express fleet. The musical horn is usually blasted when the set is about to depart.
==See also==
*KiYa E193 series, non-revenue diesel multiple unit that is similar in appearance and is used for a very similar purpose
==References==
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:Unique locomotives
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Hitachi locomotives
Category:Kinki Sharyo locomotives