485 series

The 485 series, and the similar 481 and 483 series, are Japanese dual-voltage limited express electric multiple units operated by the Japanese National Railways and its various successor companies from December 1964 to December 2022. Essentially the face of JNR's limited express operations, the 485 series has been widely used around Japan and has been manufactured in a multitude of different body styles and configurations.
==History==
Descended from the old 481 and 483 series types (which are practically identical apart from designations), the 485 series has been used on various services since 1964. A sub-series of the 485 series, the 489 series, was manufactured in 1972 and was most notably used on Noto overnight sleeper services.
Numerous 485 series cars were converted into Joyful Train sets from the 1980s to 2000s. These include the Hana, Irodori, Kirakira Uetsu, New Nanohana, Resort Express Yū, Seseragi, Sylphide, Utage and Yamanami sets. Some sets were further converted into other Joyful Train sets.
The last "bonnet"-type sets were retired around 2003, the last JNR-style sets were retired in June 2016, the last sets were retired from regular service in March 2017, while the final Joyful Train sets were retired in December 2022.
==Design==
The sets have been manufactured in a multitude of different body styles, with additional body styles being created over the years. Older sets had distinctive "bonnet"-shaped front ends inspired by the 181 series, while later sets adopted a more traditional "gangway" body style. Joyful Train sets run by 485 series cars have a multitude of body styles.
Many styling trends for express trains in Japan at the time featured many elements inspired by automotive design, hence the hood-shaped front as seen on the 485 series. By the late-1960s however this style had begun to look dated and as such new design trends emerged, with many of the following JNR express trains featuring a simpler gangwayed design.
==Specifications==
Construction is of steel. Each car is 20.7 meters long. Traction motors are resistor controlled, which was standard for the time. The 485 series sets can be arranged in a number of configurations, ranging from three to thirteen cars long.
==Preservation==
The following 485 series cars have been preserved:
Car number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Previous sets	Location 	Notes
KuHa 481-26 	Kisha Seizō 	August 1965 	July 2007 	K26 	The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan 	Used for training purposes at Katsuta Depot in final years
MoYa 484-2 	Hitachi 	February 1972 	July 2007 	K26 	The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan 	Used for training purposes at Katsuta Depot in final years, coupled to KuHa 481-26; restored to previous appearance as MoHa 484-61
KuHa 481-1508	Hitachi 	June 1974 	July 2015 	T18 	Niitsu Railway Museum, Niigata, Japan 	Displayed since October 2015
KuHa 481-603 	Nippon Sharyo 	June 1969 	March 1995 	N/A 	Kyushu Railway History Museum, Kitakyushu, Kyushu, Japan 	Stored at Kokura General Rolling Stock Center until 2003
KuHa 481-246 	Tokyu Car Corporation 	August 1973 	2013 	Dk01 	Kyushu Railway History Museum, Kitakyushu, Kyushu, Japan 	Cab only
KuHa 481-256 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	September 1973 	October 2016 	Do32 	Kokura General Rolling Stock Center, Kokura, Kyushu, Japan	Rarely available for public viewing
SaShi 481-48 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	October 1972 	February 1987	N/A 	Iwate, Japan 	Dining car, formerly used as a café, currently used as a warehouse; in very poor cosmetic condition
The following 485 series cars were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Car number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Previous sets	Last location 	Notes
KuRo 481-2001	Tokyu Car Corporation 	September 1978 	August 2011 	A01 	JR West Suita Works, Osaka, Japan 	Panoramic Raichō cab car, scrapped post-2013
SaRo 481-41 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	June 1972 	June 1990 	N/A 	Yūfutsu, Hokkaido, Japan 	Dining car, converted to drive-in after retirement, preserved alongside SaHaNe 581-14 and 36; scrapped in 2005
SaShi 481-43 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	August 1972 	February 1987	N/A 	Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan 	Dining car, privately owned, converted to cafeteria, scrapped in 2003; owned by same owner as SaRo 481-99
SaRo 481-99 	Hitachi 	September 1973 	March 1986 	N/A 	Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan 	Dining car, privately owned, converted to cram school, scrapped in 2010; owned by same owner as SaShi 481-43
SaShi 481-24 	Kinki Sharyo 	August 1969 	July 1985 	N/A 	Kokura Station, Kokura, Kyushu, Japan 	Dining car, served as Train d'or French restaurant in front of station, scrapped after low footfall after some years
SaShi 481-26 	Hitachi 	March 1970 	November 1985	N/A 	Kagoshima-Chūō Station, Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan	Dining car, served as Vesuvio Italian restaurant in front of respective stations, scrapped after low footfall after some years
SaShi 481-30 	Tokyu Car Corporation 	August 1972 	December 1985	N/A 	Minami-Miyazaki Station, Miyazaki, Kyushu, Japan	Dining car, served as Vesuvio Italian restaurant in front of respective stations, scrapped after low footfall after some years
SaRo 481-16 	Hitachi 	July 1965 	December 1985	N/A 	Sendai Station, Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan 	Dining car, served as Vesuvio Italian restaurant in front of respective stations, scrapped after low footfall after some years
SaShi 481-27 	Tokyu Car Corporation 	December 1971 	February 1987	N/A 	Takatomo Wonder Farm, Miyagi, Japan 	Dining car, converted into restaurant along with various other JNR railcars; scrapped in September 2008 due to body corrosion
==Gallery==
485 A1 A2 2015.jpg|Later-style set A1+A2 on a Tsubasa Relay service in September 2015
485 R21 2015.jpg|485-3000 series set R21 in March 2015
485 A01 2011.jpg|Panoramic 485 series set A01 on a Raichō service in February 2011
File:JNR-KURO481-1.jpg|Bonnet-style set on a Midori service circa 1982
File:KuHa 481-26 2023.jpg
File:MoHa 484-61 2023.jpg
File:KuHa 481-246 2014.jpg
File:KuHa 481-603 2023.jpg
==References==
*Wikipedia.org
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Hitachi locomotives
Category:Kawasaki locomotives
Category:Kinki Sharyo locomotives
Category:Kisha Seizō locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives
Category:Tokyu Car locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives