Odakyu 3100 series NSE

The Odakyu 3100 series NSE (New Super Express) is an articulated Japanese limited express electric multiple unit operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway from March 1963 to April 2000.
==History==
The 3100 series trains were designed to increase transportation capacity on the Odawara Main Line in the direction of Hakone; notably, prior to the 3100 series's introductions even if all four 3000 series trains were operated transportation capacity was still insufficient. With the upcoming Olympics to be held in Tokyo in 1964, Odakyu management decided on three possible options to increase transportation capacity on the lines: manufacture more 3000 series sets, manufacture more 3000 series intermediate cars and insert them into the sets or manufacture new trains entirely. Management settled on the third option as new cars would give passengers a good impression of the company.
The first sets were introduced on 16 March 1963. With the introduction of the 7000 series sets, refurbishments were done on the 3100 series sets from 1984 to 1988, giving the sets air conditioning units, changing out the front service indicators from metal plates to electric scroll-type signs and the replacement of underbody equipment. Other minor refurbishment works were conducted in the late 1970s. Retirements began in 1996 with the introduction of the 30000 series sets, beginning with set 3121; set 3161 was rebuilt into the Yume 70 set beginning in 1996 to celebrate Odakyu's 70th anniversary. All 3100 series sets, apart from the Yume 70 set, were retired by 16 July 1999; the Yume 70 set would see service for a few more months and would retire on 23 April 2000, whereupon scrapping of the set began. None of the trains were sold to private railways after their retirements on the Odakyu Electric Railway, although various equipment from the scrapped sets would be sold to other companies; the Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railway used the old air conditioning units for their 600 series trains and the Ichibata Electric Railway used the old seats for their 5000 series trains.
Four cars have been preserved; three cars from set 3221 are located at the Romancecar Museum in Ebina, Kanagawa and one car, 3181 is located at a park in Kaisei, Kanagawa. Noted as the first Odakyu Romancecar set with observation seats, 3221 was shortened from eleven to six cars and preserved at Kitami Depot after its retirement in 1999. Three of the cars in the set were scrapped in October 2017 to allow for additional storage space for trains during an emergency; these were then moved to the Romancecar Museum in 2021 in preparation for its opening.
==Design==
The 3100 series sets use a streamlined front end with side-mounted circular headlights in teardrop-shaped casings. The trains were designed with the keywords of "high speed", "deluxe", "safety", "economy", "attractive" and "comfort". Starting from the 3100 series sets virtually all future Romancecars (with the exception of the 20000, 30000 and 60000 series) feature a raised driver's cab to allow passengers to have a panoramic view ahead; this cab is accessed from below via a ladder and step system. This is very similar to the 7000 series Panorama Cars as used by Meitetsu.
==Specifications==
Construction is of steel. The trains use resistor-controlled traction systems. The trains feature a musical horn which plays variations on a four-note ditty. These used an improved transistor oscillator circuit to produce a synthesized version of the ditty; the speakers for the horn are located in the front pilot.
Category:Odakyu trains
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:Kawasaki locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives