The 121 series design is based on the earlier 105 series, with lightweight stainless steel bodies.[3]
The motor bogies were the same DT33A bogies as used on the JNR-era 103 series EMUs, and the trailer cars used DT21T bogies recovered from withdrawn 101 series EMUs.[4] The pantographs were also recovered from withdrawn 101 series EMUs.[4]
As of 1 April 2016[update], the fleet consists of 18 two-car 121 series sets and one 7200 series formed of one motored "Mc" car and one non-powered "Tc" trailer car as shown below with the motored "Mc" cars at the Takamatsu end.[5]
121 series
Designation
Mc
Tc
Numbering
KuMoHa 121
KuHa 120
Weight (t)
42.0
28.0
Capacity (total/seated)
118/62
118/62
The "Mc" cars are each fitted with one S-PS58 lozenge-type pantograph.[5]
KuMoHa 121-14 in December 2007
KuHa 120-14 in December 2007
7200 series
Designation
Mc
Tc
Numbering
KuMoHa 7200
KuHa 7300
Weight (t)
37.6
28.5
Capacity (total/seated)
132/52
132/52
The "Mc" cars are each fitted with one S-PS58 lozenge-type pantograph.[6]
7218 in January 2019
7318 in January 2019
Interiors
Seating is arranged as a mix of transverse seating bays and longitudinal bench seats.[2] The sets are not equipped with toilets.[5]
An interior view in September 2007
History
The 121 series sets were introduced on 23 March 1987, just nine days before JNR was privatized on 1 April, following which the 121 series fleet came under control of JR Shikoku.[4] The sets were originally delivered with magenta "Red No. 20" bodyside stripes, but were repainted with JR Shikoku corporate light blue ("Blue No. 26") bodyside stripes during September and October 1987.[2]
In 1992, the original pantographs were replaced with the same S-PS58 type pantographs also used on the JR Shikoku 7000 series EMUs to ensure adequate clearance through tunnels on newly electrified sections of the Yosan Line.[4]
In 2011, two sets (numbers 001 and 002) were modified for wanmandriver only operation. These sets were repainted with their original JNR-style magenta bodyside stripes.[5]
121 series sets in original JNR livery, circa 1987
Set 009 with a front-end red warning stripe added for a short period during the 1990s
A pair of 121 series sets in May 2009
Modified driver-only set 001 in April 2012
Refurbishment and conversion
From 2016, the entire fleet of 19 two-car trainsets is scheduled to undergo refurbishment, and at the same time reclassified "7200 series". Refurbishment includes replacement of the DC motors with 140 kW AC motors and VVVF control, new side windows, new "efWing" CFRP bogies (S-DT67ef motor bogies and S-TR67ef trailer bogies), and a new livery based on the original style with a thin green line added to the magenta bodyside stripe.[6] Internally, the refurbished trains have fixed four-person seating bays on one side with longitudinal bench seating on the other.[6]
The first trainset to be treated, set 3, was outshopped from JR Shikoku's Tadotsu Works in February 2016,[7] and entered service from 13 June 2016.[8]
An S-DT67ef motor bogie on car KuMoHa 7203
An S-TR67ef trailer bogie on car KuHa 7303
Inside the car
Wheelchair space
Driver's cab
Fleet history
The individual build histories for the fleet are as follows.[4]
^Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Jr全車両: ビジュアル決定版 Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 75. ISBN978-4-418-09905-4.
^ abcdJēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. p. 256. ISBN978-4-7770-0836-0.
^Fukuhara, Shunichi (August 2016). 121系近郊形直流電車のあゆみ part1 [The history of the 121 series suburban DC EMU trains (part 1)]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 664. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 84–87.
^ abcdeFukuhara, Shunichi (September 2016). 121系近郊形直流電車のあゆみ part2 [The history of the 121 series suburban DC EMU trains (part 2)]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 665. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 94–99.
^ abcdeJr電車編成表 JR電車編成表 2016夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 20 May 2016. p. 205. ISBN978-4-330-68216-7.
^ abcYoshimoto, Eizaburo (August 2016). 7200系近郊形直流電車 [7200 series suburban DC EMU trains]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 664. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 84–87.
^JR四国121系第3編成が7200系となり出場 [JR Shikoku 121 series set 3 outshopped as 7200 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
^JR四国7200系が営業運転を開始 [JR Shikoku 7200 series enters revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.