Doctor Yellow

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Doctor Yellow (ドクターイエロー) is the nickname for the high-speed test trains that are used on the Japanese Shinkansen ("Bullet Train") dedicated express passenger train routes. The trains have special equipment on board to monitor the condition of the track and overhead wire, including special instrumented bogies and observation blisters.

The 'Doctor' part of the name is obvious from their test and diagnostic function, and the 'Yellow' part comes from the bright yellow color they are all painted. Some have a blue waistline stripe, some a green one. The original color scheme of yellow with a blue stripe (applied to the Class 921 track-recording cars) was created by reversing the colors (blue with yellow stripe) used on narrow-gauge track-recording cars.

In build and appearance, they are very similar to production, passenger carrying Shinkansen trains, and line inspection is carried out at full line speed (i.e. up to 270 km/h on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen).

Contents 1 List of Doctor Yellow trains past and present 1.1 For Tōkaidō & Sanyō Shinkansen 1.2 For Tōhoku, Jōetsu, Nagano, Yamagata & Akita Shinkansen 2 See also 3 References

[edit] List of Doctor Yellow trains past and present

[edit] For Tōkaidō & Sanyō Shinkansen

• Non-powered track recording cars (Yellow with blue stripe):
  • 921-1: Built in 1962 (initially numbered 4001), and withdrawn in 1980.
  • 921-2: Converted in 1964 from former MaRoNeFu(マロネフ)29-11 sleeping car, and withdrawn in 1976.
• 0 series type (Yellow with blue stripe):
  • 922-0 (Set T1): 4-car set converted in 1964 from the prototype set (class 1000 Set B) built in 1961, and withdrawn in 1976.
  • 922-10 (Set T2): 7-car set owned by JR Central. Built in 1974 and withdrawn in 2001.
  • 922-20 (Set T3): 7-car set owned by JR West. Built in 1979 and withdrawn in 2005.

• 700 series type (Yellow with blue stripe):
  • 923 (Set T4): 7-car set owned by JR Central. Delivered in 2000.
  • 923-3000 (Set T5): 7-car set owned by JR West. Delivered in 2005.

[edit] For Tōhoku, Jōetsu, Nagano, Yamagata & Akita Shinkansen

• 200 series type (Yellow with green stripe):
  • 925/0 (Set S1): 7-car set owned by JR East. Delivered in 1979 and withdrawn in 2001.
  • 925/10 (Set S2): 7-car set owned by JR East. Converted from class 962 test train in 1982 and withdrawn in 2002.
• E3 series type (White with red stripe)
  • E926 (Set S51): "East i" 6-car set owned by JR East. Delivered in August 2001.

[edit] See also

• Network Rail New Measurement Train (UK), unofficially known as the "Flying Banana"

[edit] References

• Fossett, D A J (2005). Shinkansen prototypes and experimental trains. byun byun Shinkansen, retrieved on July 9, 2006.