International Railroad Discussion > Vintage Japanese ED-403 electric for sale

http://www.fujikyu.co.jp/gakunan/ED403.pdf

English article:
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2017/03/15/japanese-railway-company-selling-retro-electric-locomotive-to-whoever-wants-it/

Would perhaps make a good acquisition for a museum that doesn't already have an example of that model.

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

Harlock Wrote:
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> Would perhaps make a good acquisition for a museum
> that doesn't already have an example of that
> model.

Gakunan Railway already has the other one, ED-402, and based on information I found from 1-2 years ago, I believe they still have that one on display somewhere on their property.

These locomotives came from Matsumoto Electric Railway (now called the ALPICO group) which is located in the Northern Alps mountain range. It'd be interesting if the ALPICO Group is interested in making a deal with Gakunan Railway (located geographically "far" away, sandwiched between Mt. Fuji and the Pacific Ocean) to bring the ED-403 to its original home.

Since these locomotives don't have JR/JNR heritage, it'd be tough to convince the museums to accept it in their exhibits.

FYI, Gakunan and ALPICO have something interesting in common - they use ex-Keio 3000 series EMUs, the same ones Railpax71 covered in his reports of the Jomo Electric Railway in Gunma Prefecture.

Other than the track gauge being 3' 6" what is the operating voltage required.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

JimBaker Wrote:
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> Other than the track gauge being 3' 6" what is the
> operating voltage required.

1500V DC. Fairly common operating voltage in Japan, including JR territories using DC catenary.