Although the recent progress in railway technology, particularly regarding rolling stock improvement and development, has been spetacular, the root causes for this progress are social requireents and the modernization of railways due to the implementation of various types of technical innovations. As a large-capacity, high-speed land transportation system, railways have to provide saer, more reliable and better services while avoiding becoming bound by previous contentions, and should strive to rationalize their operations. This modernization of railways is a modernization of motive power, in which the initially used coal was changed to oil and then to electricity due to the necessity of adopting the most effective motive power source and utilizing it in the most advanced way, so that electric trains and electric locomotives have come to be most widely utilized through electrification.
Even though many electric locomotives have been manufactured, the EF65, which saw conspicuous service as a leading force on various railway lines in Japan, was first released in January 1965. While its exterior was the same as the four batch-built type EF60, the fat that it was a locomotive for special express train use meant that it featured two cream-colored lines running horizontally along the sides, and had a special express train name indicator plate on the front. People viewing the locomotive as it rushed gallantly past were given a sense of its power.
Following the increased operation of special express trains in 1968, the eight general type locomotives from basic series number 77 were converted for special express train use. Equipment deserving particular mention included the utilization of high speed electric motors and the wide use of field weakening control, which increased the locomotive output. This control system was specially manufactured in October 1963 for use with special express trains represented by the "Asakaze" in Kyushu in southern Japan. These locomotives were additionally provided with a power source exclusive pantagraph operation valve and a telephone for communication,and other places where it was apparent that particular care had also been placed on safety. Further, the train numbers were differentiated by giving them 500 series numbers to indicate their special express train use.
Because the high speed performance had been improved, the locomotives were capable of climbing inclined sections at high speed, and could quickly cover long distances as locomotives pulling express trains beween Tokyo and Shimonoseki, Shin-Osaka and Shimonoseki, and between Osaka and Maibara. The EG65 therefore greatly contributed to the shortening of travel times that was required by modern society, and played a major role by becoming an indispensable transport method for the people.
Molded in black, gray, clear, white and brushed-aluminum-look plastic; includes decals.
The Class EF65 is a 6-axle (Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement) DC electric locomotive type operated on passenger and freight services in Japan since 1965. A total of 308 locomotives were built between 1965 and 1979, with 52 still in service as of 2016.
High-quality, precision plastic model kit. Paint and glue are not included. Requires assembly and painting. For intermediate to advanced skill modelers.
This is a train model intended for display purposes only (i.e., it does not run on a track).
