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Need Research Help

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  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 5 posts
Need Research Help
Posted by BruceMaison on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 8:31 AM

I am an earthquake researcher in San Francisco, California and seek your help in finding technical data about a Japan electric locomotive.

The link below shows a photo of a JR East Loco that was toppled during earthquake in 2007.  I am studying the ground shaking intensity that would cause it to tip over. I think it is a Series 115 loco. 

http://www.greatdreams.com/japan_quake_2007.htm

I need to know:

1. Loco weight

2. Loco dimensions (length, width, height)

3. Loco drawing of front and side views

Please advise on where I can obtain this information

Thanks

  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 10:35 AM

Here is what I found on the German Wikipedia website: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/JNR-Klasse_115

According the photos it seems to be a 115: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F53EMarT7_A/UfR_GRq8JUI/AAAAAAAAFOM/El9lhP8EQzc/s1600/115Nagano640.jpg

The Series 115 is an electric multi unit (EMU) design. It doesn't have locomotives but a number of cars is propelled.

Dimension per car: Length 65'- 7.4''; width 9'- 8.4''; height 13'- 4.5''; gauge 3'- 6''; weight 32.85 tons.

Here is a 1/80 model side view: http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig17/10179365a2.jpg

And the closest to a drawing I was able to find: http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig17/10179365t.jpg

Disclaimer: I'm not sure how correct the above information is.
Regards, Volker

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    September 2003
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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 10:53 AM

I believe Volker's information is correct.  Here is the picture from the linked page:

Part of the 'secret' here is likely to be the 3'6" gauge and relatively wide carbody; it would help to know the proportion of P- vs S-wave motion effective at the railhead, but note that the visible trailing car of the set remained railed.  A significant piece of information to know would be whether the flange gauge corner remains close to the railhead (i.e. tipover) or if the 'low' wheels are displaced outside the line of the rail, indicating some lateral motion or displacement (I can't tell from the picture, but someone more familiar with the 115 class, perhaps tomikawa tt, would know). 

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 5 posts
Posted by BruceMaison on Thursday, April 12, 2018 9:17 AM

Volker:

I appreciate you quickly finding this informations for me.

I have another case I want your help with.  This time it is a loco in New Zealand.  I will post it as a separate request.

Thank-you very much

Bruce Maison

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 5 posts
Posted by BruceMaison on Thursday, April 12, 2018 9:23 AM

Thank-you for confirming that loco is Series 115.

The earthquake motions causing tipping are the surface waves since these cause the most violent shaking.

I have another case that I would like your attention (New Zealand loco).  I will post this as a new request.

Thanks

Bruce Maison

 

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