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E1 Series Shinkansen

First written April 11, 2024

The E1 series Shinkansen was introduced in July 1994 on the Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen lines from July 1994 to help alleviate crowded trains with an all double-decker Shinkansen. The Max stands for Multi-Amenity eXpress. JR East continued to operate the trains until September 2012 when they were displaced by the double-decker E4 series trains as more E5 series trains entered service on the same lines.

All 2-Story Shinkansen Max (1994)

The initial E1 series Shinkansen release is the All 2-Story Shinkansen Max (オール2階建て 新幹線 Max) in sixth generation packaging. This initial release has the rather nice looking light blue livery these trains were first painted in.

I like the front of this series of Shinkansen, especially in this livery, it has a friendly sort of look to it. My example is fairly playworn and needs some repairs, notably some traction tires.

My example does not have its original production sticker intact but it must be from some time between 1994 and 1998 as in 1998 the intermediate car tooling was changed to match the E4 series intermediate car (it has slightly less panel detailing on the sides).

With the refreshed range in 2003 the E1 series was released in the same initial color scheme but with grey wheels and additional paint on the wheel boogies as S-07 E1 Series Shinkansen Max (S-07 E1系 新幹線 Max). In 2007 the E1 series was updated with its new paint scheme. When the range was refreshed again in 2014 the type 923 Doctor Yellow with Light took the S-07 position.