Choshi Electric Railway 700 series

Choshi Electric Railway 700 series
DeHa 701 at Nakanochō Depot, January 2010
In service	1978–2010
Replaced	DeHa 201
Constructed	1942
Number built	2 vehicles
Number in service	None
Number preserved	2 vehicles
Formation	Single car
Fleet numbers	DeHa 701/702
Capacity	110 (42 seated)
Operator(s)	Choshi Electric Railway
Depot(s)	Nakanochō
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Car length	15,365 mm (50 ft 4.9 in)
Width	2,743 mm (9 ft 0 in)
Height	4,134 mm (13 ft 6.8 in)
Doors	2 per side
Weight	26.0 t
Traction system	SE-119C (52 kW x2)
Power output	104 kW
Electric system(s)	600 V DC overhead wire
Current collection method	PS13 pantograph (x1)
Bogies	Sumitomo KS-33S
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Choshi Electric Railway 700 series (銚子電鉄700形^?, Chōshi Dentetsu 700-gata) was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Choshi Electric Railway in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, between 1978 and 2010. The two single cars were converted from former Ohmi Railway MoHa 50 EMU cars, which were built in 1942.

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The two DeHa 700 cars were not able to operate in multiple with other types on the railway, but were often used running together in multiple on rush-hour services.

The trains had longitudinal seating, and were not air-conditioned, using ceiling-mounted fans. DeHa 701 was equipped with fare collection boxes at each end for wanman driver only operation.

Wooden slat blinds in a 700 series car, May 2009

Two 1942-vintage MoHa 50 EMU cars, MoHa 51 and MoHa 52, were purchased from Ohmi Railway, and were modified at Seibu Railway's workshops in Tokorozawa, Saitama in 1978, becoming DeHa 701 and DeHa 702 respectively. The MoHa 50 EMU cars themselves used the bogies and electrical equipment from former wooden-bodied DeYuWa 101 and 102 mail EMU cars built in March 1928 by Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Ltd. The MoHa 50 cars were originally built as single-cars, but had one cab end removed in 1961. The second cab ends were reinstated on conversion for use on the Choshi Electric Railway. The cars entered revenue service on the Choshi Electric Railway from 5 April 1978.

In 1981, Prince Akishino rode on both DeHa 701 and DeHa 702 with friends on a trip from Choshi to Tokawa on 6 December 1981 while he was studying at Gakushuin University in Tokyo.