Japan - E3type

E3type or E3 Series Shinkansen (high speed train).

Sent by Taroh, a postcrosser from Japan.

This is from Wikipedia : The E3 series (E3系?) is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type built for Komachi services which commenced on 3 June 1997, coinciding with opening of the new Akita Shinkansen 'mini-shinkansen' line, a regular 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge line between Morioka and Akita upgraded to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge. Later versions of the E3 series were also introduced for use on Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services. Both 'mini-shinkansen' lines join the Tōhoku Shinkansen, providing services south to Tokyo.

Like the 400 Series Shinkansen, these trains are built to a smaller loading gauge than mainline Shinkansen trains—the width and length of each car is reduced to fit on the narrower clearances of the 'mini-shinkansen'.