On 5th, I went photographing 485 Series A1/A2 set belonging to Sendai train Shed, which was the last one painted by light orange and red, the traditional colour of limited express train on the old Japan National Railway(JNR).
Recently, it is said that 485 Series' retirement comes in a couple of years because of the abolition of the service or the replacement by the newer carriages. In 2011 the regular operation of 485 Series in West Japan and Kyushu areas completely disappeared and had been used on 6 limited express services in JR East area since that time, "Nikko"(Shinjuku - Tobu-nikko), "Kinugawa"(Shinjuku - Kinugawa-onsen), "Inaho"(Niigata - Akita), "Hokuetsu"(Kanazawa - Niigata), "Tsugaru"(Shin-aomori - Hirosaki), and "Hakucho"(Shin-aomori - Hakodate). However, those on these services had gradually been replaced; "Tsugaru" was by E751 Series, "Nikko" and "Kinugawa" was by 253 Series in 2011, and "Inaho" was by E653 Series in 2014, and the operation of "Hokuetsu" disappeared in 2015. Since March 14th, 2015, the limited express train regularly operated by 485 Series is only "Hakucho". In 2016, when Hokkaido Shinkansen between Shin-aomori and Shin-hakodate-hokuto opens, "Hakucho" discontinues its operation, which means the limited express trains operated by 485 Series is completely being abolished.
Not only limited express service, but the other service by 485 Series had also gradually decreased; rapid train "Aizu Liner" on Banetsu West Line and rapid train "Kubikino" on Shinetsu Main Line stopped their operation in 2015. The rapid train on Shinetsu Main Line and Echigo Tokimeki Railway Nihonkai Hisui Line which is newly started to run in 2015 is the only one. In addition, special train "Burari Kamakura Yokohama" was replaced by 651 Series and the one for Tokyo Disney Land from Niigata was by E653 Series.
In the JNR period, because of its speculation three different electrification system in Japan (1500V DC, 50Hz 20000V AC, 60Hz 20000V AC) available, 485 Series ran all over Japan and 1453 carriages (including its variants, 481, 483, and 489 Series) had totally built. However, in 2015, only 69 carriages (64 belonging to JR East and 5 belonging to JR Kyushu except converted ones to the newly-built body with tatami mat or European-style interior) exists.
It must be sure to meet 485 Series' demise soon. In my opinion, this A1/A2 set keep running as the carriage for special train together with 583 Series belonging to Akita Train Shed, but JR East announced that all 485 Series would retire because they used asbestos. It also must be hard to keep remaining.