The was an experimental Japanese
Shinkansen
The , colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. Initially, it was built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond l ...
train built to test the technology for future high-speed trains operating at speeds of up to following the opening of the
Tokaido Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed rail line that is part of the nationwide Shinkansen network. Along with the Sanyo Shinkansen, it forms a continuous high-speed railway through the Taiheiyō Belt, also known as the Tokaido corridor. Opened in 196 ...
in 1964.
Formation
The Class 951 train was a two-car unit formed of cars numbered 951-1 and 951-2. Car 951-1 was built by Kawasaki Sharyo (present-day
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
(or simply Kawasaki) is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, Heavy equipment (construction), heavy equipment, aerospace and Military, defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headq ...
), and had a seating capacity of 40 with seats arranged 3+2 abreast. Car 951-2 was built by
Nippon Sharyo
, formed in 1896, is a major rolling stock manufacturer based in Nagoya, Japan. In 1996, it abbreviated its name to "日本車両" Nippon Sharyō. Its shortest abbreviation is Nissha "日車". It was a listed company on Nikkei 225 until 2 ...
, and had a seating capacity of 50, also with seats arranged 3+2 abreast.
# 951-1 (Mc)
# 951-2 (M'c)
Both cars were fitted with a cross-arm type
pantograph
A pantograph (, from their original use for copying writing) is a mechanical linkage connected in a manner based on parallelograms so that the movement of one pen, in tracing an image, produces identical movements in a second pen. If a line dr ...
at the inner end.
Both were based on the PS200 type used on the
0 Series Shinkansen trains, but the pantograph on car 951-1 was designated PS9010K, and that on car 951-2 was designated PS-1010A.
Normally, only the pantograph on car 951-2 was used.
History
The train was unveiled to the press on 26 March 1969, with formal test running commencing on the
Tōkaidō Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed rail line that is part of the nationwide Shinkansen network. Along with the Sanyo Shinkansen, it forms a continuous high-speed railway through the Taiheiyō Belt, also known as the Tokaido corridor. Opened in 19 ...
from 2 July 1969.
On 24 February 1972, the Class 951 recorded a
world speed record of on the
Sanyo Shinkansen between and , breaking the previous record of set by the
Class 1000 Shinkansen
was the classification given to the two prototype Japanese Shinkansen trains built for high-speed testing ahead of the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964.
Formations
Set A
# 1001 (Mc) built by Kisha Seizo, seating capacity 56 (actua ...
.
The train was formally withdrawn on 11 April 1980.
Car 951-2 was transferred to the Railway Technical Research Institute in
Kokubunji, Tokyo
250px, Ruins of Musashi Kokubun-ji temple
is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 126,791, and a population density of 11,000 persons per km². The total area of the city wa ...
, where it was used for roller rig testing. Car 951-1 was donated to the nearby Hikari Plaza Community Centre in 1994, where it is open to the public.
Car 951-2 was subsequently stored out of use inside the Railway Technical Research Institute,
and was cut up in 2008.
References
External links
Kokubunji Hikari Plaza information
{{High-speed rail experimental
Experimental and prototype high-speed trains
951
Train-related introductions in 1969
Non-passenger multiple units
25 kV AC multiple units
Kawasaki multiple units
Nippon Sharyo multiple units