The 0 Series Shinkansen is a high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways and its successor companies from October 1964 to December 2008. These were the first Shinkansen sets to operate in revenue service and are considered an iconic vehicle in Japan's railway history.
History[]
Based on the prototype Class 1000 sets, the 0 Series Shinkansen entered service on 1 October 1964 with the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen. The sets were originally unclassified; they were retrospectively named as the 0 Series later as there was no need to distinguish classes of trains on the Shinkansen at the time. These trainsets were the first Japanese trains to be built as standard gauge (4 ft 8½ in [1,435 mm]), however, Japan's previously built networks were built as narrow gauge (3 ft 6 in [1,067 mm]) lines.
Built between March 1964 and April 1986 in 38 batches, a total of 3,216 cars were built by six manufacturers, constituting the highest production numbers of any Shinkansen train within Japan. Formed in 12-car sets, H2 pulled the inaugural Shinkansen service bound for Shin-Osaka at 6:00 AM JST on 1 October 1964; over time however the composition of the sets would change to as long as 16 cars and as short as 4 cars to cope with demand, although by the end of their service lives all trains that remained in service were in 6-car formations. The trains were assigned to the Kodama and Hikari services. Viewed by the public as an outstanding design, the 0 Series Shinkansen sets won the 1965 Blue Ribbon Award.
Withdrawals of the class began in 1977, with the first batch of cars retired that year and scrapped at Hamamatsu Works. When the JNR was privatized in 1987, JR Central and JR West, two of the JNR's successor companies, were assigned ownership of the 0 Series sets. JR Central began scrapping their 0 Series sets in 1988, with JR West following suit the next year. JR Central retired their 0 Series sets on 18 September 1999, with sets YK8, YK29 and YK41 operating special Kodama services. In their final years in service, the 0 Series sets were mainly used on Kodama services between Shin-Osaka and Hakata on the San'yō Shinkansen, as well as some Hakata-Minami Line services; initially scheduled to be withdrawn in 2006, they were ultimately withdrawn from regular service on 30 November 2008. By then, only three sets, R61, R67 and R68, were in operation.
Following this, a number of special Hikari runs were held using the 0 Series Shinkansen. The final Hikari service using a 0 Series set was a Hikari 347 service, run using 0 Series set R61; the set pulled into Hakata Station at 6:01 pm JST on 14 December 2008 to much fanfare, bringing the 0 Series's 44-year service life to a close.
A total of 24 cars have been preserved, making this the most well-represented member of retired Shinkansen classes.
Design[]
Designed by former military officer turned industrial designer Tadanao Miki, the 0 Series trainsets feature large circular headlights and their white bodies with a blue stripe on both sides at window height and a blue stripe on their side skirts; the trains's fleet numbers are pasted on the bottom of their windows and on the side of the driver's doors. Their most notable design trait is a large bulging nose, a design which would later evolve to become the sharper-pointed bullet nose design on later Shinkansen trains. This same basic design would be used on the 200 Series Shinkansen sets used around the east of Japan.
The sets were given a livery change from May 2002, being given dark gray side stripes with "fresh green" highlights. The remaining three sets were repainted back into their original liveries by June 2008.
Fleet numbers[]
- 12-car H/K/N/R/S sets
- 12-car H/K/N/R/S/T Kodama sets
- 16-car H/K/N/R/S Hikari sets
- 16-car K Kodama sets
- 16-car H Hikari restaurant car sets
- 16-car NH Hikari sets
- 16-car YK sets
- 12-car SK sets
- 4-car Q sets
- 6-car R sets
Fleet numbers were initially assigned based on the set's place of manufacture; N for Nippon Sharyo, K for Kisha Seizō, R for Kawasaki Heavy Industries (R = "river", river in Japanese = "kawa"), S for Kinki Sharyo, H for Hitachi and T for Tokyu Car Corporation. This system was ditched in 1972 following reorganization of many of the trains, resulting in their fleet numbers having no correlation to the sets's manufacturer. As a result, a three-tier system was implemented, using three letters: H for Hikari sets, K for 16-car Kodama sets and S for 12-car Kodama sets.
In 1976, small-windowed Hikari sets were introduced and designated N sets; sets with cab cars given small windows as a retrofit were designated NH sets. In 1980, all Kodama sets were made 12-cars in length and were designated S and SK sets as a result. 6-car R sets were introduced on the Kodama service in 1985; initially only one set was produced but twenty more were procured due to high demand. Due to a further uptick in demand, all S and SK sets were lengthened to 16 cars and redesignated Y and YK sets; these retired in September 1999, while the NH sets were retired in December 1999. 4-car Q sets were introduced in 1997 for use on Kodama shuttle services between Hakata and Kokura or Hiroshima, along with some Hakata-Minami Line duties; these were short-lived and were all retired by September 2001.
Eight further R sets were configured using surplus train cars for use on West Hikari services and remained in service until the 0 Series's retirement in December 2008.
Specifications[]
The bodies of the sets were constructed of steel. The trains used brushed DC motors with a secondary tap changer drive. The sets were 133.2 in (3,383 mm) wide and 177 in (4,490 mm) high. The end cars were 990 in (25,150 mm) in length, and the intermediate cars were slightly shorter at 980 in (25,000 mm). A single set could hold between 368 and 1,340 people depending on the number of cars. The pantograph carried 25 kV, AC power at 60 Hz. Top speed was 220 km/h (140 mph).
Preservation[]
The following 0 Series Shinkansen cars have been preserved:
Car number | Manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Previous sets | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21-1 | Nippon Sharyo | March 1964 | March 1977 | Class 1000 "C", N1, H1 | Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto, Japan | Ex-pre-production set H1, formerly displayed at the Modern Transportation Museum until its closure in 2014; designated an Important Historical Material of Science and Technology in 2009 |
22-1 | ||||||
16-1 | ||||||
35-1 | July 1964 | N2, H2 | Ex-first production set H2 | |||
21-2 | The Railway Museum, Saitama, Japan | Ex-first production set H2, originally located at the JR Kansai Railway Academy in Osaka before being moved in 2009 | ||||
21-25 | Hitachi | April 1964 | March 1978 | H1, H25 | Cab only, originally located at the Transportation Museum in Tokyo before its closure | |
21-86 | Kinki Sharyo | December 1971 | November 1991 | S46, K46, K17, S88 | SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, Japan | Restored to appearance with fleet number K17 |
36-84 | Hitachi | March 1975 | December 1999 | H84, NH18, NH54, NH32 | Ex-NH32, last operational NH set; coupled to 21-86 | |
37-2523 | July 1983 | September 1999 | K82, SK91, YK91, YK41, YK8 | Ex-YK8, last set in service with JR Central | ||
16-2034 | Nippon Sharyo | March 1986 | SK26, YK26, YK8 | |||
22-75 | Kisha Seizō | August 1969 | March 1985 | K15, K18 | Ōme Railway Park, Tokyo, Japan | Painted in JR East green for a time; park temporarily closed from 2023 to end-2025 |
21-100 | Hitachi | September 1973 | October 1991 | H15, Y45 | Tsutsjigaoka Park, Tokyo, Japan | Formerly used as a library reading room until 2020, poor cosmetic condition; crowdfunding currently under way to cosmetically restore car |
21-2023 | Tokyu Car Corporation | January 1985 | June 1998 | YK22 | J-TREC, Yokohama, Japan | Cab only; formerly displayed at the Sakuma Rail Park in Hamamatsu, Japan |
21-59 | Kisha Seizō | March 1968 | February 1982 | K11 | Shintorimachi Park, Shizuoka, Japan | Park touted as the first park to display a Shinkansen car; other parts from Shinkansen sets, such as couplers and a DT13 bogie are on display near the car |
22-2029 | Nippon Sharyo | March 1986 | September 1999 | SK26, YK26, YK8 | Nippon Sharyo Memorial Car Square, Toyokawa, Japan | Ex-YK8, last set in service with JR Central, not open for public viewing |
22-1003 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | November 1976 | November 1994 | N97, NH97 | Namikawa Railway Heritage Park, Kyoto, Japan | Cab only, displayed near DD51 1040 |
22-7007 | Nippon Sharyo | March 1985 | December 2008 | SK17, NH88, R15, R68 | Kento Library, Osaka, Japan | Ex-22-2022, later 22-7036, originally intended to be displayed at a planned railway museum incorporating the former Suita Depot, museum ultimately never built; later stored outdoors with tarp covering locomotive before moving to library in 2020 |
21-73 | Kisha Seizō | July 1969 | October 1984 | K16 | Shinkansen Park, Osaka, Japan | Other cab car from set preserved in Okinawa until 1998 |
21-7008 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | June 1983 | December 2008 | NH7, R27, R61 | Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing Hyōgo Factory, Hyōgo, Japan | Ex-21-2012, later 21-7034, ex-R61, last operational set; displayed next to KuHa 151-1 |
21-7038 | February 1985 | March 2006 | SK14, R6, R18 | Kawasaki Good Times World, Kobe Maritime Museum, Kobe, Japan | Ex-21-2026; front third only, only surviving car featuring interior refurbishments | |
21-141 | Hitachi | June 1976 | February 2000 | H94, R52, Q2 | The Railway History Park, Ehime, Shikoku, Japan | Front third only, other cab car from set preserved in York, England |
22-77 | September 1969 | March 1990 | H15, K20, R21 | Satsuki Kindergarten, Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan | Used as staff room and library | |
22-141 | June 1976 | February 2000 | H94, R52, Q2 | National Railway Museum, York, England | Gift from JR West, donated in 2001 | |
21-5035 | Tokyu Car Corporation | June 1978 | March 2004 | NH21, R1, R6 | Tainan HSR Station, Tainan, Taiwan | Ex-21-1032; initially used a structure gauging car used during the construction of the Taiwan High Speed Rail system until 2008; displayed at Tainan Station since December 2023 |
The following 0 Series Shinkansen cars were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Car number | Manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Previous sets | Last location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
22-2 | Nippon Sharyo | July 1964 | March 1977 | N2, H2 | JR West Staff Training Center, Osaka, Japan | Ex-first production set H2, initially stationed at the Kansai Railway Academy; scrapped circa 2008, some parts exhibited at the Modern Transportation Museum around that time |
21-37 | Kinki Sharyo | February 1965 | 1979 | S7, H33 | Chūō Railway Academy, Tokyo, Japan | Left unused when academy closed in 1987, scrapped some time after |
22-37 | ||||||
35-73 | ||||||
26-73 | ||||||
22-73 | Kisha Seizō | July 1969 | October 1984 | K16 | Okinawa Convention Center, Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan | Scrapped December 1998 due to severe salt corrosion |
22-56 | August 1967 | February 1982 | K34 | Wine Country, Nakagawa, Hokkaido, Japan | First displayed at Midorigaoka Park, then moved to Taishō Station circa 1990; moved to Wine Country guesthouse circa 1996/1997 with first third sectioned, removed 2015 and scrapped | |
22-86 | Kinki Sharyo | December 1971 | November 1991 | S46, K46, K17, S88 | JR Central Hamamatsu Works, Hamamatsu, Japan | Stored at Hamamatsu Works since 1991, scrapped 2014 |
22-1047 | Tokyu Car Corporation | January 1980 | December 2000 | K77, SK10, R26, Q3 | Hakata Shinkansen Depot, Hakata, Japan | Used for training purposes, mocked up to resemble Class 1000 Shinkansen set B for film shoot in June 2014, modifications later removed; scrapped February 2024 |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Tadanao Miki, the designer of the 0 Series sets, was noted for his involvement in the design of the Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka kamikaze aircraft during World War II. Following the war, Miki is said to have regretted the violence brought about by his inventions and sought to use his design skills for peace.
- 22-1047 was mocked up to resemble Class 1000 Shinkansen set B for Tsutamachi no Shinkansen, a TV program chronicling the Shinkansen network's beginnings. Cosmetic modifications were done with the help of "multiple companies". The car was seen moving through the help of green screen effects and the use of a diesel locomotive pushing the car from behind.
- No 0 Series cars were active over the sets's full service length of 44 years.
References[]
- Wikipedia.org
- Book: The Complete Book of Locomotives by Colin Garratt published by Hermes House. ISBN: 978-1-84477-022-9.
Shinkansen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Active | JR West | 500 • 700 • N700 • N700S • W7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
JR East | E2 • E3 • E5 • E6 • E7 • E8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Central | N700 • N700S | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Kyushu | N700 • N700S • 800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Hokkaido | H5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Withdrawn | JR West | 0 • 100 • 300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
JR East | 200 • 400 • E1 • E4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Central | 0 • 100 • 300 • 700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Future | JR Central | L0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-revenue | JNR | 922 • 925 • 941 • 951 • 961 • 962 • 1000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
JR West | 922 • 923 • 500-900 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR East | 925 • 952/953 • E926 • E954 • E955 • E956 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Central | 922 • 923 • 955 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
RTRI | FGT-9000 • GCT01 • GCT01-200 • ML100 • ML500 • ML500R • MLU001 • MLU002 • MLU002N • MLX01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | JR Central | Super Hikari Model |
JGR/JNR rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JGR | Wooden-bodied EMUs | Commuter: 963 • 6250 • 6260 • 6280 • 6285 • 6300 • 6310 • 6340 • 33400 • 33500 • 43200 • 63100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Steel-bodied EMUs | Commuter: 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 40 • 42 • 50 • 51 • 62 • 63 • 70 • 72 Express: 52 • 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-revenue EMUs | Non-revenue: 7 • 93 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Constant mesh gearbox: KiHa 01 • KiHa 04 • KiHa 07 • KiHa 5000 • KiHa 40000 Diesel-electric: KiHaNi 36450 • KiHa 43000 • KiHa 44000 Miscellaneous: KiSaHa 04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Miscellaneous | Steam railcar: HoJi 6005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JNR | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: 0 • 100 • 200 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922 • 925 • 941 • 951 • 961 • 962 • 1000 Commuter: 711 • 713 • 715 • 717 Limited Express: 781 Non-revenue: 791 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 101 • 103 • 105 • 111 • 113 • 115 • 117 • 119 • 121 • 123 • 201 • 203 • 205 • 207 • 211 • 213 • 301 Limited Express: 151 • 153 • 155 • 157 • 159 • 161 • 165 • 167 • 169 • 181 • 183 • 185 • 189 • 381 Conversions: 1 • 10 • 11 • 12 Non-revenue: 141 • 143 • 145 • 147 • 191 • 193 Proposed: 187 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dual-current EMUs | Commuter: 413 • 415 • 417 • 419 Limited Express: 451 • 453 • 455 • 457 • 471 • 473 • 475 • 481 • 483 • 485 • 489 • 581 • 583 Non-revenue: 21 • 22 • 90 • 441 • 443 • 493 • 495 • 591 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 08 • KiHa 10 • KiHa 15 • KiHa 20 • KiHa 31 • KiHa 32 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 37 • KiHa 38 • KiHa 40 • KiHa 45 • KiHa 54 • KiHa 66 Express: KiHa 55 • KiHa 56 • KiHa 57 • KiHa 58 • KiHa 60 • KiHa 65 • KiHa 90 Limited Express: KiHa 80 • KiHa 181 • KiHa 183 • KiHa 185 Non-revenue: KiYa 191 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GTLs | Non-revenue: KiHa 391 |
JR West rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Active | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: 500 • 700 • N700 • N700S • W7 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 923 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 103 • 105 • 113 • 115 • 117 • 123 • 125 • 201 • 205 • 207 • 213 • 221 • 223 • 225 • 227 • 321 • 323 Limited Express: 271 • 273 • 281 • 283 • 285 • 287 • 289 • 381 Non-revenue: 145 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dual-current EMUs | Commuter: 521 Limited Express: 681 • 683 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 40 • KiHa 120 • KiHa 121/126 • KiHa 122/127 Limited Express: KiHa 187 • KiHa 189 Non-revenue: KiYa 141 • KiYa 143 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Hybrid DEMUs | Charter: 87 Non-revenue: DEC700 • DEC741 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Withdrawn | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: 0 • 100 • 300 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922 • 500-900 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 42 • 83 • 84 • 101 • 211 Limited Express: 165 • 167 • 183 Non-revenue: 90 • 91 • 213/223-9000 • 441 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dual-current EMUs | Commuter: 413 • 415 • 419 • 455 • 457 • 471 • 475 Limited Express: 485 • 489 • 583 Non-revenue: 443 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 33 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 37 • KiHa 45 • KiHa 52 Express: KiHa 58 • KiHa 65 Limited Express: KiHa 181 Non-revenue: KiYa 191 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Hybrid BEMUs | Commuter: DGBC2 |
JR Central rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Active | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: N700 • N700S | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 211 • 213 • 311 • 313 • 315 Limited Express: 285 • 373 • 383 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 11 • KiHa 25 • KiHa 75 Limited Express: HC85 Non-revenue: KiYa 95 • KiYa 97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Withdrawn | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: 0 • 100 • 300 • 700 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922 • 923 • 955 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 12 • 103 • 105 • 113 • 115 • 117 • 119 • 123 Limited Express: 165 • 371 • 381 Non-revenue: 90 • 145 • 193 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 30 • KiHa 40 Express: KiHa 58 • KiHa 65 Limited Express: KiHa 80 • KiHa 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Future | DC EMUs | Limited Express: 385 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Maglevs | Maglev: L0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Proposed | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: Super Hikari Model |
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