0 Series Shinkansen No. H26

0 Series Shinkansen No. H26
H26 (then H2) awaiting to pull an imperial train on 1 July 1970
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Hitachi
Designer(s)	Tadanao Miki
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1964, 1969
Number built	16 cars
Dimensions	25,150 mm x 3,383 mm x 4,490 mm
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC (60 Hz)
Traction system	Low pressure tap control
Service information
In service	1 October 1964 – March 1977
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	H2, H26
Scrapped	1977
Preservation information
Preserved	None
Number scrapped	16 cars

H26 was a 16-car 0 Series Shinkansen set operated by the Japanese National Railways from October 1964 to March 1977.

Description

H26 (then H2) at the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen on 1 October 1964

H26 was one of the earliest 0 Series Shinkansen sets built, being completed on 13 July 1964 by Hitachi as H2; it was the second 0 Series Shinkansen set built by Hitachi. As with all early Shinkansen sets, these were not originally given designations as there was no need for classification as these were the only trains of its type running at the time; H2 was numbered as such with reference to its manufacturer, Hitachi. H2 entered service on 1 October 1964 with the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, it being notable for pulling the first Hikari 1 service, departing from Tokyo on 1 October 1964 at 6:00 am JST bound for Shin-Osaka.

All Hikari trains were lengthened to 16 cars on 8 December 1969; four more cars were manufactured by Hitachi for insertion into H2 in 1969, with H2 commencing service in this form on 9 December 1969. These new cars occupied positions 7, 8, 13 and 14 in the consist. At some point in the late 1960s, H2 was given a white stripe around its skirting; it pulled an imperial train on 1 July 1970. H2 was renumbered to H26 in 1972 following the restructuring of the 0 Series Shinkansen's numbering format, with H now signifying a set used on the Hikari service. H26 was taken out of service some time around March 1977. Despite its significant press coverage as the set which pulled the first Shin-Osaka-bound Hikari service, none of the cars from H26 have been preserved.

There exists another set numbered H2 where two of its cars have been preserved, one in The Railway Museum in Saitama and the other in the Kyoto Railway Museum in Kyoto; it must be made clear that these are not the same set, as this set was originally numbered N2 and would later be renumbered to H2. However, a cab from H25 (originally H1), from the same batch of sets as H2, is preserved at The Railway Museum.

Formation

H26 was formed as follows (green backgrounds denote first-class cars, pink backgrounds denote diner cars):

1 October 1964 – 8 December 1969

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Designation	Mc	M'	M	M'	MB	M'	MS	M'S	MB	M'	M	M'c
Numbering	21-26	26-52	25-51	26-251	35-51	26-252	15-26	16-26	35-52	26-51	25-52	22-26

9 December 1969 until withdrawal

A yellow background denotes the cars that were added to the train.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Designation	Mc	M'	M	M'	MB	M'	M	M'	MS	M'S	MB	M'	M	M'	M	M'c
Numbering	21-26	26-52	25-51	26-251	35-51	26-252	25-721	26-741	15-26	16-26	35-52	26-51	25-521	26-742	25-52	22-26