0 Series Shinkansen No. R61

0 Series Shinkansen No. R61
R61 completing its last revenue run on 14 December 2008
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Designer(s)	Tadanao Miki
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1983, 1985 2000, 2002 (rebuild)
Number built	6 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	15 July 2000 – 14 December 2008
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	R61
Scrapped	2008
Preservation information
Preserved	1 car
Number scrapped	5 cars

R61 was a 6-car 0 Series Shinkansen set operated by the West Japan Railway Company from July 2000 to December 2008.

Description

R61 was one of eight R-class sets formed in the early 2000s from surplus cars used to pull West Hikari services on the San'yō Shinkansen; R61 was the first of eight sets in this series. Some cars from the set were replaced in 2002. R61 began operation on 15 July 2000 and operated until 30 November 2008 in regular service; by that time the 0 Series Shinkansen cars were relegated to Kodama services, and only three sets remained in service, those being R61, R67 and R68.

R61 is notable as being the last 0 Series Shinkansen in operation; R61 pulled a special Hikari 347 service on 14 December 2008, reaching Hakata Station at 6:01 pm JST, bringing the 44-year service life of the 0 Series Shinkansen to a close. R61 was struck from the JR West fleet register on 15 December 2008. One car from the set, 21-7008, is preserved outside Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing's Hyōgō Plant alongside KuHa 151-1.

Formation

R61 was formed as follows:

15 July 2000 to 16 July 2002

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Designation	Mc	M'	MB	M'	M	M'c
Numbering	21-5001	26-7208	37-5302	26-7011	25-7009	22-5001

17 July 2002 until withdrawal

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Designation	Mc	M'	MB	M'	M	M'c
Numbering	21-7008	26-7208	25-7904	26-7011	25-7009	22-7008

Individual car histories

21-7008

21-7008 was originally built on 1 June 1983 as 21-2012 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries as part of the 33rd batch of 0 Series cars. 21-2012 entered service with set N_H7 in 1983; in 1997 the car was refurbished with better facilities and entered service with R27 on 27 June 1997 on the Kodama service, now renumbered 21-7034. 21-7034 was refurbished again with 2+2 seating in 2002, now numbered 21-7008 and entered service with R61 on 17 July 2002, replacing 21-5001 (ex-21-1046).

21-7008 is the only car which has been preserved.

26-7208

26-7208 was originally built on 12 July 1983 as 26-2218 by Nippon Sharyo as part of the 33rd batch of 0 Series cars. 26-2218 entered service with set H50 in 1983; initially used on Hikari services, 26-2218 was moved to H75 and converted to 2+2 seating for use on West Hikari services before being transferred to SK10 the same year with the West Hikari services being converted to a full fleet of 12-car sets. 26-2218 was renumbered 26-7208 on 22 February 1990. With the abolishment of the West Hikari services on 21 April 2000 26-7208 was moved into set R61, entering service on 15 July 2000.

25-7904

25-7904 was originally built on 6 October 1983 as 37-2509 by Nippon Sharyo as part of the 33rd batch of 0 Series cars. 37-2509 entered service with set K42 in 1983; initially used on Kodama services on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, 37-2509 was later moved to S94 in 1985. 37-2509 was refurbished on 29 July 1986 and transferred to the San'yō Shinkansen; now renumbered 25-2901, the car was inserted into R1 and used on Kodama services before moving to R7 in 1988. An increase in the need for Kodama shuttle services required 4-car Q sets to be built, with 25-2901 moved to be used on Q1 in 1997; with the withdrawal of the Q series sets 25-2901 was moved into R61; now renumbered 25-7904, the car replaced 37-5302 (ex-37-1516) and entered service on 17 July 2002.

26-7011

26-7011 was originally built on 2 February 1983 as 26-2022 by Tokyu Car Corporation as part of the 32nd batch of 0 Series cars. 26-2022 entered service with set N_H16 in 1983; initially used on Hikari services, 26-2022 was converted to 2+2 seating for use on West Hikari services before being transferred to S_K17, entering service on 28 February 1990, now renumbered 26-7011. With the abolishment of the West Hikari services on 21 April 2000 26-7011 was moved into set R61, entering service on 15 July 2000.

25-7006

25-7006 was originally built on 9 May 1985 as 25-2040 by Nippon Sharyo as part of the 37th batch of 0 Series cars. 26-2040 entered service with set S_K19 for use on Hikari services in 1985; the car was rebuilt in 1990 with 2+2 seating for use on West Hikari services and renumbered 25-7006, although it still remained with S_K19. With the abolishment of the West Hikari services on 21 April 2000 25-7006 was moved into set R61, entering service on 15 July 2000.

22-7008

22-7008 was originally built on 1 June 1983 as 22-2012 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries as part of the 33rd batch of 0 Series cars. 22-2012 entered service with set N_H7 in 1983; 22-2012 was renumbered 22-7034 on 21 November 1992. 22-2012 was refurbished with better facilities in 1997 and entered service with R27 on 27 June 1997 on the Kodama service. 22-7034 was refurbished again with 2+2 seating in 2002, now numbered 21-7008 and entered service with R61 on 17 July 2002, replacing 22-5001 (ex-22-1046). The modification history of this car and 21-7008 is slightly different due to numbering and compatibility issues despite both coming from the same set.