300X

300X
Set A0 on test in the 1990s
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1994
Number built	6 cars (1 set)
Dimensions	1069 in (27,150 mm) (end cars) x 122 in (3,100 mm) x 130 in (3,300 mm)
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC (60 Hz)
Traction system	Variable frequency (GTO)
Traction system model	Toshiba TCI902
Service information
In service	25 May 1995 – 1 February 2002
Branding	300X
Formation	6 cars per set
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	A0
Preservation information
Preserved	2 cars
Number scrapped	4 cars

The Class 955 Shinkansen, branded 300X, is an experimental high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the Central Japan Railway Company from May 1995 to February 2002.

History

The 300X was built starting in 1994 as a trainset to test Shinkansen technologies to be incorporated into future Shinkansen trainsets. The lone trainset, designated A0, was delivered in 1994 and unveiled to the press that December; test running was supposed to commence in January 1995 but was pushed back to May 1995 in lieu of damage caused by the Great Hanshin Earthquake.

The trainset recorded its own speed record of 354.1 km/h (220 mph) on 21 September 1995 on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen. On 11 July 1996, however, the 300X broke its own record with a speed of 426.6 km/h (265.1 mph), along with beating the previous record set by JR East's STAR21 of 425.0 km/h (264.1 mph) in December 1993. The 300X would beat its own record again on 26 July 1996, with a new national speed record of 443.0 km/h (275.3 mph), also on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen; this record still stands.

The train was officially withdrawn on 1 February 2002, having conducted its last run the previous month.

Design

The trainset's end cars were radically different to the first generation of Shinkansen. Their shape departed the "bullet" shape of the first generation and replaced it with "wedge-like" and "curve-like" head/tail cars; both end cars were very different. Only car 2 was fitted with passenger seats.

Specifications

Construction of the cars is either of aluminum or aircraft-style duralumin depending on the car. The end cars are 27.15 meters long, and the intermediate cars are 25 meters long. They run on 25 kV, AC 60 Hz power. Output is 12,000 kW (16,092 hp). Traction motors are Toshiba GTO thyristor variable frequency drives which produce 24 x 670 hp (500 kW) each; these produce a wailing sound as the train accelerates from idle.

Preservation

The following Class 955 Shinkansen cars have been preserved:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
955-1	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries	December 1994	February 2002	A0	Railway Technical Research Institute wind tunnel facility, Maibara, Japan	"Cusp" nose design, preserved alongside 500-901 and 952-1; not usually open for public viewing
955-6	Hitachi				SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, Japan	Wedge nose design, preserved next to MLX01-1, stored at Hamamatsu Works before move to museum; small commemorative speed record graphic on both sides of car near front

Gallery

Set A0 on test in the 1990s; note the different cab end

955-6 preserved at the SCMaglev and Railway Park in November 2023

References

• Wikipedia.org