Class 951 Shinkansen

Class 951
The set circa 1970s
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Kawasaki Sharyō, Nippon Sharyo
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1969
Number built	2 cars (1 set)
Dimensions	984 in (25,000 mm) × 133.3 in (3,386 mm) × Unknown
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC (60 Hz)
Traction system	Thyristor drive
Service information
In service	2 July 1969 – 11 April 1980
Formation	2 cars per set
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	None
Preservation information
Preserved	1 car
Number scrapped	1 car

Class 951 Shinkansen is the designation given to an experimental high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways from July 1969 to April 1980. The set was used to test technologies for future Shinkansen trains running at speeds of 250 km/h or higher.

History

The lone Class 951 set was constructed in 1969, and was shown off to the press on 22 April that year, with testing commencing around 2 months later on 2 July 1969.

During testing, the Class 951 set a world speed record of 286 km/h (177.7 mph) on the San'yō Shinkansen on 24 February 1972, beating the previous record of 256 km/h (159 mph) as set by the Class 1000 Shinkansen in 1963. This record would stand until it was broken by the Class 961 Shinkansen in 1979.

Testing would end in 1973, but the train was only officially withdrawn on 11 April 1980.

Specifications

The Class 951 looks very similar to the 0 Series Shinkansen, albeit the Class 951 operated as a 2-car set. Both cars had seats arranged 3+2 abreast, with car 951-1 having a capacity of 40 and car 951-2 having a capacity of 50 for a total capacity of 90 passengers.

Both cars had pantographs based on the 0 Series' pantographs, but were designated differently from the 0 Series' pantographs; normally, only the pantograph on car 951-2 would be used.

Preservation

The following Class 951 Shinkansen cars have been preserved:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
951-1	Kawasaki Sharyō	March 1969	April 1980	N/A	Hikari Plaza Community Centre, Tokyo, Japan	Interior open for public viewing; plaques for Class 951 and Class 961 speed records in interior

The following Class 951 Shinkansen cars were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
951-2	Nippon Sharyo	March 1969	April 1980	N/A	Railway Technical Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan	Used for roller rig testing; scrapped January 2008

References

• Wikipedia.org