Class 961 Shinkansen

Class 961 Shinkansen
Set S3 circa 1987
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1973
Number built	6 cars (1 set)
Dimensions	984 in (25,000 mm) × 133 in (3,380 mm) × 177 in (4,490 mm)
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC (50/60 Hz)
Traction system	Thyristor drive
Service information
In service	17 July 1973 – 1983
Formation	6 cars per set
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	S3
Preservation information
Preserved	2 cars
Number scrapped	4 cars

Class 961 Shinkansen is the designation given to an experimental high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways from July 1973 to 1983. The set was used to test technologies for future Shinkansen trains running on the then-to be opened Tōhoku Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen.

History

The lone Class 961 set, designated S3, was constructed in 1973, and was shown off to the press on 9 July that year, where testing would later commence, albeit formed as a 4-car set at first. The set was lengthened to 6 cars on 1 August 1973 and was then tested on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen.

Testing on an unopened section of the San'yō Shinkansen commenced on 16 September 1974, but due to opposition from lineside residents concerning noise levels of the trains, the train's maximum speed during testing on the San'yō Shinkansen would be limited to 210 km/h (130 mph), and would then be put into storage following the section's opening in 1975.

The train would be transferred from Ōi Depot in Tokyo (now JR Central's No. 2 Shinkansen Depot) to the "Oyama Test Track" in Oyama, Tochigi on 11 May 1979, and test-running would commence from there on 5 June 1979 on the then-unopened Tōhoku Shinkansen. A graphic with the words "高速試験車" (High-Speed Test Train) was added to the noses of the end cars four days later.

On 7 December 1979, the train set a world speed record of 319 km/h (198 mph) on the "Oyama Test Track", beating the previous record of 286 km/h (178 mph) set by the Class 951 Shinkansen in 1972. Once the Tōhoku Shinkansen opened in 1982, the Class 961's role as a test train ended and it was placed in storage at Sendai Shinkansen Depot. The train was officially withdrawn on 10 August 1990.

Specifications

The Class 961 looked very similar to the 0 Series Shinkansen, but was designed to cope with the operations in the cold and snowy regions of northeast Japan; all six cars featured motors.

All cars except car 961-5 had actual interior configurations, such as restaurants, lounges or actual seating based on 0 Series Shinkansen seating. Car 961-5 was used exclusively for equipment.

Preservation

The following Class 961 Shinkansen cars have been preserved:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
961-1	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	July 1973	August 1990	S3	Sendai Shinkansen Depot, Sendai, Japan	Repainted in "Tōhoku Green" similar to the 200 Series Shinkansen sets, paint peeling on pilot revealing original blue color; not usually open for public viewing
961-6	Hitachi

Gallery

Leading cars from set S3 preserved at Sendai Shinkansen Depot in June 2023

References

• Wikipedia.org