Class 951 Shinkansen

The Class 951 (951形) was an experimental Japanese Shinkansen train built to test the technology for future high-speed trains operating at speeds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph) following the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in 1964.^[1][2]

Class 951
951-1 preserved in Kokubunji, Tokyo, November 1997
In service	1969–1973
Manufacturer	Kawasaki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo
Constructed	1969
Scrapped	2008
Number built	2 vehicles
Number preserved	1 vehicle
Number scrapped	1 vehicle
Formation	2 cars
Capacity	40 seated (Car 951-1) 50 seated (Car 951-2)
Operators	JNR
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium alloy
Car length	25,000 mm (82 ft 0.25 in)[1]
Width	3,386 mm (11 ft 1.31 in)
Doors	2 sliding doors per side
Maximum speed	250 km/h (155 mph) (nominal)
Traction system	250 kW (340 hp) x 8
Power output	2,000 kW (2,700 hp)
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC, 60 Hz overhead catenary
Current collector(s)	Cross-arm type pantograph
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Formation

The Class 951 train was a two-car unit formed of cars numbered 951-1 and 951-2. Car 951-1 was built by Kawasaki Sharyo (present-day Kawasaki Heavy Industries), and had a seating capacity of 40 with seats arranged 3+2 abreast. Car 951-2 was built by Nippon Sharyo, and had a seating capacity of 50, also with seats arranged 3+2 abreast.^[1]

1. 951-1 (Mc)
2. 951-2 (M'c)

Both cars were fitted with a cross-arm type pantograph at the inner end.^[1] Both were based on the PS200 type used on the 0 Series Shinkansen trains, but the pantograph on car 951-1 was designated PS9010K, and that on car 951-2 was designated PS-1010A.^[1] Normally, only the pantograph on car 951-2 was used.^[1]

History

The train was unveiled to the press on 26 March 1969, with formal test running commencing on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen from 2 July 1969.^[3]

On 24 February 1972, the Class 951 recorded a world speed record of 286 km/h (178 mph) on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Himeji and Nishi-Akashi, breaking the previous record of 256 km/h (159 mph) set by the Class 1000 Shinkansen.^[1]

The train was formally withdrawn on 11 April 1980.^[4] Car 951-2 was transferred to the Railway Technical Research Institute in Kokubunji, Tokyo, where it was used for roller rig testing. Car 951-1 was donated to the nearby Hikari Plaza Community Centre in 1994, where it is open to the public.^[5] Car 951-2 was subsequently stored out of use inside the Railway Technical Research Institute,^[1] and was cut up in 2008.^[4]