Class 951 Shinkansen


The Class 951 was an experimental Japanese Shinkansen train built to test the technology for future high-speed trains operating at speeds of up to following the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in 1964.

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, 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. 951-1
  2. 951-2
Both cars were fitted with a cross-arm type pantograph at the inner end. 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. Normally, only the pantograph on car 951-2 was used.

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.
On 24 February 1972, the Class 951 recorded a world speed record of on the Sanyo Shinkansen between and, breaking the previous record of set by the Class 1000 Shinkansen.
The train was formally withdrawn on 11 April 1980. 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. Car 951-2 was subsequently stored out of use inside the Railway Technical Research Institute, and was cut up in 2008.