Class 961 Shinkansen
Encyclopedia
The was a 6-car experimental Japanese Shinkansen
train built in 1973.
and Jōetsu Shinkansen
routes in the north-east of Japan. It featured motors in all six cars and was designed to cope with operations in the cold and snowy conditions of north-eastern Japan.
A number of interior accommodation configurations were tested, including a restaurant car, compartments, and sleeping berths.
. Standard seating car based on the 0 series
configuration with 3+2-abreast flip-over reversible seating.
. Restaurant car interior was added at Hamamatsu Works in 1974.
compartments, longitudinally arranged sleeping berths and deluxe sleeping compartments.
. This car was used exclusively for test equipment. It had no side windows and instead had four large doorways on each side for installing and removing equipment.
From 17 July 1973, test running commenced on the Sanyō Shinkansen
between Shin-Osaka
and Himeji
as a 4-car set. Test running as a 6-car formation commenced on 1 August 1973 on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen between Hamamatsu
and Nagoya
.
From 16 September 1974, the train was tested on the unopened section of the Sanyō Shinkansen between Okayama
and Fukuyama, but the maximum speed was limited to 210 km/h (130 mph) due to opposition from lineside residents related to noise levels. The train was put into storage following the opening of the Sanyō Shinkansen extension in March 1975.
On 11 May 1979, the Class 961 was transferred from storage at Ōi Depot in Tokyo (now JR Central's Tokyo No. 2 Shinkansen Depot) by road to the shinkansen depot at Oyama
in Tochigi Prefecture
for use on the "Oyama Test Track" section of the Tōhoku Shinkansen
then under construction. Test running started on 5 June 1979, and the lettering "高速試験車" (High-Speed Test Train) was added to the nose section of the train from 9 June.
On 7 December 1979, the Class 961 recorded a world speed record of 319 km/h (198 mph) on the Oyama Test Track, breaking the previous world record of 286 km/h (177.7 mph) set by the Class 951 Shinkansen
in 1972.
Following the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen
in 1981, the Class 961's role as a test train ended, and it was stored at Sendai Shinkansen Depot. It was officially withdrawn on 10 August 1990.
at Kokubunji
in Tokyo.
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
train built in 1973.
Design
The Class 961 train was developed to test new technology and design features to be incorporated in future high-speed trains for use on the planned Tōhoku ShinkansenTohoku Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
and Jōetsu Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...
routes in the north-east of Japan. It featured motors in all six cars and was designed to cope with operations in the cold and snowy conditions of north-eastern Japan.
A number of interior accommodation configurations were tested, including a restaurant car, compartments, and sleeping berths.
Formation
The set, designated "S3", was formed as follows.| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Mc | M' | M | M' | M | M'c |
| Numbering | 961-1 | 961-2 | 961-3 | 961-4 | 961-5 | 961-6 |
961-1
Built by Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesKawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
. Standard seating car based on the 0 series
0 Series Shinkansen
The trains were the first Shinkansen trainsets built to run on Japan's new Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed line which opened in 1964. The last remaining trainsets were withdrawn in 2008.-History:...
configuration with 3+2-abreast flip-over reversible seating.
961-2
Built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Standard seating car based on the 0 series configuration.961-3
Built by Nippon SharyoNippon Sharyo
, , formed in 1896, is a major rolling stock manufacturer based in Nagoya, Japan. In 1996, it abbreviated its name to "日本車両" Nippon Sharyō. Its shortest abbreviation is Nissha "日車". It was a listed company on Nikkei 225 until 2004. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Nagoya Stock Exchange...
. Restaurant car interior was added at Hamamatsu Works in 1974.
961-4
Built by Nippon Sharyo. Sleeping car accommodation was added at Hamamatsu Works in 1974, including 4-berth semi-open couchetteCouchette car
The couchette car is a railroad car conveying basic non-private sleeping accommodation.The car is divided into a number of compartments accessed from the side corridor of the car, which in daytime are configured with a bench seat along each long side of the compartment...
compartments, longitudinally arranged sleeping berths and deluxe sleeping compartments.
961-5
Built by HitachiHitachi
Hitachi is a multinational corporation specializing in high-technology.Hitachi may also refer to:*Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan*Hitachi province, former province of Japan*Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi, members of the Japanese imperial family...
. This car was used exclusively for test equipment. It had no side windows and instead had four large doorways on each side for installing and removing equipment.
History
The train was unveiled on 9 July 1973.From 17 July 1973, test running commenced on the Sanyō Shinkansen
Sanyō Shinkansen
The is a line of the Japanese Shinkansen high-speed rail network, connecting Shin-Ōsaka in Osaka with Hakata Station in Fukuoka, the two largest cities in western Japan...
between Shin-Osaka
Shin-Osaka Station
is a train station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the western terminus of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and the eastern terminus of the Sanyō Shinkansen. The lines are physically joined, and many trains offer through service....
and Himeji
Himeji Station
on the West Japan Railway Company is located in the heart of Himeji, Japan. Himeji is a major stop on the Sanyō Main Line, and the western end of the JR Kobe Line...
as a 4-car set. Test running as a 6-car formation commenced on 1 August 1973 on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen between Hamamatsu
Hamamatsu Station
is an interchange railway station in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The station is 257.1 rail kilometers from Tokyo Station. Hamamatsu is on the Tōkaidō Main Line and the Tōkaidō Shinkansen of Central Japan Railway Company...
and Nagoya
Nagoya Station
is a train station in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is one of the world's largest train stations by floor area , and houses the headquarters of the Central Japan Railway Company . Much of this space is located in the "JR Central Towers" atop the station, as well as in underground concourses. The...
.
From 16 September 1974, the train was tested on the unopened section of the Sanyō Shinkansen between Okayama
Okayama Station
is a railway station located in the ward of Kita-ku, city of Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The station is operated by West Japan Railway Company ....
and Fukuyama, but the maximum speed was limited to 210 km/h (130 mph) due to opposition from lineside residents related to noise levels. The train was put into storage following the opening of the Sanyō Shinkansen extension in March 1975.
On 11 May 1979, the Class 961 was transferred from storage at Ōi Depot in Tokyo (now JR Central's Tokyo No. 2 Shinkansen Depot) by road to the shinkansen depot at Oyama
Oyama, Tochigi
is a city in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.As April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 163,954, with 62,714 households, and a population density of 955.39 persons per km²...
in Tochigi Prefecture
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
for use on the "Oyama Test Track" section of the Tōhoku Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
then under construction. Test running started on 5 June 1979, and the lettering "高速試験車" (High-Speed Test Train) was added to the nose section of the train from 9 June.
On 7 December 1979, the Class 961 recorded a world speed record of 319 km/h (198 mph) on the Oyama Test Track, breaking the previous world record of 286 km/h (177.7 mph) set by the Class 951 Shinkansen
Class 951 Shinkansen
The 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 Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964.-Formation:# 951-1 built by Kawasaki Sharyo, seating capacity 40...
in 1972.
Following the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
in 1981, the Class 961's role as a test train ended, and it was stored at Sendai Shinkansen Depot. It was officially withdrawn on 10 August 1990.
Preservation
End cars 961-1 and 961-6 are preserved outdoors at Sendai Shinkansen Depot. These cars have been repainted into "Tōhoku Shinkansen" ivory and green livery. A brass plaque commemorating the world speed record of 319 km/h (198.2 mph) set by this train in 1979 is displayed inside car 951-1Class 951 Shinkansen
The 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 Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964.-Formation:# 951-1 built by Kawasaki Sharyo, seating capacity 40...
at Kokubunji
Kokubunji, Tokyo
is a city in Tokyo, Japan.As of 1 June 2008, the city has an estimated population of 117,335 . The total area is 11.48 km²...
in Tokyo.