| Class 951 | |
| Service: | 1969–1973 |
| Yearconstruction: | 1969 |
| Yearscrapped: | 2008 |
| Numberbuilt: | 2 vehicles |
| Numberpreserved: | 1 vehicle |
| Numberscrapped: | 1 vehicle |
| Formation: | 2 cars |
| Capacity: | 40 seated (Car 951-1) 50 seated (Car 951-2) |
| Carbody: | Aluminium alloy |
| Carlength: | 250002NaN2 |
| Width: | 33862NaN2 |
| Doors: | 2 sliding doors per side |
| Maxspeed: | 250round=5NaNround=5 (nominal) |
| Traction: | 250kW x 8 |
| Poweroutput: | 2000kW |
The was an experimental Japanese Shinkansen train built to test the technology for future high-speed trains operating at speeds of up to 250km/h following the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in 1964.[1] [2]
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]
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]
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 286km/h on the Sanyo Shinkansen between and, breaking the previous record of 256km/h 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The train was formally withdrawn on 11 April 1980.[4] Car 951-2 was transferred to the Railway Technical Research Institute in Kokubunji, Tokyo, where it was used for roller rig testing.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]