0 series
0 series 6-car set R67 at Higashi-Hiroshima Station in April 2008
In service1 October 1964; 59 years ago (1964-10-01) – 14 December 2008; 15 years ago (2008-12-14)
ManufacturerHitachi, Kawasaki Sharyo, Kinki Sharyo, Kisha Seizo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Constructed1963–1986
Refurbished1990–1998
Scrapped2000–2008[citation needed]
Number built3,216 vehicles (201 sets)[clarification needed]
Number preserved27 vehicles (as of September 2011)
Number scrapped2,989 vehicles
Successor300 series, 500 series, 700 series
Formation4, 6, 8, 12 or 16 cars per trainset
Capacity368–1,340[1]
OperatorsJNR (1964–1987)
JR Central (1987–1999)
JR West (1987–2008)
DepotsTokyo, Shin-Osaka, Hakata
Lines servedTōkaidō Shinkansen(1964-1999), San'yō Shinkansen(1972-2008), Hakata-Minami Line(1990-2008)
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length25 m (82 ft 1⁄4 in) (intermediate cars)
25.15 m (82 ft 6+1⁄8 in) (end cars)
Width3,383 mm (11 ft 1+1⁄4 in)
Height4,490 mm (14 ft 8+3⁄4 in)
Doors2 per side
Maximum speed210 km/h (130 mph) (1964–1986)
220 km/h (137 mph) (1986–2008)
Traction motorsBrushed DC motor, 185 kW (248 hp) each
Power output11,840 kW (15,878 hp) (16-car set)[2]
TransmissionSecondary-side tap changer drive
Acceleration1.0 km/(h⋅s) (0.62 mph/s) (1964–1992)
1.2 km/(h⋅s) (0.75 mph/s) (1992–2008)
Deceleration2.84 km/(h⋅s) (1.76 mph/s)s
Electric system(s)25 kV AC, 60 Hz, overhead catenary
Current collector(s)PS 200 pantograph
Safety system(s)ATC-1
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
This train won the 8th Blue Ribbon Award in 1965.

The 0 series (0系, Zero-kei) trains were the first generation Shinkansen trainsets built to run on Japan's Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed line which opened in 1964.[2] The last remaining trainsets were withdrawn in 2008 after 44 years of service.

History

The 0 series (which were not originally classified, as there was no need to distinguish classes of trainset until later[2]) entered service with the start of Tōkaidō Shinkansen operations in October 1964. These units were white with a blue stripe along the windows and another at the bottom of the car body, including the front pilot.

Unlike previous Japanese trains (except for some trains running on standard gauge sections on the Ou Main Line and Tohoku Main Line) the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and all subsequent Shinkansen lines are 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge between the rails. The trains were powered by 25 kV AC electricity at 60 Hz with all axles of all cars powered by 185 kW (248 hp) traction motors, giving a 220 km/h (137 mph) operation top speed.

The original trains were introduced as 12-car sets, with some sets later lengthened to 16 cars. Later, shorter trains of six cars and even four cars were assembled for lesser duties. Production of 0 series units continued from 1963 until 1986.

Shinkansen sets are generally retired after fifteen to twenty years. The final remaining 0 series sets were six-car sets used on JR-West Kodama services on the San'yō Shinkansen between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata, and on the Hakata-Minami Line until their retirement on 30 November 2008.

Following retirement from regular service, JR-West ran a number of special commemorative Hikari runs in December 2008.[3] Hikari 347, powered by set R61,[4] arrived at Hakata Station at 6:01 pm on 14 December 2008, bringing to an end the 44 years of service of the 0 series trains.

Set formations

Original 12-car H/K/N/R/S sets

A 0 series set in Tokyo in May 1967
Interior of a 1st class car in May 1967
Analog speed display in the passenger compartment

The initial shinkansen fleet delivered for use on Hikari and Kodama services on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen from 1 October 1964 consisted of 30 12-car sets formed of 1st- and 2nd-batch cars. Six sets, H1 to H6, were built by Hitachi between April and August 1964, six sets, K1 to K6, were built by Kisha between July and September 1964, six sets, N1 to N6, were built by Nippon Sharyo between March and September 1964, six sets, R1 to R6, were built by Kawasaki Sharyo between July and September 1964, and six sets, S1 to S6, were built by Kinki Sharyo between April and August 1964.[5] These sets were allocated to Tokyo and Osaka depots.[6]

A further 10 12-car sets (H7/8, K7/8, N7/8, R7/8, S7/8) were delivered between April and July 1965, formed of 120 3rd-batch cars, five 4th-batch sets were delivered between June and July 1966, and five 5th-batch sets were delivered between October and November 1966.[6]

The original 12-car sets were formed as follows, with two first-class cars (type 15 and 16) and two buffet cars (type 35).[6]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Designation Mc M' M M' MB M' MS M'S MB M' M M'c
Numbering 21 26 25 26-200 35 26-200 15 16 35 26 25 22

12-car H/K/N/R/S/T Kodama sets

A further 21 6th- to 9th-batch 12-car sets were delivered between 1967 and 1969 with only one first-class car (type 16) for use on Kodama services. The "T" sets were built by Tokyu Car Corporation.[6]

These sets were formed as follows.[6]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Designation Mc M' M M' MB M' M M'S MB M' M M'c
Numbering 21 26-100 25-100 26-300 35-100 26-300 25-300 16 35-100 26-100 25-100 22

16-car H/K/N/R/S Hikari sets

The original 30 12-car sets were lengthened to 16 cars between December 1969 and February 1970 with the inclusion of new 10th-batch cars for Hikari services to handle the increased number of passengers travelling to and from Expo '70 in Osaka in 1970. From the opening of the San'yō Shinkansen in 1972, these sets were renumbered H1 to H30.[6]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Designation Mc M' M M' MB M' M M' MS M'S MB M' M M' M M'c
Numbering 21 26 25 26-200 35 26-200 25-700 26-700 15 16 35 26 25-500 26-700 25 22

16-car K Kodama sets

Between 1972 and 1973, the earlier 12-car Kodama sets were lengthened to 16 cars with the inclusion of new 13th- and 15th-batch cars, and were renumbered K1 to K47.[6]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Designation Mc M' M M' MK M' M M' M M' M M'S MB M' M M'c
Numbering 21 26 25 26-300 25-400 26-200 25-200 26-800 25-500 26-800 25-700 16 35 26 25 22

16-car H Hikari restaurant car sets

With the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen extension to Hakata, the fleet of 16-car H Hikari sets was reformed and increased between 1973 and 1974 with the inclusion of new 16th- and 17th-batch cars, including new restaurant cars (type 36) in addition to the buffet car (type 35). The fleet as of 10 March 1975 consisted of 64 sets, numbered H1 to H64.[6]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Designation Mc M' M M' M M' M M'D MB M' MS M'S M M' M M'c
Numbering 21 26 25 26-200 25-700 26-700 27 36 35 26-200 15 16 25-500 26 25 22

16-car NH Hikari sets

A 16-car NH Hikari set in May 1989

Between 1977 and 1980, 35 new 16-car NH sets were formed of −1000 subseries cars (batches 22 to 29) for Hikari services on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and San'yō Shinkansen lines. The introduction of 100 series and later 300 series trains reduced the number of 0 series trains used on Hikari services, with 0 series Hikari services operated by JR Central ending in 1995. A small fleet was subsequently maintained by JR-West for use on additional holiday period Hikari services, with the last remaining unit, NH32, being disbanded in December 1999.

The NH sets had two Green (first class) cars and a restaurant car in addition to a buffet car, although use of the restaurant cars was discontinued from the mid-1990s.

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Designation Mc M' M M' M M' MA M'D MB M' MS M'S M M' M M'c
Numbering 21-1000 26-1000 25-1000 26-1200 25-700 26-700 27 36 35-1000 26-1200 15-1000 16-1000 25-500 26-1000 25-1000 22-1000

16-car YK sets

16-car set YK8 on Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama service with "Arigatō 0 Series" sticker on final day of services, 19 September 1999

The 16-car YK sets were operated by JR Central on the all-stations Kodama services. These sets had upgraded reserved seat cars with 2+2 seating employing 100 series style seats, but only one Green car per 16-car set. Standard seating was 3+2 in standard class, and 2+2 in Green cars.

The fleet was operated by JR Central on the Tokaido Shinkansen until the last units were withdrawn on 18 September 1999. In the last two months of service, they ran with "Arigatō 0 Series" stickers on the front ends.

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Designation Mc M' M M' MB M' M M'S M M' M M' M M' M M'c
Numbering 21 26 25 26 37 26 25 16 25 26 25 26 25 26 25 22

Interior

12-car SK sets

Set SK5 on a West Hikari service in March 1997
"West" logo on an SK set in March 1997

These 12-car SK sets based at Hakata Depot were operated by JR-West on Sanyo Shinkansen West Hikari services between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. Sets were formed of upgraded 5000 and 7000 subseries vehicles with improved seating, and buffet cars were refurbished with a special seating area. All standard class cars had upgraded 2+2 seating. The sets were recognizable externally by the addition of an extra thin blue line below the windows (similar to 100 series) and by the large "West" decals near the doors. Some sets originally included specially converted cinema cars, but these were withdrawn in 1996. Following the end of the West Hikari services on 21 April 2000, the remaining SK units were reformed into new 6-car R60 sets to replace unrefurbished sets on Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama services.

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Designation Mc M' M M' MB M' M M'S M M' M M'c
Numbering 21 26 25 26 37 26 25 16 25 26 25 22

4-car Q sets

Set Q4 at Hakata on a Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama service in July 1998

4-car Q sets were formed from March 1997 for use on Kodama shuttle services running between Hakata and Kokura/Hiroshima, and also for use on some Hakata-Minami Line duties. These sets had no Green car and are not newly built. Instead they are reformed from original sets. Due to them being life-expired quickly, 100 series 4-car P sets replaced them from 2000 onwards. The last remaining unit was withdrawn in September 2001.[6] Set Q3 remained as a static training set at Shin-Shimonoseki Station until 2009, when it was replaced by 100 Series set P2.[7]

Car No. 1 2 3 4
Designation Mc M' M M'c
Numbering 21 26 25 22

6-car R sets

Set R61 in new JR-West "Kodama" livery at Higashi-Hiroshima Station on a Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama service in July 2003
"Children's Saloon" logo in March 1997

The 6-car R units with no Green car were first formed in June 1985, and were used on JR-West Kodama services between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. They were also used to operate services on the short Hakata-Minami Line from Hakata Station.

The no. 3 cars of sets R2 and R24 were rebuilt as "Children's Saloons" with the former buffet counter area converted into a children's soft play area. These sets ran branded as "Family Hikari" during holiday periods. From March 1997 a refurbishment programme was commenced on the R sets, with new internal trim, rotating seats and new toilets/washing facilities. The refurbished units were recognisable externally by an extra thin blue line below the windows (as with West Hikari SK sets), and new "W" decals near the doors.

From April 2000, 6-car "WR" sets were created from former SK unit cars and renumbered in the R60 series. These retained the larger buffet area (disused) and 2+2 seating of the former West Hikari trains, and gradually replaced the remaining unrefurbished R sets. These units initially retained their "West Hikari" branding, but were gradually repainted into the new JR-West "Kodama" livery from May 2002. Initially scheduled to be withdrawn in 2006, the last three remaining sets (R61/R67/R68) remained in service until 30 November 2008. By June 2008 they had been repainted into their original ivory and blue livery with silver roofs.

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Designation Mc M' MB M' M M'c
Numbering 21 26 37 26 25 22

Interior

Preserved examples

A large number of former 0 series vehicles are preserved or stored in museums and various other locations around Japan. Outside Japan, the leading vehicle from car 4 of 0 series set Q2 is preserved at the National Railway Museum in York, England. It was donated to the museum by JR-West in 2001.[8]

Vehicle number Date built Date withdrawn Location Remarks
16-1 March 1964 March 1977 Preserved at the Kyoto Railway Museum, which opened in April 2016. (Formerly displayed at the Modern Transportation Museum in Osaka.)[9] Cars from pre-production "C" set H1.[10]
21-1
22-1
35-1 August 1964 Cars from first production set H2.
21-2 July 1964 The Railway Museum, Saitama From original set H2. Moved from Osaka in August 2008. Exhibited from October 2009.[11]
22-2 JR-West Staff Training Centre, Suita, Osaka From original set H2.
21-25 April 1964 March 1978 The Railway Museum, Saitama Cab section only.
Originally displayed outside Tokyo Transport Museum.
22-56 August 1967 February 1982 "Wine no Kuni" hotel, Ikeda, Hokkaidō Front third section only.[10]
21-59 March 1968 Shintorimachi Park, Fuji, Shizuoka[10]  
21-73 July 1969 October 1984 Shinkansen Park, Settsu, Osaka [10]
22-75 August 1969 March 1985 Ome Railway Park, Ome, Tokyo Repainted for short period into Tohoku ivory/green livery in late 1980s.[10]
22-77 September 1969 March 1990 Satsuki Kindergarten, Fukuoka Used as a staff room and library.[10]
36-84 1975   SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya [12]
21-86 December 1971 November 1991
22-86 JR Central Hamamatsu Works [10]
21-100 September 1973 October 1991 Akishima City Library, Akishima, Tokyo Used as library reading room.[10]
21-141 June 1976 October 2000 The Railway History Park in Saijo, Ehime Prefecture[13] Former set H94, later R52. Front half only.[10]
22-141 National Railway Museum, York, England A gift from JR West that was presented to the NRM in 2001. To date, this unit is the only Shinkansen of any series preserved at a museum outside Japan.
22-1003 November 1976 November 1994 Namikawa Railway Heritage Park, Kameoka, Kyoto Cab section only.[10]
21-2023 January 1985 June 1998 J-TREC factory, Yokohama Cab section only. Preserved at Sakuma Rail Park until November 2009. Moved to Tokyu Car from July 2010.[14]
22-2029 March 1986 September 1999 Nippon Sharyo Factory, Toyokawa, Aichi [10]
16-2034 1986   SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya [12]
37-2523 1983  
21-5035 (formerly 21-1032) June 1978 10 March 2004 Tainan HSR station, Tainan, Taiwan Cab from former set R1. Used as structure gauging car during the construction of the Taiwan High Speed Rail until 2008. On display at Tainan HSR station from June, 2021.[15]
22-7007 – December 2008 Suita Yard, Osaka Prefecture Cab from former set R68. On display inside Suita City Kento Library since 11 November 2020.[16]
21-7008 (formerly 21-2026) 1983 December 2008 Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory, Hyogo Prefecture Car of last operational set, R61[17]
21-7038 – – Kawasaki Good Times World, within Kobe Maritime Museum West Hikari livery. Front third section.[10]

Gallery

See also

References

  • JR全車両ハンドブック2006 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2006.
  • JR電車編成表 '07冬号 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2007]. Japan: JRR. December 2006. ISBN 978-4-88283-046-7.
  1. ^ 日本機械学会, ed. (1999). 高速鉄道物語 -その技術を追う-. 成山堂書店. p. 34. ISBN 978-4-425-92321-2.
  2. ^ a b c Semmens, Peter (1997). High Speed in Japan: Shinkansen - The World's Busiest High-speed Railway. Sheffield, UK: Platform 5 Publishing. pp. 12, 55. ISBN 1-872524-88-5.
  3. ^ "Thank you Shinkansen Series 0- Special Website" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  4. ^ "初代の「0系新幹線」が44年間の歴史に終止符" (news video confirming that the train used was set R61). tv-asahi.co.jp. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  5. ^ Electric Trains for the New Tokaido Line Railway Gazette 5 February 1965 pages100-104
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i 新幹線電車データブック2011 [Shinkansen Databook 2011]. Japan: JRR. March 2011. pp. 18–53. ISBN 978-4-330-19811-8.
  7. ^ "車両の動き2008-2009". Japan Railfan Magazine. 49 (579). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd.: 74 July 2009.
  8. ^ National Railway Museum based article on the acquisition of the donated 0 series Archived 23 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ 京都鉄道博物館 [Kyoto Railway Museum]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 662. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2016. p. 60.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 鉄道のテクノロジー Vol.1 新幹線 [Railway Technology Vol.1: Shinkansen]. Japan: San-ei. 2009. ISBN 978-4-7796-0534-5.
  11. ^ JR East press release: "鉄道博物館における0系新幹線車両の公開について" (8 June 2009). Retrieved on 8 June 2009. (in Japanese). Archived 10 June 2009.
  12. ^ a b 「リニア・鉄道館」ファーストガイド ["SCMaglev and Railway Park" First Guide]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. 40 (324). Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun: 20–33. April 2011.
  13. ^ Sasada, Masahiro (25 November 2014). 国鉄&JR保存車大全2015-2016 [JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide 2015-2016] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. p. 124. ISBN 978-4863209282.
  14. ^ 0系新幹線電車前頭部を保存します [0 Series Shinkansen Front Section Preserved] (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Tokyu Car. 23 August 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  15. ^ 陳政偉 (22 September 2020). "高鐵修復新幹線0系花魁車 110年第2季開放展示". 中央通訊社. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  16. ^ "駅ホームに新幹線、実は図書館です...大阪・吹田で初代「0系」公開". Yomiuri Shimbun. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  17. ^ 0系21-7008, 川重へ向けて輸送される [0 series 21-7008 shipped to Kawasaki HI]. Japan Railfan Magazine. 49 (578). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd.: 171 June 2009.

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