WIN350

"WIN350" was the name given to the 500-900 series (500系900番代) 6-car experimental high-speed Shinkansen train developed in 1992 by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Japan to test technology to be incorporated in next-generation shinkansen trains expected to operate at speeds of 350 km/h (217 mph) from 1994.[2] Initially given the designation "500X", the name "WIN350" stood for "West Japan's Innovation for operation at 350 km/h".[3]

500-900 series "WIN350"
End car 500-906 preserved at Hakata Shinkansen Depot, October 2011
In service	1992–1995
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Constructed	1992
Scrapped	1996
Number built	6 vehicles
Number in service	None
Number preserved	2 vehicles
Number scrapped	4 vehicles
Formation	6 cars
Fleet numbers	W0
Operator(s)	JR West
Depot(s)	Hakata
Line(s) served	Sanyo Shinkansen
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium alloy, Honeycomb structure
Car length	26,550 mm (87 ft 1 in) (end cars), 25,000 mm (82 ft 0 in) (intermediate cars)[1]
Width	3,380 mm (11 ft 1 in)
Maximum speed	350 km/h (215 mph) (nominal)[1]
Traction system	300 kW (400 hp) 3-phase motors
Power output	7,200 kW (9,700 hp)
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC 60 Hz
Current collection method	Pantograph
Safety system(s)	ATC
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Design

Cars 500-901 to 500-903 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Hyogo Prefecture. Cars 500-904 to 500-906 were built by Hitachi in Yamaguchi Prefecture.[4]

The front-end designs of the two driving vehicles (500-901 and 500-906) were slightly different, with 500-906 featuring a "cockpit" style arrangement.[3] The external livery was purple and light grey, with darker purple lining.

All axles were motored, using 300 kW three-phase motors, and cars were equipped with tilting and active suspension.[3]

Internally, only car 4 was fitted with passenger seats, with 10 rows of 3+2 standard-class seating and 5 rows of 2+2 Green class (first class) seating.[5]

Formation

The 6-car set, designated "W0", was formed as follows.[6]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Designation	M'1c	M'1p	M1	M2	M'2p	M2c
Numbering	500-901	500-902	500-903	500-904	500-905	500-906

Initially, cars 1, 2, and 5 were fitted with pantographs.[5]

History

The WIN350 train was delivered to Hakata Shinkansen Depot in April 1992.[4]

On 6 August 1992, the train recorded a Japanese national speed record of 345.8 km/h on the San'yō Shinkansen.[3] Two days later, on 8 August 1992, the train recorded a Japanese national speed record of 350.4 km/h on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Ogōri (now Shin-Yamaguchi) and Shin-Shimonoseki.[2]

The WIN350 trainset was withdrawn on 31 May 1996, and a special farewell ceremony was held at Hakata Shinkansen Depot.[2][3]

Preservation

Car 500-901 preserved at Maibara, October 2006

End car 500-901 is preserved outdoors at the RTRI large-scale wind tunnel test facility in Maibara, Shiga. Initially expected to be moved to the Modern Transportation Museum in Osaka,[3] end car 500-906 is preserved at Hakata Shinkansen Depot.[7]

References

1. JR全車輛ハンドブック'93 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1993]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1993.
2. プロトタイプの世界 - Prototype World. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbunsha. December 2005. pp. 56–59. OCLC 170056962.
3. Semmens, Peter (1997). High Speed in Japan: Shinkansen - The World's Busiest High-speed Railway. Sheffield, UK: Platform 5 Publishing. ISBN 1-872524-88-5.
4. "500系新幹線電車" [500 series Shinkansen EMU]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 32 no. 374. Japan: Kōyūsha. June 1992. pp. 18–19.
5. "500系新幹線試験電車" [500 series Experimental Shinkansen EMU]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 32 no. 375. Japan: Koyusha. July 1992. pp. 52–58.
6. 新幹線電車データブック2011 [Shinkansen Databook 2011]. Japan: JRR. March 2011. p. 95. ISBN 978-4-330-19811-8.
7. 鉄道のテクノロジーVol1：新幹線 [Railway Technology Vol.1: Shinkansen]. Japan: Sanei Mook. April 2009. pp. 122–124. ISBN 978-4-7796-0534-5.

External links

Media related to 500-900 series "WIN350" at Wikimedia Commons