STAR21

The Class 952/953 Shinkansen, branded STAR21 (Superior Train for the Advanced Railway toward the 21st century), is an experimental high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the East Japan Railway Company from March 1992 to February 1998.
==History==
The STAR21 was built starting in 1992 as a trainset which could mitigate issues of noise pollution and ground vibrations. The lone trainset, designated S5, was delivered in March 1992 and unveiled to the press that April; from there, test running would commence.
The trainset recorded a national speed record of 353.0 km/h (219.3 mph) on 30 October 1992 on the Jōetsu Shinkansen, beating the previous record of 350.4 km/h (217.7 mph) set by JR West's WIN350 set that August; the STAR21 broke its own record two days later with a speed of 358.0 km/h (222.5 mph).
Motors were added to all axles in 1993, which raised the trainset's power output. As a result of this, the STAR21 broke its own record again on 13 December 1993, when it reached 400.0 km/h (248.5 mph); it would break this record just 8 days later on 21 December the same year, with a speed of 425.0 km/h (264.1 mph), again on the Jōetsu Shinkansen. This record would stand until it was broken by the 300X trainset in 1996.
The train was officially withdrawn on 17 February 1998.
==Design==
These trainsets were radically different to the first generation of Shinkansen. Their shape departed the "bullet" shape of the first generation and replaced it with "duckbill-like" head/tail cars; both end cars were very different. 
The set is unique in that it is arranged in two distinct "halves"; the Class 952 half-set consisted of four separate cars, while the Class 953 half-set consisted of five articulated cars with shared bogies. All nine cars of the set were fitted with seats.
Near the end of testing a third high-discharge headlight was added to the middle of the nosecone of 953-5.
==Specifications==
Construction is of an aluminum alloy or aircraft-style duralumin depending on the car. The train runs on 25 kV, AC 50 Hz power. Traction motors are GTO thyristor variable frequency drives with a total output of 4,620 kW (6200 hp). This was the first JR East Shinkansen set to use variable frequency drive technology.
==Preservation==
The following Class 952/953 Shinkansen cars have been preserved:
Car number	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Previous sets	Location 	Notes
952-1 	Nippon Sharyo 	March 1992 	February 1998	S5 	Railway Technical Research Institute wind tunnel facility, Maibara, Japan	Pointed nose design, preserved alongside 500-901 and 955-1; not usually open for public viewing
953-1 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	March 1992 	February 1998	S5 	Sendai General Shinkansen Depot, Sendai, Japan 	Intermediate car, coupled to 953-5; not usually open for public viewing
953-5 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	March 1992 	February 1998	S5 	Sendai General Shinkansen Depot, Sendai, Japan 	Flat nose design, coupled to 953-1, commemorative speed record graphic on left side of car; not usually open for public viewing
In addition, one of the set's Sumitomo DT9035B bogies is on display at the Nara National College of Technology.
==Gallery==
STAR21 S5 Flat 1990s.jpg|Set S5 on test in the 1990s; note the different cab end
==References==
*Wikipedia.org
Category:Prototype locomotives
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:Unique locomotives
Category:Hitachi locomotives
Category:Kawasaki locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives
Category:Built in 1992
Category:Japan
Category:Experimental locomotives