MLU001

The MLU001 (Magnetic Levitation, U-shaped guideway) was an experimental maglev trainset. Built in 1980, the vehicle was used by JNR and the Railway Technical Research Institute solely for experimental purposes.
==History==
The first end car was built in November 1980, and the second end car was built in November 1981; a third car was added later, with the third car being built in November 1982. Testing began in 1980 with only the first end car on the Miyazaki Test Track; in order to decrease air resistance, a cover was added to the rear of the end car. Manned test-running began in September 1982. The set clocked a top speed of 352 km/h (218.7 mph) in 1986 as a three-car unit and a top speed of 400.8 km/h (249 mph) as a two-car unit in 1987. After testing ended around 1989, the set was removed from the test track. It is unknown where the set is located now, so it is assumed to have been scrapped. However, a superconducting magnet and a helium tank from the MLU001 was saved and is on display.
==Specifications==
The end cars were 10.1 meters long, 3 meters wide and 3.3 meters high. The car rode on a U-shaped guideway. The set has had two color schemes; one being white with red accents and the other being white with green accents. The set pioneered the use of the U-shaped guideway for future SCMaglev developments, and could seat up to 32 when the 3-car formation was used.
==Gallery==
*Gallery
==References==
*Wikipedia.org
Category:Maglev trainsets
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:Unique locomotives
Category:Experimental locomotives
Category:Scrapped locomotives
Category:Prototype locomotives