RAILWAYS - TOKAIDO SHINKANSENID92910064
As the current year of 2021 is the European Year of Rail and also marks the 80th anniversary of Renfe, we wish to dedicate the collection to the history of the railway so as to draw our customers closer to the evolution of one of mankind’s most important modes of transport.
The collection consists of 20 coins: 15 issued in 2021 and the other five, in 2022.
On the obverse, an image in colour of the Tokaido Shinkansen locomotive, with Mount Fuji in the background. On top of the central image, the legend TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN. Outside the image, devices reminiscent of different rails.
On the reverse of all the coins, inside a central circle, the legend HISTORIA DEL FERROCARRIL (HISTORY OF THE RAILWAY). Underneath, the value of the coin: €1.5 EURO. Outside the central circle, an image of a railway track.
| Series | History of Railways |
| Year | 2021 |
| Colour | Yes |
| Diameter (mm) | 33 |
| Face Value (Euro) | 1.5 |
| Metal | Cupronickel |
| Weight (g) | 15 |
| Maximum Mintage (units) | 7,000 |
HISTORY OF THE RAILWAY - TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN
Shinkansen Series 0
Year of production: 1964
Country: Japan
Traction: Electric
Transport: Passengers
Maximum load per axle: 16 T
Top speed: 208 km/h
Engine power: 25 kV at 60 Hz
Japanese railways were the first to operate a high-speed train. High demographic density forced them to come up with a transport system that would increase mobility in a big way and fast. It stands to reason, therefore, that the site chosen to make this qualitative leap was the corridor running between the capital Tokyo and Osaka.
The radical differences in this train in respect of existing ones brought the need to build a new track which would be laid parallel to the traditional one. The gauge was the point where the two tracks differed most: 1.435 m as compared with 1.06 m. However, the changes entailed in the Shinkansen (New Line) went beyond those seen in the infrastructure, where, for instance, major engineering works were carried out in the construction of numerous viaducts so as to reduce the distance, which ended up at 200 km.
It would not be long before Western visitors started referring to the train as the Bullet, on account of its streamlined design. It was made up of 12 cars, each equipped with a continuous current traction engine associated to each axle, meaning that the number of cars and power could be increased at the same time. Such was the case in 1970, when the number of cars was increased to 16. Series 0 cars were 24.5 m in length; power was collected from overhead catenary (25 kV at 60 Hz); weight per axle was 16 tonnes; and the train could reach a top speed of 208 km/h.
Another novel feature was to be found in the signalling system in that, in fact, there were no signals. Instead, the engine driver was informed of track conditions by means of coded impulses transmitted by central conductors. The original car arrangements were divided electrically into six sets of two, each one complete with a buffet car. Another one was added when the number of cars was increased to 16. In the intermediate second-class sets, seating was arranged in a 3+2 formation, whereas in first-class or Green Cars, the arrangement was 2+2.