SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

An exhibit that highlights the significance of the vehicle.

The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park features three iconic vehicles: the C62 steam locomotive, which holds the world's highest speed record; the Shinkansen test train (300X); and the superconducting maglev train MLX01-1. In addition, a total of 39 actual vehicles are on display, including successive generations of the Tokaido Shinkansen and conventional trains. There was a need for exhibits that would highlight the social and technological significance of these actual vehicles.

High-speed rail, as a means of intercity transportation, has contributed to society in various ways—economic, cultural, and daily life—throughout history, and its social significance is considerable. Conventional railway lines, on the other hand, have supported local daily life within their role as urban transportation. In order to meet the desire of our customers, who are also railway operators, to convey these things, we have extracted their significance and created Spatial Production that is appropriate to that significance.

The three vehicles on display as symbols each hold the world's highest speed record. Backed by technology in response to the demands of the times, these vehicles became record holders. To bring out their glorious symbolism, we planned a large Video spanning 29 meters in width, lighting Spatial Production that highlight each vehicle in conjunction with Video, and a "dark" spatial design to make these Spatial Production more effective.

In the vehicle display area, where 19 actual train cars are exhibited, we focused on a V-shaped layout to create a sense of high speed. By slightly offsetting the front sections and arranging them in a way that evokes the image of evolution, we aimed to Spatial Production the Tokaido Shinkansen and the conventional line trains.

In these vehicle displays, our involvement in designing the platforms as part of the exhibit design greatly contributed to enhancing the presence of the vehicles. We not only "showcased" the actual vehicles that served as exhibit materials, but also paid attention to even the smallest details, such as ease of viewing the interior, the sense of realism conveyed by the positional relationship with the vehicles, glass partitions, and a viewing flow that prioritized universal design and safety.

The symbolic exhibit and vehicle display area feature a spatial design that emphasizes the contrast between "light and shadow." The symbolic exhibit, with its "dark" space designed to highlight its significance through Spatial Production, and the "bright" space, illuminated by skylights to bring out natural beauty, are composed of these two spaces, emphasizing the overall contrast and differentiating the character of each space. We are proud to have created an impressive space by guiding visitors from the bright entrance to the "dark" of the symbolic exhibit, and then to the "bright" of the vehicle display area.

"Symbol exhibit". Train cars that marked the world record of velocity emerge in the exhibition space with reduced illumination.

Tactile maps of the exhibited vehicles with outline cuts and explanations in Braille

"Railway dioramas" that captivate with their intricate and realistic scenes.

Another major mission was to create one of the largest railway dioramas in Japan, composed of intricate and realistic scenes. Dissatisfied with existing railway museum dioramas that mainly consist of rail layouts and building models, the client aimed to recreate scenes of daily life alongside railways, complete with numerous figurines, for the enjoyment of many visitors. To this end, Central Japan Railway Company and the project team worked together to plan, design, and produce the railway diorama, overcoming numerous challenges along the way.

This railway diorama, which took two years to plan and design and one year to build, has many distinctive features.

The open diorama, uncovered by glass, features a full 16-car Tokaido Shinkansen train, and recreates 24 hours of railway operation, including nighttime maintenance scenes. The in-house developed digital operation system plays a particularly crucial role. Because it's digitally controlled, multiple train sets can be freely operated on a single line. And by using this system as a platform, it became possible to integrate and control all aspects of Spatial Production, including lighting, Video, and sound.

As this is a museum for Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tokai), a full 16-car Tokaido Shinkansen train was essential. However, when calculated to scale, its length is surprisingly about 5 meters. The platform on which the full train stops also has to be sized to match that length. As a result, Nagoya Station asserts a strong presence at the center of the diorama. There is also Spatial Production that the project team called "Nagoya Action." The situation of Shinkansen trains arriving at and departing from Nagoya Station one after another was realistically reproduced thanks to the digital operation system. This was another point of focus. Needless to say, our customers are railway operation professionals. We had their professional staff plan the operating schedule for the model trains. This, too, was a major factor in the success of this realistic railway diorama.

And then there are the numerous scenes brought to life by the figures. The figures filling baseball stadiums and concert halls are truly breathtaking. The scenes recreating townscapes range from familiar sights to scenes from fairy tales, and no matter where you look, you'll find a playful spirit that will leave you thoroughly entertained. This appeal has been well-received, and it has finally borne fruit, leading to the publication of the "Official Railway Diorama Guide." It was co-published by our company and our partner company, Yamane Co., Ltd., and is sold exclusively at the museum shop of the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park. We hear that it's so popular that it's being purchased by families and women alike.

Detailed and realistic railway diorama: fun scenes everywhere you look

The Official Railway Diorama Guide, published jointly by our company and Yamane Co., Ltd., is now on sale at the museum shop.

A museum promoting the superconducting maglev train.

Corporate museums are naturally expected to have a promotional character. In the case of Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), that character is the Shinkansen and the superconducting maglev train. The exhibits on the safe and stable Shinkansen system, as well as the superconducting maglev train, whose schedule has already become a reality, demonstrate the customer's enthusiasm.

At the end of October, five months before the museum's opening, the L0 series superconducting maglev train was announced as a commercial vehicle. The exhibits related to the superconducting maglev train focused on representing the L0 series after this announcement. Visitors had been grappling with the question of what this train should be like, so it was necessary to recreate that at the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park.

We repeatedly reviewed the story structure, redrew the CG, and conducted repeated vibration reproduction tests inside the train while receiving guidance. As a result of this trial and error, the superconducting maglev mini-theater was completed. There, the scenery seen from the windows and the small vibrations during the ride create an experience that is only possible because of the superconducting maglev traveling at 500 km/h. This is contributing to the next stage for Central Japan Railway Company.

Furthermore, the Shinkansen's signature blue, which serves as a key color in the spatial design, is also a distinctive feature of the facility. The groundbreaking design of the first Tokaido Shinkansen 0 Series featured a white body with blue lines. From the subsequent models such as the 100 Series, 300 Series, 700 Series, N700 Series, and even the superconducting maglev L0 Series, this color has become the identity of Central Japan Railway Company's high-speed rail.

This color was essential for the Linear Railway Museum's key visual. The blue of the Shinkansen bullet train is used as the key color in all the visible signs, graphics, and Video content, Spatial Production a consistent identity throughout the entire space. This is also reflected in the logo, which is composed of dark and light blues.

The logo mark decorating the entrance was also created by our company.

The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, proud of its mission as a museum.

Our spatial design, which deepens the public's understanding of railways, contributes broadly to society, and contributes to the growth and development of the industry, was recognized and led to us receiving the 2011 Display Industry Award (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award). Furthermore, the number of visitors to the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park surpassed 1 million in less than a year after its opening, and as it became a topic of conversation both inside and outside Central Japan Railway Company, as well as within our own company, we began to realize the great significance of it.

These events have reminded us that museums are mechanisms for sharing humanity's achievements. Only by recording, interpreting, and sharing those achievements with many people can a museum truly contribute to the future. The Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, in particular, made us acutely aware of the importance of museums in properly preserving, passing on, and sharing things and events.

From the legacy passed down from the distant past, to the wonders that human intellect has glimpsed in the midst of magnificent nature, to the science and technology that looks towards the future, to the literature, art, and folk crafts that capture the essence of humanity in the medium, and to the countless tools that breathe life into daily life and are imbued with ingenuity... these things and events, imbued with wisdom, are undoubtedly the pinnacle of human achievement.

The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, which exhibits actual record-holder vehicles, the social contributions of railways, and the high-speed rail that Japan pioneered through its comprehensive system capabilities, is truly a museum where we can share in the achievements of humankind. We are proud to have been involved in this work.

"Mechanism of railroads" compares 0 series and 300 series Shinkansen bullet trains, and introduces the high-speed railway technology and its maintenance.