http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20081130-OYT1T00372.htm?from=main1
老朽化のため引退する初代新幹線「０系」の定期運行最終列車となる「こだま６５９号」が３０日午後２時５１分、始発の岡山駅を出発し、定刻通り同６時２１分に終点の博多駅に到着した。
先頭車両の独特の形状が親しまれた＜夢の超特急＞は、４４年間の営業運転を終えた。
ファンでごった返す岡山駅２１番ホームで、出発前のセレモニーが行われる中、白と青のツートンカラーの車体が姿を現すと、最後の姿を見ようと待ちかまえたファンが一斉にカメラのシャッターを切った。その後、大勢のファンに見送られ、警笛を鳴らして出発した。
０系は、東京五輪開幕直前の１９６４年１０月１日に登場。それまで在来線で６時間以上かかっていた東京―新大阪間を３時間１０分（開業時は４時間）に短縮した。９９年に東海道新幹線から引退し、今年３月から山陽新幹線で「こだま」として１日１０本運行していた。
１２月の３日間に指定席のみの「さよなら運転」が計６本行われるが、いずれも完売している。
The last revenue service Series 0 Shinkansen ran today (30th
November), ending the legacy spanning 44 years of service in
various complement forms and as the world's first, fastest
scheduled train service that was held by Japan until the invent of
the newer TGV trains in France.
The reason for withdrawl is the introduction of new N700 trains
that would speed up the schedules which the older trains cannot
catch up with, plus the ageing of machinery.
Personally I have taken the Series 0 several times, and the most
exciting thing is looking at the walls and windows expand outwards
when it enter tunnels due to the pressure difference. This cannot
be seen on newer trains anymore. The driving cab is also full of
knobs and dials, and the old progressive speed indicator with
advancing bars, just like a first generation Boeing aircraft,
thinking that a train of that generation has what an aircraft has,
it must be linked with the technological advances! The sound of the
motors are also similar to our C151 (Series 0/100) MRT trains, but
with the difference that the gears are larger number than rapid
transit trains and the motor can be pretty loud when its at maximum
speed.
Have any of you guys taken the Series 0? What are your
experiences? Feel free to share here.