KiHa 35 explained

KiHa 35 series
KiHa 30
KiHa 36
Service:1961 - present (Japan)
2015–present (Philippines)
Manufacturer:Fuji Heavy Industries, Niigata Tekkō, Nippon Sharyo, Teikoku Sharyō, and Tokyu Car Corporation
Successor:103 series, 205 series, 209 series, KiHa 40, KiHa E130 series, PNR 8000 Class, PNR 8300 Class (Bicol Commuter services)
Yearconstruction:1961 - 1966
Yearservice:1961
Refurbishment:1987 - 1992 (Kanto Railway)
1999 (Aizu Railway)
2019 (Philippine National Railways)
Yearscrapped:1983 -
Numberbuilt:410 vehicles
Numberservice:2 vehicles in Japan
2 vehicles (1 locomotive-hauled set) in the Philippines [1]
Numberpreserved:11 vehicles
Formation:1/2/3/4/5/6 cars per trainset (JNR/JR Group)
2/3 cars per trainset (Kanto Railway)
2 cars per trainset (PNR)
1 car per set (Aizu Railway & Mizushima Rinkai Railway)
Operator:JNR (1961 - 1987)
JR Central (1987 - 1989)
JR East (1987 - 2012)
JR West (1987 - 2001)
JR Shikoku (1987 - 1991)
JR Kyushu (1987 - 1991)
Kanto Railway (1986 - 2011)
Aizu Railway (1999 - 2009)
Mizushima Rinkai Railway (2014 - present)
Philippine National Railways (2015 - present)
Depots:,,
Lines:PNR Metro South Commuter, PNR Bicol Commuter, Hachiko Line, Jōsō Line, Kawagoe Line, Kururi Line, Isumi Line, Sagami Line, Yahiko Line, Echigo Line, Sobu Main Line, Sotobo Line, Uchibo Line, Narita Line, Kashima Line, Sanin Main Line, Kisei Main Line, Kusatsu Line, Nara Line, Wakayama Line, Kansai Main Line, Sakurai Line, Katamachi Line, Wadamisaki Line, Chikuhi Line, Aizu Line, Mizushima Main Line
Carbody:Steel
Carlength:20000mm
Width:2929mm
Doors:3 per side
Engine:DMH17 diesel engine (All units)
DMF14-HZ (Kururi Line units)
Multipleworking:Various DMUs in Japan
PNR 5000 Class
PNR 2500 Class

The, along with the similar KiHa 30 and KiHa 36 series, are Japanese diesel multiple unit (DMU) train types formerly operated by the Japanese National Railways (JNR) and JR Group of companies, and later operated by the private railway operators Kanto Railway and Mizushima Rinkai Railway. They were built from 1961 until 1966, and were widely used around Japan. Most units were withdrawn in 2012 with the exception of those used by private railways, which remained in service. Some were later operated by Philippine National Railways on Bicol Commuter Train since 2015, and on Metro South Commuter services since 2017.

History

About 410 cars were built from 1961 to 1966.[2]

After about 50 years of service, they were replaced by newer railcars. The last units, 30 62, 30 98 and 30 100, were withdrawn from service in December 2012. The units used on Kururi Line services were withdrawn on 1 December 2012,[3] and were replaced by KiHa E130 series units.[2]

Variants

Multiple variants of the KiHa 35 were built, like the KiHa 30 and KiHa 36.[2] The KiHa 35 Series were built to a single cab design, and has toilets, while the KiHa 30 series were built to a double cab design without toilets.

Specifications

The car bodies are made of steel, with a length of 20000mm and a width of 2929mm. Stainless steel construction is used for some sub-variants. They are fitted with Cummins DMH17 diesel engines. The Kururi Line units used DMF14-HZ engines.

Overseas operations

Philippine National Railways

In September 2015, six former Kantō Railway Joso Line KiHa 35 railcars were transferred to Philippine National Railways for use on Bicol Commuter and Metro Commuter services. On 14 and 16 September 2015, KiHa 350 Set 1[4] and Set 2[5] were sent to Naga to serve the Bicol Commuter Line.

They are divided into three two-car sets.

Set 1353 354
Set 23511 358
Set 33519 3518

Sets 1 and 2 started commercial operation in September 2015 and served the Naga–Legaspi route of the Bicol Commuter Line in the Bicol Region.[6] Because of the steep slopes on the line, they are now pulled by a locomotive.

The third formation (KiHa 3519-3518) was stored at Tayuman shed and is used as a spare car from 2015 to 2017. After two years, it entered service in September 2017, but it takes only one or two round trips a day because of its existence as a spare car.[7]

On 1 August 2018, PNR KiHa 350 Set 3 was used for the soft opening of the Caloocan-Dela Rosa Line.[8]

In 2019, PNR KiHa 350 Set 3 was given a new livery with the use of sticker-wrap and its windows got replaced with polycarbonate panels, removing the need of window grills.[9] On 16 October 2020, DEL 5009 hauled KiHa 350 Set 3 on its transfer to Naga, Camarines Sur, Bicol. Set 3's purpose of transfer to Naga is to serve the Bicol Commuter Line.[10] Set 3 has been servicing the Bicol Commuter Line ever since it went to Naga in 2020.[11]

Resale

Aizu Railway

In 1999, Aizu Railway bought a surplus diesel vehicle from JR East's KiHa 30-18 which was supposedly to be scrapped in 1996 to be modified & converted as a sightseeing diesel car and reclassified as AT-300 series rolling stock. It was remodeled inside Niigata, Japan into chartered-type train which attract tourists to generate better income due to the number of passengers decreased due to the economic slowdown in the late 1990s and the impact on the local economy was large, so it was necessary to take measures to increase transportation demand, such as Okawa Valley It was planned to introduce additional trains for the purpose of appreciating the scenery along the railroad . Due to the business situation of the Aizu Railway, it was difficult to introduce sightseeing vehicles on its own. It appeared as Japan's first self-propelled minecart. It started operation on April 29, 1999, and in the first year it was operated with AT-300 series and AT-150 series coupled together with the same paint livery so that the passengers could evacuate in case of rain, The AT-103 series was also remodeled from July 2000 as a two-car train to be coupled with the AT-103 series . However, The AT-400 series was introduced as a "Oza Toro Train" from 2003 as an observation vehicle as a "Torokko train" of the three-car train was added to Aizuwakamatsu – Aizukōgen-Ozeguchi Station was operated between July 12, 2003, where the 13th day express Abukuma been headed over to, Hobara Station – Tsukinoki Station. It was operated two round trips each day. But in 2009, it was replaced by AT-350 series and is currently stored in the Ashinomaki Onsen Station as of now.

Kanto Railway

Kanto Railway's former JR East KiHa 30/35 railcars were renumbered from 1988 to 1993.

KiHa 35 (1988–93)

Former body No. New body No.
KiHa 36-28 KiHa 351
KiHa 35-182 KiHa 352
KiHa 35-183 KiHa 353
KiHa 35–190 KiHa 354
KiHa 36-30 KiHa 355
KiHa 36-26 KiHa 356
KiHa 36-15 KiHa 357
KiHa 35–113 KiHa 358
KiHa 35–169 KiHa 359
KiHa 35–121 KiHa 3510
KiHa 35-187 KiHa 3511
KiHa 35–148 KiHa 3512
KiHa 35-191 KiHa 3513
KiHa 35–150 KiHa 3514
KiHa 35-193 KiHa 3515
KiHa 35-188 KiHa 3516
KiHa 35–59 KiHa 3517
KiHa 36-17 KiHa 3518
KiHa 35–163 KiHa 3519
KiHa 35–134 KiHa 3520
KiHa 35–170 KiHa 3521
KiHa 35–165 KiHa 3522
KiHa 35–81 KiHa 3523

KiHa 30 (1988–89)

Former Body No. New Body No.
KiHa 30-16 KiHa 301
KiHa 30–43 KiHa 302
KiHa 30–50 KiHa 303
KiHa 30-7 KiHa 304
KiHa 30–54 KiHa 305
KiHa 30–55 KiHa 306
KiHa 30–94 KiHa 307
KiHa 30–95 KiHa 308
KiHa 30–86 KiHa 309
KiHa 30–90 KiHa 3010
KiHa 30–56 KiHa 3011
KiHa 30-23 KiHa 3012
KiHa 30–96 KiHa 3013
KiHa 30–49 KiHa 3014
KiHa 30-29 KiHa 3015
KiHa 30-25 KiHa 3016

Mizushima Rinkai Railway

In 2014, The KiHa 30 98 and 30 100 were transferred to the Mizushima Rinkai Railway,[12] where they entered service from 12 May 2014.[13]

Preserved examples

Three KiHa 30 and 35 railcars are preserved in the following areas.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: the train passed quickly. YouTube. April 6, 2021. April 25, 2021.
  2. Web site: Matsuo . Kazuto . キハ35系にキハ10系も! 国鉄形気動車が元気だった頃 . KiHa 35 series and KiHa 10 series! When the JNR railcars were in good shape . ja . 21 October 2012 . news.mynavi.jp . Mynavi Corporation . 4 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190304111514/https://news.mynavi.jp/article/retrospective-64/ . 4 March 2019 . live .
  3. Web site: 久留里線でキハ30・キハ37・キハ38の運転終了 . End of Kuha 30, Kiha 37, Kiha 38 at Kururi Line . 2 December 2012. Japan Railfan Magazine Online . Koyusha Co., Ltd. . Japan . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20190304114140/https://railf.jp/news/2012/12/02/135000.html . 4 March 2019 . live . 4 March 2019.
  4. Web site: Throwback Thursday – PNR KiHa 350 (キハ 350) Set 1 @ Sta. Mesa Station. YouTube. February 16, 2017. April 25, 2021.
  5. Web site: KiHa キハ350 3511 358 passing after dela rosa railxing. YouTube. September 16, 2015. April 25, 2021.
  6. Web site: September 18, 2015. PNR Naga – Legazpi. April 25, 2021. YouTube.
  7. Web site: . 元 関東鉄道キハ350形運行状況 . Former Kanto Railway KiHa 350 operation status . ja . 2427junction.com . 12 April 2019.
  8. Web site: August 1, 2018. PNR Caloocan-Dela Rosa Inaugural Ride Part 1 – Glamour after 20 years. April 25, 2021. YouTube.
  9. Web site: PNR KiHa 350 (キハ350) Set 3 in new livery at Sta. Mesa Station. YouTube. October 20, 2019. April 25, 2021.
  10. Web site: October 16, 2020. PNR DEL 5009 Hauling KiHa 350 Set 3 a.k.a KiHa White bound for Naga. April 25, 2021. YouTube.
  11. Web site: PNR 5007 and Kiha 350 Crossing In Naga City Both With New Liveries (Bicol Commuter Train). YouTube. January 5, 2021. February 22, 2021.
  12. Web site: キハ30,キハ37,キハ38の6両が水島臨海鉄道へ . 6 KiHa 30, KiHa 37, KiHa 38 to Mizushima Rinkai Railway . 10 July 2013 . Japan Railfan Magazine Online . Koyusha Co., Ltd. . Japan . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20190304120149/https://railf.jp/news/2013/07/10/150000.html . 4 March 2019 . live . 4 March 2019.
  13. Web site: http://www.mizurin.co.jp/info_detail/index/38.html . ja:「キハ37、38、30形式」の運転開始について . Start of KiHa 30 / 37 / 38 operations . 14 April 2014 . mizurin.co.jp . Mizushima Rinkai Railway news release . Japan . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20190304121119/http://www.mizurin.co.jp/info_detail/index/38.html . 4 March 2019 . 4 March 2019.