KiHa 52 explained

KiHa 52
Service:1958 - present
Yearconstruction:1957–1966
Refurbishment:2020-2021 (PNR)
Numberbuilt:112 vehicles
Numberpreserved:3 (KiHa 52-115; 52-130; 52-156)
Numberscrapped:105 vehicles
Formation:1/2/3 cars
Fleetnumbers:KiHa 52 1 - 56
KiHa 52 101 - 156
Capacity:88[1]
Depots:Tutuban, Naga (PNR)
Carbody:Steel
Carlength:21300mm
Width:2928mm
Height:3925mm
Entrylevelorstep:Step
Doors:2 single-leaf sliding doors per side
Weight:35.5t36.6t
Engine:DMH17C/H
Enginetype:Diesel
Poweroutput:2 x 180hp
Bogies:DT22
Coupling:AAR coupler
Multipleworking:Various DMUs in Japan
PNR 900 Class
Gauge:
(Myanmar)

The is a Japanese diesel multiple unit (DMU) type formerly operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR); JR Group companies such as JR East, JR West, JR Shikoku & JR Kyushu; and later by the private railway operator Isumi Railway based in Chiba, Japan, by overseas operators such as Myanmar Railways in Myanmar, and the Philippine National Railways in the Philippines.

112 KiHa 52 cars were built for Japanese National Railways between 1958 and 1966. The design was based on the KiHa 20 series "general purpose" DMU type, but with two engines for use on mountainous lines.[2]

Variants

Livery variations

JR-era regional liveries

Resale

Following withdrawal of the last remaining examples operated by JR-West, one car, KiHa 52 125, was resold to the private operator Isumi Railway in Chiba Prefecture in April 2011. This unit was built in 1965, and formerly operated on the Etsumi-Hoku Line and Ōito Line in the Hokuriku region until 2010.[2]

Overseas operations

Myanmar

Seventeen former KiHa 52 Diesel Railcars were shipped to Myanmar to be operated by Myanmar Railways between 2007 and 2008.The following cars were transferred to Myanmar as shown:

Former Body Number of JR Group RBE Body Number by Myanmar Railways
KiHa 52-108 RBE 5001
KiHa 52-109 RBE 5002
KiHa 52-110 RBE 5011
KiHa 52-126 RBE 5003
KiHa 52-141 RBE 5012
KiHa 52-143 RBE 5004
KiHa 52-144 RBE 5005
KiHa 52-145 RBE 5006
KiHa 52-146 RBE 5013
KiHa 52-147 RBE 5014
KiHa 52-148 RBE 5015
KiHa 52-149 RBE 5016
KiHa 52-151 RBE 5007
KiHa 52-152 RBE 5008
KiHa 52-153 RBE 5009
KiHa 52-154 RBE 5017
KiHa 52-155 RBE 5018

Philippines

Seven former JR East KiHa 52 cars originally based at JR East Niitsu Transportation Zone were donated in September 2011 to the Philippine National Railways (PNR), where they were used on commuter services in the Manila area.[4] In October 2013, the trains were normally operated as two 3-car formations. The seventh car, KiHa 52 123, in Niigata livery, was taken out of service after operating for only seven months, and is stored at Tutuban Depot as a source of spare parts for the rest of the fleet.[4]

The trainsets were retired from passenger service in 2020 and they were replaced by Indonesian-built PNR 8000 class DMUs on the PNR North Main Line. KiHa 52-122 was later refurbished as the newest member of PNR's maintenance fleet in Caloocan, named the "Rescue Train" with the orange livery.[5] The other two units from the KiHa-O trainset are still in storage in Tutuban as of October 2021.[6] KiHa-B trainsets on the other hand were already retired in 2016 and Bicol trainsets were replaced by KiHa 35s.[7]

The former toilets in each car are locked out of use.[4]

Formation

During their service as commuter trains, the two three-car sets were referred to as "KiHa-O" (for orange) and "KiHa-B" (for blue) named after the liveries they carry. They were formed as shown below.[4]

 

KiHa-O52-137 52-127 52-122
KiHa-B52-102 52-120 52-121

Preserved examples

In addition to KiHa 52 125 operated on the Isumi Railway, three Kiha 52 cars are preserved in Japan, as listed below.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: キハ52車両概要. ja. 4 February 2022.
  2. Web site: http://response.jp/article/2014/01/29/215976.html. ja:いすみ鉄道のキハ52、3月から「首都圏色」に. Isumi Railway's KiHa 52 to be repainted into Metropolitan Livery from March. ja. Kusamachi, Yoshikazu. Response. January 29, 2014. June 14, 2014.
  3. Book: ja: JR全車輛ハンドブック'92 . JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1992. Neko Publishing . 1992 . Japan . 296.
  4. Saito. Miko. ja:フィリピン国鉄南方線の日本型車両. Japanese rolling stock on the PNR Southern Line. The Railway Pictorial . 64. 887 . 64–72 . ja . March 2014.
  5. DEL DMU KIHA TRAIN SCENE RSM CALOOCAN SHOP. 5 July 2021. 14 October 2021.
  6. Jared. Jimena. Tres Marias. 10 October 2021. 14 October 2021.
  7. Brad. Peadon. Diesel Multiple & Electric Multiple Units. PNR Rolling Stock Update. III. 4. March 2020.
  8. Book: Sasada, Masahiro . ja: 国鉄&JR保存車大全2015-2016 . JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide 2015-2016. Ikaros Publications Ltd.. 25 November 2014 . Tokyo, Japan . ja . 125. 978-4863209282. 国鉄&jr 保存車大全 2015-2016.
  9. Web site: http://www.itoigawa-kanko.net/spot/geopal/. ja: ジオステーション ジオパル. Geostation Geopal. Itoigawa Sightseeing. Itoigawa Sightseeing Association. Japan. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20170110020854/http://www.itoigawa-kanko.net/spot/geopal/ . 10 January 2017. live . 10 January 2017.