Background and overview
Based on the results of revenue‑earning services operated by the pre‑production Kiha100‑0 series sets, JR East developed the single‑ended Class Kiha111‑0 and Kiha112‑0 DMU trains in 1991, alongside the mass‑production Class Kiha110‑0. The Kiha111‑0 vehicles are equipped with a toilet, while the Kiha112‑0 vehicles are not. Three vehicles of each type were initially delivered to the Morioka Depot.
Car body
The carbodies measure 19,500 mm in length and 2,928 mm in width, with a bogie centre distance of 13,800 mm. The body skin is fabricated from 1.6‑mm‑thick steel plate, while the roof uses 1.2‑mm plate. The floor height is 1,175 mm, which is 100 mm lower than that of earlier DMU types. The shoulders of the side structure, the underframe side beams, and the corners of the end structures feature chamfered profiles. The gangwayed cab incorporates a low‑profile driver’s cab, and the obstacle deflectors beneath it are protected by chromium‑plated pipes.
Two rectangular sealed‑beam headlights are installed above the gangway door, and rectangular taillights are mounted in the upper section behind the windscreen. Destination rollsigns are installed above the driver’s‑side windscreen and on the side walls.
Each vehicle is equipped with two 1,060‑mm‑wide automatic stepped sliding plug doors controlled by the PD‑O2A door operating system. One door is located immediately behind the cab, while the other is positioned toward the rear of the body. The doors can also be operated manually using the buttons installed beside them. The step height at the doorway is 1,036 mm. Fixed windows measuring 1,500 mm in width and employing laminated glass are fitted between the doors.
The vehicles are equipped with two outdoor units of the prime‑mover‑driven AU26J‑A air‑conditioning system, rated at 15,500 kcal/h, mounted beneath the floor. Two bus‑type ventilation fans and two indoor air‑conditioning units are installed on the roof. The exhaust pipe of the prime mover is located inside the cab.
Tight‑lock couplers with automatic jumper couplers are fitted at both ends to facilitate rapid coupling during rush‑up operations. The livery consists of a very pale green base with moss‑green accents applied to the chamfered areas.
Bogies
The powered bogies are type DT58A, incorporating a two‑axle drive system, while the trailer bogies are type TR242. Both bogie types feature bolster‑less secondary air suspension, a cone‑shaped multilayer rubber‑spring journal‑support system, and a Watts‑linkage draw gear. They have a wheelbase of 2,100 mm and employ unit‑assembled single‑tread brake rigging. The gear ratio of the powered bogies is set to 2.925.
Powertrain and ancillary equipment
The vehicles are powered by a DMF13HZA prime mover manufactured by Niigata Engineering Co., Ltd. This four‑cycle, straight‑six diesel engine develops 420 PS and is equipped with an exhaust‑gas‑driven turbocharger and an intercooler. The hydraulic transmission, designated as type DW14A‑B, features a three‑element single‑stage torque converter, a multi‑plate wet clutch, and a two‑stage direct‑coupled range. The prime mover and hydraulic transmission are controlled by a programmable logic controller to reduce the amount of control equipment and improve reliability.
The braking system is an electric‑command pneumatic brake with a retarder. When the retarder is no longer able to provide the specified braking force, the pneumatic brake supplements it.
Accommodation
The interior is fitted with 2+2‑abreast R55G bucket‑style reclining seats with a seating pitch of 940 mm between the doors, together with two transverse bucket‑style seating bays at the rear of the vehicle. The passenger saloon is separated from the doorways by partitions. Illumination is provided by two rows of covered fluorescent light fixtures. A water‑heating system is installed beneath the seats. The air‑conditioning duct is mounted above the ceiling to improve the interior appearance, and slit‑type air‑conditioning vents are employed.
Kiha111‑0 vehicles are equipped with a Japanese‑style toilet constructed from fibre‑reinforced plastic, located immediately in front of the rear door. The master controller uses a lateral‑motion operating handle.
Modification
They were retrofitted with prominent anti‑fall plates on the front ends.
Operations
They were delivered to the Morioka Depot in 1991 for use on the “Rikuchū” express services linking Morioka and Miyako. These services were later rebranded as the “Hamayuri” rapid services.
One set, formed of Kiha111‑2 and Kiha112‑2, was subsequently converted into the ‑700 subclass for operation on the “TOHOKU EMOTION” services on the Hachinohe Line. Another set, formed of Kiha111‑3 and Kiha112‑3, was reallocated to the Kogota Depot for use on the “Kaisoku Yukemuri” rapid services on the Rikuu‑East Line.
They are currently operated on the “Hamayuri” rapid services linking Morioka and Kamaishi, as well as the “Kaisoku Yukemuri” rapid services linking Sendai and Shinjō via the Rikuu‑East Line. |
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