Background and overview
JR West developed class kiha120-200 single-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) train based on Niigata Engineering's light weight DMU design intending for 3rd sector operators in order to replace superannuated DMU trains used on rural services. 6 vehicles were delivered for Estumi-Hoku line and 2 for Kisuki line in 1992.
Car body
They have 15800mm long and 2700mm wide body having 2 cabs at the ends of their body. Their body design incorporates lightweight shaped steel and pressed forming beam and apply weatherproof rolling steel for the skin and rolled steel for the others. Cab ends have a gangway and a storable gangway connection. The upper part of the cab end is slanted at 7 degrees. Two rectangular headlights employing sealed beam light bulbs and two rectangular tail lights are fitted each side of the gangway. They are equipped with two 900mm wide stepped folding doors and double-hung unit assembled windows, both the lower sash of which moves up and the upper fixed between the doors. Door operating equipment is TR10D or TR10F developed for the bus. Each door can be opened separately for conductor-less operation and can be operated manually by pushing the buttons fitted beside the door to prevent the passenger's room from being cold in winter while stopping at the station long time for train meet on a single-track line. They employ an air conditioner, DDL-2CS-455X, rated at 20,600kcal/h, of which indoor unit is fitted on their roof and of which outdoor unit is fitted under their floor and driven by their prime mover. Electric fans are fitted on the both side of the air conditioner. The livery of the vehicles used on Etsumi-Hoku line is light gray with allocated at Asahikawa depot is light gray with olive-green coloured accents located between windows and wainscot panel. On the other hand, the livery of the vehicles used on Kisuki line is light yellowish green with golden coloured wide band around windows and dark green coloured narrow skirting.
Bogies
They are equipped with a WDT53 powered bogie and a WTR237 trailer bogie featuring diaphragm airbags for the secondary suspension, pedestal type journal supporting system, and sealed roller bearings. Powered bogie features 2-axle drive for anti-slip. Their bogies apply the single tread brake device for motored bogies and the disk brake device powered by the body mounted brake cylinder. The wheel diameter is 860mm and the wheelbase is 1900mm.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
They are powered by a four-cycle flat-six diesel prime mover, SA6D125-H-1 of Komatsu Ltd., with a power output of 250PS employing a turbocharger powered by the flow of exhaust gas. They are also equipped with the hydraulic transmission gear, TACN-22-1605, employing three-member one-stage torque converter and a water-cooled air compressor, C600, powered by a prime mover. Their brake system is automatic brake with exhaust brake applying butterfly valve.
Accommodation
Seating is arranged as mixture of 4 transverse seating bays with 1520mm seating pitch and longitudinal bench seating to ease boarding and alighting. The ticket machine, which put the ticket indicating the boarding station, is located beside doorways at the end of their body. The fare chart seven segment display and the fare box are located behind the driver's cab. Their cab is a compartment type located at the left side of the train. They are equipped a casement window for rear view confirmation due to no hinged door for the driver.
Modification and refurbishment
JR West carried out to fit them with an additional western style toilet over the period from 2004 until 2007 after receiving many requests of toilet installation from various quarters. Only a water tank is located under the floor. On the other hand, the sanitation system for the toilet is located on the floor to reduce the impacts against underfloor equipments. As a result, some bench seating was removed and a window is filled with an additional plate to fit the with a toilet.
Furthermore, refurbish programme was commenced on class kiha120-200 in 2017. Seat partitions fitted at the both end of seating was enlarged and intermediate seat partitions were introduced. Their seats got wider than before and the fabric of the seat is replaced. LED headlights were also employed. A body vibration detector (BVD) applying accelerometers is fitted near their bogies to prevent damage caused by derailment and collision to name a few from spreading.
Operations
They entered the revenue services on Etsumi-hoku and Kisuki lines to replace superannuated class kiha52 and kiha23 DMUs in 1992. They are now used on the rural services on Etsumi-hoku, San-in, and Kisuki lines. |
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