Japanese National Railways (JNR) began to build Kiha52 suburban diesel
multiple unit (DMU) vehicles from 1958. Kiha52 vehicles differ from other
Kiha20 series vehicles in having two prime movers, DMH17C rated at 180PS
and 1300mm longer body for the operation on graded mountain routes. New
DT22 bogies were based on DT21 designed for EMU trains in order to realize
smoother ride characteristics than previous bogies, DT19 for DMU trains.
Cabs are located at both ends of the vehicle. Double hung windows are featured.
Passenger accommodation is a mixture of transverse seating and longitudinal
bench seating. All vehicles are equipped with a Japanese style toilet.
Vehicles built from 1962 differ from previous Kiha52 vehicles in changing
into flat-eight arrangement prime movers, DMH17H, and different location
of exhaust funnels. They are classified into -100 sub-type.
After the splitting of the JNR into the new privatized JR companies, JR
companies fitted the air conditioner and several facilities for conductor-less
operation with some Kiha52 vehicles.
The last remaining 3 Kiha52 vehicles, which were operated on the rural
services of Ohito line, were displaced with Kiha120 vehicles and withdrawn
in 2010. |
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