Background and overview
JR West developed kiha187-0 series intercity diesel multiple unit (DMU)
tilting trains in 2000 at the completement of the project implemented by
Shimane prefecture for the shortening the journey time of the San'in line
between Yasugi and Masuda to address the problem of declining competitiveness
of the San'in line caused by the development of the road network. Kiha187-0
series consists of 2 types of end vehicles, class kiha187-0 having a toilet
and kiha187-1000 having a designated smoking room, and they can also make
3-car or 4-car sets by the combination of these vehicles. Seven 2-car sets
were built over the period from 2000 until the following year.
Car body
They have 2845mm wide body incorporating light weight stainless steel construction
adopting the exterior panels having a structure that provides them strength
like 223-2000 series EMU. The bodies are unpainted and have a blue wide
band around windows and yellow-coloured narrow bands between blue wide
band and unpainted body. The cab section having a gangway is gabled and
two plane windscreens having a cluster of a rectangle-shaped sealed beam
headlight and a rectangle-shaped LED trail light behind them are fitted
on both side of the gangway door. A built-in classification 3-colour LED
headboard is fitted on the gangway. The area below the windscreens is painted
in yellow to ensure visibility of the train travelling at high speed and
the upper area in dark gray. Anti-fall plates between vehicles are also
introduced excepting the cab end. They are equipped with a 1000mm wide
single leaf sliding door and wide fixed double-glazing windows aligned
two seating bays. The stepped door is not featured because their floor
level is 1160mm from the rail to realize a low centre of gravity. A LED
destination display is fitted on each side of the body. An air conditioner,
WAU707, rated at 20000kcal/h is fitted on the roof. They employed tight
lock couplers having automatic jumper coupler to ease rush-up operations.
Bogies
They are equipped with WDT61 incorporating 1-axle drive and featuring bolster-less
secondary suspension, coil spring primary suspension with cylindrical laminated
rubber, single link draw gear, and tilting mechanism. These bogies adopt
the yaw dampers to ensure smooth ride characteristics even at 120km/h.
The Tilting mechanism employs the pneumatic cylinder to prevent sudden
tilting and the liner motion guide to provide smooth tilting motion by
reducing the friction. Their bogie frame employs bow-shape to fit the tilting
frame and the liner motion guide. Their bogies employ single-tread brake
rigging adopting automatic gap-adjusting unit.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
They are powered by two four-cycle straight-six diesel prime movers, SA6D140-H-1, with a power output of 450PS employing the turbo charger powered by the flow of exhaust gas and the intercooler. Their hydraulic transmission gear classified into DW21 features a three-member one-stage torque converter, multi-plate wet clutch, and four-staged direct coupled range. A radiator and heat exhaust fan unit are miniaturized to be fitted under the floor to increase seating capacity. They aim to reduce manufacturing cost and ease maintenance by standardizing equipments with JR West's EMU trains in particular the 223 series by employing electrified and standardized equipments to realize beltless. An engine driven generator, WDM111, is powered by one of prime movers via a Constant Speed unit supply three-phase 440V to the air conditioner and the electric heating. This 440VAC is also stepped down to 100VAC or rectified to 100VDC to supply to the control circuit and the auxiliary equipments A engine driven air compressor, WCW800, is connected to a prime mover with gears. Kiha187-0 series adopt the transmission control unit, TICS (Train Information Control System), which runs on PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) to reduce trains lines and relays. The brake system is changed into the electric command pneumatic brake with jake braking. If the jake braking is no longer able to provide the specified braking force, the pneumatic braking supplements it. All vehicles are equipped with ATS-SW onboard signaling system beneath the floor.
Accommodation
Seating accommodation consists of 2+2 abreast adjustable reclining with
970mm seating pitch. Prefabricated panels were employed for the interior
providing a sense of warmth, wood-based materials were used for handrails
and window frames to give a high-class feeling. A door chime is fitted
in the door header of each sliding door. Class kiha187-0 vehicles are equipped
with a universal access toilet employing the vacuum toilet system located
at the end of the body, and class kiha187-1000 a designated smoking room
located at the end. As for the device of driving cab, two handle master
controller is adopted same as EMU trains.
Operations
They entered "Super Oki" intercity services linking Yonago and
Ogori and "Super Kunibiki" linking Tottori and Masuda in July
2001. "Super Kunibiki" services were renamed into "Super
Matsukaze" and "Super Oki" intercity services were stretched
to Tottori. Kiha187-0 series are now used on "Super Oki" and
"Super Matsukaze" intercity services along with kiha187-10 series. |
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