KiHa 150 series

KiHa 150 series
Consist led by car 3 in August 2018
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Fuji Heavy Industries
Type of locomotive	Diesel multiple unit
Constructed	1993 – 1995
Number built	27 cars
Dimensions	20,000 mm × 2,924 mm × 3,940 mm
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Prime mover	N-KDMF15HZ prime mover
Service information
In service	1 April 1993 – Present
Formation	1 or 2 cars per set
Number in service	27 cars
Fleet numbers	1 – 17, 101 – 110
Preservation information
Preserved	N/A
Number scrapped	N/A

The KiHa 150 series is a low-capacity commuter diesel multiple unit used by the Hokkaido Railway Company since April 1993.

History

The KiHa 141 series was designed out of a requirement to produce a powerful diesel locomotive which could scale steep snowy slopes while also providing comfort in cold climates on single-line operation of multiple cars in a consist. While JR Hokkaido's existing railcars, such as the KiHa 22 and KiHa 56 series, were perfectly capable of commuting passengers, some cars were nearly 30 years old by that point and were not able to clear snow as easily due to their lower power output, even in certain less frequented portions of lines.

JR Hokkaido then contracted Fuji Heavy Industries (now known as Subaru Corporation) to manufacture the railcars. The company manufactured 27 cars, which were put into service starting 1 April 1993. As of 2021, all cars remain in service and are based at the Asahikawa, Tomakomai and Naebo Depots, where these are mainly used for regional transportation.

Design

The KiHa 150 series use a squared-off design similar to many other railcars of the time. The car features four square-shaped headlights with dual top-mounted end-of-train lamps; the four headlights are to ensure visibility during winter. The cars are painted ivory white with lime green and lavender accents; these accents are arranged differently based on where the cars are located.

Specifications

Construction is of steel. The cars are of a dual cab design and can be operated in single car units. A number of general purpose mechanical parts originally intended for use on buses are used in this design to decrease costs. The cars are also largely based on the KiHa 110 series cars to decrease costs even further.

The KiHa 141 series cars are equipped with a high-performance N-KDMF15HZ supercharged prime mover producing 444 HP (450 PS); this is actually a Komatsu SA6D140-H prime mover produced under license. The power produced by this engine is some of the most powerful in the JR Hokkaido fleet, with a power output double that of the KiHa 40 series cars and even exceeds that of the twin-engined KiHa 56 series cars.

References

• Wikipedia.org