KiHa 181 series

KiHa 181 series
Consist led by KiHa 181-47 on a Hamakaze service in July 2010
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Fuji Heavy Industries, Niigata Tekkō, Nippon Sharyo
Type of locomotive	Diesel multiple unit
Constructed	1968 – 1972
Number built	158 cars
Dimensions	839 in (21,300 mm) × 114 in (2,903 mm) × 156 – 161 in (3,955 – 4,087.3 mm)
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Prime mover	DML30HSC prime mover
Service information
In service	1 October 1968 – 27 February 2011
Formation	4, 6 or 8 cars per set
Number in service	None (15 on overseas operations)
Fleet numbers	KiHa 181-1 – KiHa 181-49, KiHa 180-1 – KiHa 180-79, KiRo 180-1 – KiRo 180-13, KiRo 180-101 – KiRo 180-104, KiSaShi 180-1 – KiSaShi 180-13
Preservation information
Preserved	2 cars
Number scrapped	141 cars

The KiHa 181 series is a Japanese limited express diesel multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways from October 1968 to February 2011.

History

Built from 1969 to 1972 by Fuji Heavy Industries (now known as Subaru Corporation), Niigata Tekkō (now known as Niigata Transys) and Nippon Sharyo, the KiHa 181 series was essentially an upgraded version of the KiHa 80 series diesel railcars introduced just a few years prior. These entered service on 1 October 1968 with the introduction of the revised timetable for that year.

These sets enjoyed a long service life from 1968 and were known to have be used on the Hamakaze and the non-electrified sections of Yakumo routes until their retirement from regular service on 23 December 2010, when they were being replaced by newer KiHa 189 series sets. A few special final runs were carried out on 25 and 26 February 2011, following which the KiHa 181 series sets were withdrawn.

Fifteen cars were sold to the Yangon Circular Railway and re-classified as RBE5000 railcars, starting on 8 February 2012.

Design

The cars had a similar style to various Japanese DMUs as manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries, Niigata Tekkō and similar companies; the body style of the KiHa 181 series cars quite heavily resembled that of the older KiHa 80 series cars.

Specifications

Each car is 21.3 meters long and 2.903 meters wide. The cars all use DML30HSC prime movers and are somewhat based on the KiHa 90 series prototype diesel railcars, in terms of bogies.

Preservation

The following KiHa 181 series cars have been preserved:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
KiHa 181-1	Fuji Heavy Industries	August 1968	March 1993	N/A	SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, Japan	Ex-prototype set
KiHa 181-12	Nippon Sharyo	November 1969	February 2011		Tsuyama Railroad Educational Museum, Okayama, Japan	One of the last operational KiHa 181 series cars; repainted into JNR colors

The following KiHa 181 series cars were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
KiHa 180-1	Fuji Heavy Industries	August 1968	March 1993	N/A	Mino-Ōta Rolling Stock Depot, Gifu, Japan	Ex-prototype set; scrapped March 2013 at Nagoya Works

Gallery