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The KiHa 183 series and the related N183 and NN183 series, occasionally branded HET 183 (Hokkaido Express Train), are limited express diesel multiple units operated by the JNR and later JR Hokkaido and JR Kyushu from February 1980 to April 2023. These were the first dedicated limited express-type diesel sets that were used by the JNR in the Hokkaido region.

History[]

Built from 1979 to 1991 by a whole host of companies including Fuji Heavy Industries (now known as Subaru Corporation), Hitachi and Niigata Tekkō, the KiHa 183 series was the first diesel railcar that was designed for use in the Hokkaido region, with additional features added to the cars that allow them to withstand colder environments. The sets were also meant to replace the KiHa 80 series sets that were used on Hokkaido's lines for a long time and were deemed to be close to their life expiration.

The first set, a pre-production set, entered service on 10 February 1980 and was used on Ōzora, Hokkai, Okhotsk and Hokuto services on the Sekishō Line; more sets were built and introduced over the coming years. Over the next few years, improved sets known as the N183 and NN183 series sets were introduced as well, with different designs from the normal bonnet-nosed sets.

Withdrawals began in 2001, although a variety of KiHa 183 series cars have been converted to serve other purposes as well on the JR Hokkaido system. The KiHa 183 series sets were retired on 10 April 2023 after final runs were conducted. Prior to their retirement the sets were based at Hakodate, Kushiro, Naebo and Sapporo Depots.

A single purpose-built four-car KiHa 183 series set was manufactured by JR Kyushu's Kagoshima Works and Fuji Heavy Industries in 1988 and 1989, with one of the cars being produced in knockdown kit form at JR Kyushu's Kagoshima Works. The purpose-built set, designated the KiHa 183-1000 series, was based on the N183 series sets used by JR Hokkaido, and entered service on the Holland Village Express Joyful Train service on 13 March 1988.

Since entering service, the set has undergone refurbishment four times, being allocated to a different Joyful Train service each time; after its stint on the Holland Village Express service from 1988 to 1992, it then operated on the Yufuin No Mori II service (1992 – 1999), then the Siebold service (1999 – 2003), then the Yufu DX service (2004 – 2011), and finally the Aso Boy! service, which it has served since 2011. The set is currently based at Kumamoto Depot. For additional information on this set, see here.

Design[]

The cars had a very different style to various Japanese DMUs as manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries, Niigata Tekkō and similar companies. The body style of the sets was actually very heavily based on what was seen on the 781 series sets, in addition to incorporating various design elements of the 781 series sets into the bodies of the KiHa 183 series sets as well, such as a rounded profile to prevent snow adhesion. The N183 and NN183 series cars resemble the KiHa 185 series railcars a fair bit.

The KiHa 183-1000 series set, however, detracted from the normal look of the normal KiHa 183 series sets, and instead opted for a more refined appearance with a panoramic cab section. The KiHa 183-1000 series set has a unique double-headed coupler with both knuckle and Shibata-type couplers mounted on a rotating post.

Cab variations[]

There are four cab variations of the KiHa 183 series sets; one of which is the standard bonnet-nosed front end, another is used on some KiHa 183 series cars, another of which is the body style used on the N183 and NN183 series sets and the fourth is used on the purpose-built KiHa 183-1000 series set.

Export[]

19 cars were transferred to Myanmar in 2009 for use around Yangon; these were used until 2012 between Mandalay and Naypyidaw. JR Hokkaido would later announce that some 21 cars would be donated to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) for operation, with the State Railway of Thailand bearing shipping costs; due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other circumstances their delivery was delayed until 2021, until which point the cars were left at Muroran Port. The cars are used for sightseeing trains since 24 December 2022, with SRT stating that the cars could be used for "over 50 years".

JR Hokkaido announced the sale of 18 cars to Sierra Leone in 2023, as well as spare parts; an initial batch of seven cars were shipped from Hakodate Port in August, with the identity of the railway company who purchased the cars not made public. However, some time in September 2023, the Sierra Leonean government revoked permission for the cars for use on the railways; with the cars in transit the shipment was rerouted to the Democratic Republic of the Congo through SCTP, a state-owned Congolese company operating the various railways in Congo. The cars arrived at Matadi port on 13 December 2023; they will be used to rebuild the Matadi-Kinshasa Railway and enter service "post 2024".

The remaining eleven cars intended for Sierra Leone remained at Muroran Port would remain at the port for several months before they were purchased by Royal Railway Cambodia; the cars left Muroran Port on 15 April 2024 and arrived at Sihanoukville Port on 27 April 2024. After arrival the cars were regauged to 3 ft 3 3⁄8 in (1,000 mm) and their brake systems changed before test runs were conducted from early to late June 2024. They are expected to be used on the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh-Poipet divisions of Royal Railway Cambodia.

Preservation[]

The following KiHa 183 series cars have been preserved:

Car number Manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Previous sets Location Notes
KiHa 183-214 Niigata Tekkō September 1982 March 2018 N/A Abira D51 Road Station, Yūfutsu, Hokkaido, Japan Preserved through crowdfunding effort, displayed near D51 320; restored back to JNR colors
KiHa 183-220 May 1983 Abira Town Railway Museum, Yūfutsu, Hokkaido, Japan Preserved through crowdfunding effort, restored back to JNR colors; successful startup test conducted July 2020 by volunteers
KiHa 183-5001 Naebo Works December 1988 November 2017 Arishima Takeo Memorial Hall, Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan Preserved through crowdfunding effort

Specifications[]

Construction is of steel. Each car is 21.3 meters long, 2.903 meters wide and 4.09 meters high. The sets use a wide variety of prime movers for each of the various specifications of the cars, with some older cars having their older prime movers switched out for newer and more powerful ones.

References[]

JGR/JNR rolling stock
JGR Wooden-bodied EMUs Commuter: 963625062606280628563006310634033400335004320063100
Steel-bodied EMUs Commuter: 303132334042505162637072
Express: 5280
Non-revenue EMUs Non-revenue: 793
DMUs Constant mesh gearbox: KiHa 01KiHa 04KiHa 07KiHa 5000KiHa 40000
Diesel-electric: KiHaNi 36450KiHa 43000KiHa 44000
Miscellaneous: KiSaHa 04
Miscellaneous Steam railcar: HoJi 6005
JNR AC EMUs Shinkansen: 0100200
Non-revenue Shinkansen: 9229259419519619621000
Commuter: 711713715717
Limited Express: 781
Non-revenue: 791
DC EMUs Commuter: 101103105111113115117119121123201203205207211213301
Limited Express: 151153155157159161165167169181183185189381
Conversions: 1101112
Non-revenue: 141143145147191193
Proposed: 187
Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 413415417419
Limited Express: 451453455457471473475481483485489581583
Non-revenue: 212290441443493495591
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 08KiHa 10KiHa 15KiHa 20KiHa 31KiHa 32KiHa 35KiHa 37KiHa 38KiHa 40KiHa 45KiHa 54KiHa 66
Express: KiHa 55KiHa 56KiHa 57KiHa 58KiHa 60KiHa 65KiHa 90
Limited Express: KiHa 80KiHa 181KiHa 183KiHa 185
Non-revenue: KiYa 191
GTLs Non-revenue: KiHa 391
JR Hokkaido rolling stock
Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: H5
Commuter: 721731733735737
Limited Express: 785789
DMUs Commuter: H100KiHa 40KiHa 54KiHa 141KiHa 150KiHa 201
Limited Express: KiHa 261KiHa 281KiHa 283
Non-revenue: KiYa 291
Withdrawn AC EMUs Commuter: 711
Limited Express: 781
Dual-current EMUs Limited Express: 485583
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 22KiHa 45KiHa 130
Express: KiHa 56
Limited Express: KiHa 80KiHa 183 series(KiHa 183-5000KiHa 183-5100KiHa 183-5200)
Non-revenue: KiHa 160KiHa 285
Future Fuel cell MUs Commuter: Unclassified
JR rolling stock
Shinkansen
Active JR West 500700N700N700SW7
JR East E2E3E5E6E7E8
JR Central N700N700S
JR Kyushu N700N700S800
JR Hokkaido H5
Withdrawn JR West 0100300
JR East 200400E1E4
JR Central 0100300700
Future JR Central L0
Non-revenue JNR 9229259419519619621000
JR West 922923500-900
JR East 925952/953E926E954E955E956
JR Central 922923955
RTRI FGT-9000GCT01GCT01-200ML100ML500ML500RMLU001MLU002MLU002NMLX01
Other JR Central Super Hikari Model
JR East rolling stock
Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: E2E3E5E6E7E8
Non-revenue Shinkansen: E926E956
Commuter: 701719E721
Limited Express: E751
DC EMUs Commuter: 115E127E129E131205209211E217E231E233E235
Limited Express: 185253E257E259E261E353
Non-revenue: 209-0
Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 415E501E531
Limited Express: E653E657
Charter: E655
Non-revenue: E491E493
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 40KiHa 100KiHa 110KiHa E120KiHa E130
Non-revenue: KiYa E193KiYa E195
AC BEMUs Commuter: EV-E801
DC BEMUs Commuter: EV-E301
Hybrid MUs Commuter: KiHa E200HB-E210GV-E400
Charter: E001HB-E300
Non-revenue: GV-E197
Fuel cell MUs Non-revenue: FV-E991
Other MUs Non-revenue: E991
Withdrawn AC EMUs Shinkansen: 200400E1E4
Non-revenue Shinkansen: 925952/953E954E955
Commuter: 715717
Non-revenue: 740743
DC EMUs Commuter: 12101103105107113123201203207215301E331
Limited Express: 157165167169183189251255E351
Non-revenue: 90143145193901E993
Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 417451453455457
Limited Express: 485489583651
Non-revenue: 441443497E991
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 20KiHa 35KiHa 37KiHa 38KiHa 45
Express: KiHa 58
Charter: KiHa 141
Non-revenue: KiYa 191
Hybrid MUs Non-revenue: KiYa E991KuMoYa E995
Future Hybrid MUs Commuter: HB-E220
JR West rolling stock
Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: 500700N700N700SW7
Non-revenue Shinkansen: 923
DC EMUs Commuter: 103105113115117123125201205207213221223225227321323
Limited Express: 271273281283285287289381
Non-revenue: 145
Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 521
Limited Express: 681683
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 40KiHa 120KiHa 121/126KiHa 122/127
Limited Express: KiHa 187KiHa 189
Non-revenue: KiYa 141KiYa 143
Hybrid DEMUs Charter: 87
Non-revenue: DEC700DEC741
Withdrawn AC EMUs Shinkansen: 0100300
Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922500-900
DC EMUs Commuter: 428384101211
Limited Express: 165167183
Non-revenue: 9091213/223-9000441
Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 413415419455457471475
Limited Express: 485489583
Non-revenue: 443
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 33KiHa 35KiHa 37KiHa 45KiHa 52
Express: KiHa 58KiHa 65
Limited Express: KiHa 181
Non-revenue: KiYa 191
Hybrid BEMUs Commuter: DGBC2
JR Central rolling stock
Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: N700N700S
DC EMUs Commuter: 211213311313315
Limited Express: 285373383
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 11KiHa 25KiHa 75
Limited Express: HC85
Non-revenue: KiYa 95KiYa 97
Withdrawn AC EMUs Shinkansen: 0100300700
Non-revenue Shinkansen: 922923955
DC EMUs Commuter: 12103105113115117119123
Limited Express: 165371381
Non-revenue: 90145193
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 30KiHa 40
Express: KiHa 58KiHa 65
Limited Express: KiHa 80KiHa 85
Future DC EMUs Limited Express: 385
Maglevs Maglev: L0
Proposed AC EMUs Shinkansen: Super Hikari Model
JR Kyushu rolling stock
Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: N700N700S800
Commuter: 713811813815817821
Limited Express: 783787883885
DC EMUs Commuter: 103303305
Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 415
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 40KiHa 125KiHa 200
Limited Express: KiHa 71KiHa 72KiHa 183-1000KiHa 185
Charter: KiHa 125-400
Non-revenue: BE220
AC BEMUs Commuter: BEC819
Hybrid MUs Commuter: YC1
Withdrawn AC EMUs Commuter: 715717
Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 457475
Limited Express: 485
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 20KiHa 31KiHa 35KiHa 45
Express: KiHa 58KiHa 65KiHa 66
JR Hokkaido rolling stock
Active AC EMUs Shinkansen: H5
Commuter: 721731733735737
Limited Express: 785789
DMUs Commuter: H100KiHa 40KiHa 54KiHa 141KiHa 150KiHa 201
Limited Express: KiHa 261KiHa 281KiHa 283
Non-revenue: KiYa 291
Withdrawn AC EMUs Commuter: 711
Limited Express: 781
Dual-current EMUs Limited Express: 485583
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 22KiHa 45KiHa 130
Express: KiHa 56
Limited Express: KiHa 80KiHa 183 series(KiHa 183-5000KiHa 183-5100KiHa 183-5200)
Non-revenue: KiHa 160KiHa 285
Future Fuel cell MUs Commuter: Unclassified
JR Shikoku rolling stock
Active DC EMUs Commuter: 1131215000600070007200
Limited Express: 80008600
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 32KiHa 40KiHa 54100012001500
Limited Express: KiHa 1852000N200026002700
Withdrawn DC EMUs Commuter: 111
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 20KiHa 35KiHa 45
Express: KiHa 57KiHa 58KiHa 65
Limited Express: KiHa 181
Future Hybrid MUs Commuter: Unclassified
JR Group motive power
JNR Diesel prototype DB10DC10DC11DD10
4-axle diesel DD11DD12DD13DD14DD15DD16DD17DD20DD21DD40DD41DD42DD50DD51DD53DD54DD90DD91DD92DD93
5-axle diesel DE10DE11DE15DE50
6-axle diesel DF40DF41DF50DF90DF91 (gen 1)DF91 (gen 2)DF92DF93
Shinkansen 911912
Narrow-gauge diesel Ke DB10Ke DB11
Early 2/4-axle freight electric AB10EB10ED10ED11ED12ED13ED14ED15ED16ED17ED18 (gen 1)ED18 (gen 2)ED19ED23ED24
Early 4-axle passenger electric ED50ED51ED52ED53ED54ED55ED56ED57
Early 6-axle freight electric EF10EF11EF12EF13EF14EF15EF16EF18
Early 6-axle passenger electric EF20EF50EF51EF52EF53EF54EF55EF56EF57EF58EF59HEF10HEF50
Early 8-axle electric EH10EH50HEH50HEH150
Early Abt rack rail electric EC40ED40ED41ED42
Acquired from private railways ED20ED21ED22ED25 (gen 1)ED25 (gen 2)ED26 (gen 1)ED26 (gen 2)ED27 (gen 1)ED27 (gen 2)ED28 (gen 1)ED28 (gen 2)ED29 (gen 1)ED29 (gen 2)ED30 (gen 1)ED31ED32ED33ED34ED35ED36ED37ED38Ke ED10DeKi 1RoKo 1DeKi 501RoKo 1000
DC 4-axle ED60ED61ED62ED63ED95
AC 4-axle ED44ED45ED70ED71ED72ED73ED74ED75ED76ED77ED78ED79ED90ED91ED93ED94
DC 6-axle EF60EF61EF62EF63EF64EF65EF66EF67EF90
AC 6-axle EF70EF71
Dual-current ED30 (gen 2)ED46ED92EF30EF80EF81
Other AH100
JR Group Dual-current electric ED500EF500EF510EH500
DC electric EF200EF210EH200
DC EMU M250
AC electric EH800
Diesel DD18DD19DB500DD200DF200ENR-1000
Hybrid HD300
Railway Technical Research Institute rolling stock
Active DC BEMUs LH02
Dual-current EMUs FGT-9000
Fuel cell MUs R291
Withdrawn Dual-current EMUs 497GCT01GCT01-200
Maglev ML100ML500ML500RMLU001MLU002MLU002NMLX01
JGR/JNR rolling stock
JGR Wooden-bodied EMUs Commuter: 963625062606280628563006310634033400335004320063100
Steel-bodied EMUs Commuter: 303132334042505162637072
Express: 5280
Non-revenue EMUs Non-revenue: 793
DMUs Constant mesh gearbox: KiHa 01KiHa 04KiHa 07KiHa 5000KiHa 40000
Diesel-electric: KiHaNi 36450KiHa 43000KiHa 44000
Miscellaneous: KiSaHa 04
Miscellaneous Steam railcar: HoJi 6005
JNR AC EMUs Shinkansen: 0100200
Non-revenue Shinkansen: 9229259419519619621000
Commuter: 711713715717
Limited Express: 781
Non-revenue: 791
DC EMUs Commuter: 101103105111113115117119121123201203205207211213301
Limited Express: 151153155157159161165167169181183185189381
Conversions: 1101112
Non-revenue: 141143145147191193
Proposed: 187
Dual-current EMUs Commuter: 413415417419
Limited Express: 451453455457471473475481483485489581583
Non-revenue: 212290441443493495591
DMUs Commuter: KiHa 08KiHa 10KiHa 15KiHa 20KiHa 31KiHa 32KiHa 35KiHa 37KiHa 38KiHa 40KiHa 45KiHa 54KiHa 66
Express: KiHa 55KiHa 56KiHa 57KiHa 58KiHa 60KiHa 65KiHa 90
Limited Express: KiHa 80KiHa 181KiHa 183KiHa 185
Non-revenue: KiYa 191
GTLs Non-revenue: KiHa 391
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