KiHa 200 series

KiHa 200 series
KiHa 200-12 in January 2020
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Niigata Tekkō, Niigata Transys, Nippon Sharyo JR Kyushu's Kokura Works (knockdown kits)
Designer(s)	Eiji Mitooka
Type of locomotive	Diesel multiple unit
Constructed	1991 – 2009
Number built	66 cars
Dimensions	21,300 mm × 2,994 mm × 4,050 mm
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Prime mover	DMF13HZA prime mover
Service information
In service	16 March 1991 – Present
Branding	Sea Side Liner 200DC 220DC
Formation	2 cars per set (KiHa 200) Single car (KiHa 220)
Number in service	64 cars
Fleet numbers	KiHa 200-1 – KiHa 200-5, KiHa 200-7 – KiHa 200-8, KiHa 200-11 – KiHa 200-14, KiHa 200-101 – KiHa 200-105, KiHa 200-501 – KiHa 200-503, KiHa 200-556, KiHa 200-559, KiHa 200-560, KiHa 200-565, KiHa 200-1001 – KiHa 200-1005, KiHa 200-1007 – KiHa 200-1008, KiHa 200-1012 – KiHa 200-1014, KiHa 200-1501 – KiHa 200-1503, KiHa 200-1556, KiHa 200-1559, KiHa 200-1560, KiHa 200-1565, KiHa 200-5007, KiHa 200-5011, KiHa 220-201 – KiHa 220-212, KiHa 220-1501 – KiHa 220-1504
Scrapped	1993, 2003
Preservation information
Preserved	N/A
Number scrapped	2 cars

The KiHa 200 series and the related KiHa 220 series are low-capacity city commuter diesel multiple units operated by the Kyushu Railway Company since March 1991, often used on Rapid services.

History

The KiHa 200 series cars were introduced in 1990, first on the Chikuhō Main Line and Sasaguri Line. The cars entered service on 13 March 1990 with the introduction of the revised timetable, where these were used on rapid services. These trains were initially named the Red Rapid due to their body color and their use. The cars were then also used for the Nanohana and Sea Side Liner Rapid services as well by 1994. A total of 70 cars were manufactured by Niigata Tekkō and its successor Niigata Transys and Nippon Sharyo from 1991 to 2009; JR Kyushu also manufactured the cars but only in knockdown kit form.

In 1997, the related KiHa 220 series cars, which were essentially single car versions of the KiHa 200 series cars, were introduced. The cars were also used on the Misumi Line and Kagoshima Main Line on some regular services but continued mainly being used for Rapid services.

The cars were then shifted around various service until 11 March 2021, when they were removed from Sasebo Depot and moved to the Ōita, Kumamoto and Kagoshima Depots. Two cars, 1007 and 1011 (both KiHa 200 series) cars, were scrapped due to incidents; 1007 was crushed due to debris flow from a rainstorm incident in 1993, while 1011 was scrapped due to an incident at a level crossing in 2003. Replacement cars, numbered 5007 and 5011, were thus manufactured by Nippon Sharyo and Niigata Transys respectively to fill in. KiHa 220-1002 was deemed inoperable due to flood damage in July 2020; after sitting out of service for three years the car was rebuilt as a dedicated track inspection car, numbered BE220-1.

Design

The KiHa 200 and 220 series feature a squarish design with dual rectangular headlights mounted under the windows. The cars are painted a variety of liveries: the original red Red Rapid livery, blue Sea Side Liner livery, yellow Nanohana livery and orange Huis Ten Bosch livery. The Huis Ten Bosch and Nanohana liveries can only be found on the KiHa 200 series sets. All liveries were designed by Don Design Associates managing director Eiji Mitooka. The KiHa 220-200 series sets feature a large three-color LED destination indicator as opposed to the small scroll-style destination indicators.

Liveries

Red Rapid red

Sea Side Liner blue

Nanohana yellow

Huis Ten Bosch orange

Specifications

Construction is of steel or stainless steel. The cars are mostly painted with the exception of the doors, which remain unpainted and have a matte finish.

The KiHa 200 series cars are equipped with a DMF13HZA prime mover producing 444 HP (450 PS); this gives the cars additional power compared to other diesel railcars of the time. Power is transmitted through a 2-stage hydraulic transmission with a concave-convex clutch; this transmission can be changed between automatic and manual.