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The KiHa 56 series is a low-capacity commuter diesel multiple unit operated initially by the Japanese National Railways and later by the Hokkaido Railway Company from 1961 to 2002. In essence, these were a variant of the KiHa 58 series cars that were optimized for use in cold weather.

History[]

In the 1950s, most express trains were locomotive-hauled and were usually slow compared to diesel railcars in other regions. Cars manufactured for use in Hokkaido were usually not manufactured in large quantities as they required special equipment for them to be cold and snow resistant; as such, the number of trains in Hokkaido was usually insufficient, with transport usually tight in those areas.

While the recent KiHa 55 series cars were highly successful and built a network of semi-express train lines throughout Japan, they were not optimized for use in cold climates. The cars did see some use in Hokkaido, but were quickly returned to Honshū during the winter as measures for the cars to resist the cold were not taken, and a long string of KiHa 22 series cars would be used instead. As such, it became clear that a new set of cars had to be built.

Alongside the production of the KiHa 58 series cars were the KiHa 56 series cars, intended for use in Hokkaido's harsh wintry climate. The cars began service in 1961 alongside the KiHa 58 series cars, and were often run in express services along the region. The introduction of the KiHa 56 series cars was well-received, for they had higher speeds and better ride comfort than the steam locomotive-hauled trains which were mainstream at the time in Hokkaido.

The cars were a mainstay in Hokkaido service until about 1981, when they began becoming surplus due to the introduction of newer and better cars, such as the KiHa 183 series; these were then slowly scrapped. When JNR was privatized, ownership of the remaining cars was assumed by JR Hokkaido. By 2002, all cars were withdrawn. A total of 11 cars are preserved throughout Japan.

Design[]

The KiHa 56 series use a squared-off design similar to many other railcars of the time, featuring dual top-mounted sealed beam headlights. The cars are painted with a Cream No.4 "Wheat" base coat with Red No.4 "Scarlet" accents, the standard livery for JNR's diesel express cars.

Specifications[]

Construction is of steel. Compared to the KiHa 58 series cars, the KiHa 56 series cars feature smaller side windows, a parallel-connected underfloor hot water radiator, wooden flooring as opposed to linoleum or steel plates and hot water pipes as anti-freeze measures for important equipment. The KiHa 56 series cars are equipped with a 178 HP (180 PS) DMH17H prime mover, with power transmitted through a Niigata Converter hydraulic transmission.

Preservation[]

The following KiHa 56 series cars have been preserved:

Car number Manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Previous sets Location Notes
KiHa 56 23 Niigata Tekkō October 1961 March 1987 N/A Otaru City General Museum, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan Displayed outdoors, coupled to other two cars located in establishment
KiHa 27 11 Tokyu Car Corporation March 1961 Displayed outdoors, only preserved car with prototype body cross-section, coupled to other two cars located in establishment
KiRo 26 107 Teikoku Sharyō March 1966 Displayed outdoors, coupled to other two cars located in establishment
KiHa 27 23 Tokyu Car Corporation March 1962 February 1987 Mikasa Railway Memorial Hall, Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan Displayed outdoors
KiRo 26 104 Teikoku Sharyō April 1965
KiHa 56 16 Niigata Tekkō October 1961
KiHa 27 36 Tokyu Car Corporation April 1962 March 1988 Kitami, Hokkaido, Japan Privately owned, painted all-over white; poor cosmetic condition
KiHa 27 109 Teikoku Sharyō April 1965 March 1990 Former Kami-Okoppe Station, Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido, Japan Displayed outdoors
KiHa 27 113 November 1965 March 1987 Tokoro, Hokkaido, Japan Painted all-over navy blue, acts as insectarium
KiHa 27 551 Niigata Tekkō March 1968 March 2001 Okuhida Garden Hotel Yakedake, Takayama, Japan Ex-KiHa 27 203, painted blue with golden stripe
KiHa 27 552 September 1968 Ex-KiHa 27 208, painted blue with golden stripe
KiHa 56 201 June 1968 October 1995 Hokkaido Railway Technology Museum, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan Cab only
KiHa 56 209 September 1968 Takeda Ranch, Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan Privately owned, won by owner of ranch in auction in 2002; formerly stored at Naebo Works

The following KiHa 56 series cars were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:

Car number Manufacturer Date manufactured Date retired Previous sets Last location Notes
KiHa 56 202 Niigata Tekkō June 1968 October 2001 N/A Goryōkaku Rolling Stock Depot, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan One of the last operational KiHa 56 series cars, stored on scrap line; removed November 2006 and scrapped
KiHa 56 204 One of the last operational KiHa 56 series cars, stored on scrap line; removed November 2006 and scrapped, cab sectioned and placed on display, removed 2016
KiHa 56 211 Fuji Heavy Industries August 1968 One of the last operational KiHa 56 series cars, stored on scrap line; removed October 2016 and scrapped
KiHa 27 53 Teikoku Sharyō October 1962 December 1986 Tsukigata, Hokkaido, Japan Converted into onsen bathhouse; removed circa 2010 and scrapped
KiHa 27 106 Tokyu Car Corporation November 1963
KiHa 27 55 Teikoku Sharyō October 1962 February 1987 Memorial Ship Hakkōda-maru, Aomori, Japan Used as resting space outside ship; removed 2012 and scrapped
KiHa 27 117 December 1965
KiHa 27 118
KiHa 56 552 Niigata Tekkō April 1967 October 2001 Mori, Hokkaido, Japan Ex-KiHa 56 145, acted as Drive-In Yamaroku restaurant; removed circa 2009 and scrapped
KiHa 56 551 December 1965 March 2001 Date, Hokkaido, Japan Ex-KiHa 56 124, dumped at a waste disposal company; removed and scrapped at later date
KiHa 27 108 Teikoku Sharyō April 1965 December 1991 Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan Dumped at a waste disposal company; removed and scrapped at later date
KiHa 27 111
KiHa 27 204 Niigata Tekkō September 1968 July 1997 Teine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan Privately owned, last sighted May 2006; removed and scrapped at later date
KiHa 56 119 May 1965
KiHa 56 123 December 1965
KiHa 56 129 April 1966
KiHa 27 24 Tokyu Car Corporation March 1962 March 1987 Esashi, Hokkaido, Japan Used as classroom; scrapped in early-2000s
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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