Salon Express Arcadia

Salon Express Arcadia
The set circa 1987
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	JNR's Niitsu Works
Type of locomotive	Diesel multiple unit
Family name	Joyful Train
Constructed	1987
Number built	3 cars (1 set)
Dimensions	21,470 mm × 2,944 mm × 4,085 mm
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Prime mover	DMH17H prime mover
Service information
In service	April 1987 – 30 March 1988
Formation	3 cars per set
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	KiRo 59 508 – KiRo 59 509, KiRo 29 505
Scrapped	1988
Preservation information
Preserved	None
Number scrapped	1 car

The Salon Express Arcadia was an extremely short-lived charter-only service run by a converted KiHa 58 series diesel multiple unit operated by the West Japan Railway Company from April 1987 to March 1988.

History

The Salon Express Arcadia was conceived in the 1980s as a Joyful Train with a "relaxing, European style". The set was intended to be used in the Niigata area. JNR's Niitsu Works was thus assigned to convert surplus KiHa 58 series cars into a charter train. Niitsu Works decided to take KiHa 58 626, 28 2010 and 58 650 and convert them into a new train; the cars received the numbers KiRo 59 508, KiRo 29 505 and KiRo 59 509 respectively. Rebuilding and refurbishment works were completed on 30 March 1987.

The resulting train was named the Salon Express Arcadia; despite the fact that the train was rebuilt into this set during JNR's final days, the set did not actually enter service until JNR was privatized and split into seven companies, theoretically making this JR East's first Joyful Train. The train entered service in April 1987 and would be stationed at Niigata Depot, being used for services around the area.

The train's service life came to an end on 30 March 1988, when a catastrophic failure occurred when the exhaust pipe of KiRo 59 508 overheated while traveling through the Arashimizu Tunnel, setting the entire train on fire. The train made an emergency stop, with the fire put out; the damage was deemed too great to repair and the cab car was scrapped on the spot while the other two cars were withdrawn with immediate effect, putting an end to the service life of the set, which lasted barely a year. This incident has since been dubbed "The Arcadia Incident".

After the incident, Isamu Yamashita, JR East's president at the time, ordered an investigation into this incident. Having received a report, he requested for a blueprint of the DMH17H prime movers powering the set, and was livid to find out that the prime movers on the train were using prewar technology and was dubbed unsafe by him. Shortly after, he ordered the replacement of all DMH17H prime movers on all existing trains with immediate effect; all were replaced by 1992.

After the two cars were withdrawn from service, an additional car, KiHa 58 1505, was rebuilt and added to the two-car consist. The train would then be renamed Kenji, with the Arcadia's cars being renumbered back to their original numbers. For further information about the Kenji, please read its article.

Design

The Arcadia featured a streamlined design with a backwards-raked front end. The cars featured a "high decker" design with a lowered driver's cab so passengers can see the tracks ahead. The train was painted with a red base coats with blue accents and white highlights; the red evokes the snow camellia, the blue the Sea of Japan and the white evoking snow. The windshield was made out of six pieces of glass with a wiper on each one. The colors used on the set are identical to the Niigata Colors used on 115 series cars in the area but with some changes to the color palette.

Specifications

Main article: KiHa 58 series

Construction is of steel. Performance statistics are largely identical to that of the KiHa 58 series cars these were converted from; this article will still detail some additional statistics about the cars.

The front of the set features a design that is extremely similar to that of the Alpha Continental Express and YUTopia Joyful Train sets. The set featured single-piece windows instead of opening ones and fitted draw curtains to each window. The cars featured a "high decker" portion, with eight pairs of reclining and rotating seats. Between the "high decker" and general guest cabins, baggage compartments and AV equipment were installed. The general guest cabins of the lead car also feature a "high decker" structure, with a multi-channel stereo system for each of the cars; earbuds and an integrated remote control in the armrest were provided. The interior was done in a green color scheme.

The intermediate car, KiRo 29 505, featuring a completely carpeted floor of a lavish design. Shoes were not allowed in this car, so shoe racks were installed at the entrance and exit doors. 24 mini sofas and a table were also present as furniture, but these could be rearranged on an event-to-event basis. The interior color scheme for this car was brown.

JR East Joyful Trains
Active	Locomotive hauled	Banetsu Monogatari
	Dual-current EMU	Nagomi
	DMU	High Rail 1375 • Koshino Shu∗Kura • Oykot • Pokémon with You Train • Resort Shirakami: Kumagera • TOHOKU EMOTION • View Coaster Kazekko
	Hybrid	Hinabi • Kairi • Resort View Furusato • Resort Shirakami: Aoike • Resort Shirakami: Buna • Satono
Withdrawn	Locomotive-hauled	Edo • Fureai • Fureai Michinoku • Kutsurogi • Nagoyaka • Orient Saloon • Ozashiki Ressha • Roman • Salon Express Tokyo • Shirakaba • SL Ginga • Super Express Rainbow • Yasuragi • Yutori
	AC EMU	FruiTea Fukushima • Genbi Shinkansen • Toreiyu Tsubasa
	DC EMU	Alpha • Ayano • Izu Craile • Nanohana • Panorama Express Alps • Shikisai • Shuttle Maihama
	Dual-current EMU	Hana • Irodori • Kirakira Uetsu • New Nanohana • NO.DO.KA • Resort Express Yū • Resort Yamadori • Seseragi • Sylphide • Utage • Yamanami • Zipangu
	DMU	Akita Cruise • Carpet Sha • Cruising Train • Edelweiss • Elegance Acky • Furusato • Gracia • Kenji • Kira Kira Michinoku • Kogane • Obako • Resort Minori • Resort Umineko • Salon Express Arcadia • Umineko
	Hybrid	Resort Asunaro