The Shiranui (lit. "unknown flame") was an extremely short-lived charter-only service run by a converted KiHa 58 series diesel multiple unit operated by the Kyushu Railway Company from August 1993 to June 1994.
History[]
The Shiranui was an early Joyful Train consisting of a single two-car set converted from JR Kyushu KiHa 58 and 28 series cars. The cars selected for the conversion were KiHa 58 190 and KiHa 28 2436; both were repurposed cars from previous Joyful Train sets, specifically from the Joyful Train Ōita and Utopia sets respectively. The set entered service in 21 August 1993 and was the last ever train designated officially by JR Kyushu as a Joyful Train to enter service. The set would be used for special services and similar events before it was withdrawn from service in June 1994 with the withdrawal of all of JR Kyushu's Joyful Trains and the cars subsequently sent for scrap; the set had an extremely short service life of just 8 months, one of the shortest service lives for a Joyful Train on record. The set was based at Kumamoto Depot during its short service life. No cars have been preserved.
Design[]
The Shiranui featured the same general design as the KiHa 58 series cars they were converted from. The set featured a white base coat with gray accents and the word "Shiranui" in a squared-off font adorning the front. As the cars were converted from two different Joyful Trains, they feature slightly different end cab designs.
Construction is of steel. Performance statistics are largely identical to that of the KiHa 58 series cars these were converted from. It is not clear what interior modifications were done to both cars, but it can be assumed that both cars retained the interiors of the respective trains they were converted from.
