The Utopia (rendered as "Yu~Topia" on headboards) was a fairly short-lived charter-only service run by a converted KiHa 58 series diesel multiple unit operated initially by the Japanese National Railways and later by the Kyushu Railway Company from March 1987 to 1993. Despite similar names, this set is not to be confused with the YUTopia set operated by JR West.
History[]
The Utopia 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 58 140 and KiHa 28 2436, both of which came from the fleet of just-retired Rakuda sets. The set entered service in March 1987 prior to JNR's privatization and division; after privatization, ownership of the set was assumed by the newly-formed JR Kyushu. The set would be used for special services and similar events before it was withdrawn from service in 1993 and scrapped; KiHa 28 2436 would be converted a final time into one half of the two-car Shiranui set, while the other car was scrapped.
Design[]
The Utopia featured the same general design as the KiHa 58 series cars they were converted from. The set featured a white base coat with orange accents and red highlights. The word "Utopia" is splashed on the sides of the cars. The cab features a larger windshield allowing passengers to see ahead.
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 two cars featured different types of seating; one with Japanese style seating (likely tatami or kōtatsus) and another with western-style seating.
