KiHa 52

The KiHa 52 (キハ52形, Kiha-gojūni-gata) is a Japanese diesel multiple unit (DMU) type formerly operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR); JR Group companies such as JR East, JR West, JR Shikoku & JR Kyushu; and later by the private railway operator Isumi Railway based in Chiba, Japan, by overseas operators such as Myanmar Railways in Myanmar, and the Philippine National Railways in the Philippines.

KiHa 52
KiHa 52 in old JNR two tone vermilion and beige livery
In service1958–present
Constructed1957–1966
Refurbished2020-2021 (PNR)
Number built112 vehicles
Number in service
  • 1 vehicle in Japan
  • 2 vehicles in Myanmar (as of 2020)
  • 1 vehicle in the Philippines (as of 2020)
Number preserved3 (KiHa 52-115; 52-130; 52-156)
Number scrapped105 vehicles
Successor
Formation1/2/3 cars
Fleet numbersKiHa 52 1 - 56
KiHa 52 101 - 156
Capacity88[1]
Operator(s)
Depot(s)Tutuban, Naga (PNR)
Line(s) served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length21,300 mm (69 ft 11 in)[1]
Width2,928 mm (9 ft 7.3 in)[1]
Height3,925 mm (12 ft 10.5 in)[1]
EntryStep
Doors2 single-leaf sliding doors per side
Weight35.5–36.6 t (34.9–36.0 long tons; 39.1–40.3 short tons)[1]
Prime mover(s)DMH17C/H[1]
Engine typeDiesel
Power output2 x 180 hp (130 kW) [1]
BogiesDT22
Coupling systemAAR coupler
Multiple workingVarious DMUs in Japan
PNR 900 Class
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge (Myanmar)
Notes/references
  1. Relegated to work train in 2021.

112 KiHa 52 cars were built for Japanese National Railways between 1958 and 1966. The design was based on the KiHa 20 series "general purpose" DMU type, but with two engines for use on mountainous lines.[2]

Variants
  • KiHa 52 1 – 56: Built 1958–1962[3]
  • KiHa 52 101 – 156: Built 1963–1966[3]
  • KiHa 52 651: Converted from KiHa 52 101[3]

Livery variations

JNR-era liveries
  • Two JR-West KiHa 52 cars in original JNR two-tone liveries in September 2008
    Two JR-West KiHa 52 cars in original JNR two-tone liveries in September 2008
  • KiHa 52 156 in "metropolitan" all-over red livery in August 2009
    KiHa 52 156 in "metropolitan" all-over red livery in August 2009
  • KiHa 52 125 in JNR two-tone blue & beige livery in August 2008
    KiHa 52 125 in JNR two-tone blue & beige livery in August 2008

JR-era regional liveries
  • KiHa 52 114 in JR Kyushu livery in August 1993
    KiHa 52 114 in JR Kyushu livery in August 1993
  • KiHa 52 125 in "Oito Line" livery in December 1999
    KiHa 52 125 in "Oito Line" livery in December 1999
  • JR East KiHa 52s in "Morioka" livery in August 2006
    JR East KiHa 52s in "Morioka" livery in August 2006
  • A JR East KiHa 52 in "Niigata" livery in September 2008
    A JR East KiHa 52 in "Niigata" livery in September 2008

Resale

Following withdrawal of the last remaining examples operated by JR-West, one car, KiHa 52 125, was resold to the private operator Isumi Railway in Chiba Prefecture in April 2011. This unit was built in 1965, and formerly operated on the Etsumi-Hoku Line and Ōito Line in the Hokuriku region until 2010.[2]

  • KiHa 52 125 in JNR two-tone blue & beige livery in May 2011
    KiHa 52 125 in JNR two-tone blue & beige livery in May 2011
  • KiHa 52 125 in May 2011 after repainting into original JNR two-tone vermillion & beige livery
    KiHa 52 125 in May 2011 after repainting into original JNR two-tone vermillion & beige livery

Overseas operations

Myanmar
Former JR East KiHa 52 cars at Kawasaki awaiting shipping to Myanmar in December 2007
KiHa 52-154 (5017) in 2014

Seventeen former KiHa 52 Diesel Railcars were shipped to Myanmar to be operated by Myanmar Railways between 2007 and 2008. The following cars were transferred to Myanmar as shown:

Former Body Number of JR GroupRBE Body Number by Myanmar Railways
KiHa 52-108RBE 5001
KiHa 52-109RBE 5002
KiHa 52-110RBE 5011
KiHa 52-126RBE 5003
KiHa 52-141RBE 5012
KiHa 52-143RBE 5004
KiHa 52-144RBE 5005
KiHa 52-145RBE 5006
KiHa 52-146RBE 5013
KiHa 52-147RBE 5014
KiHa 52-148RBE 5015
KiHa 52-149RBE 5016
KiHa 52-151RBE 5007
KiHa 52-152RBE 5008
KiHa 52-153RBE 5009
KiHa 52-154RBE 5017
KiHa 52-155RBE 5018

Philippines
PNR KiHa 52 Blue At Ligao Station

Seven former JR East KiHa 52 cars originally based at JR East Niitsu Transportation Zone were donated in September 2011 to the Philippine National Railways (PNR), where they were used on commuter services in the Manila area.[4] In October 2013, the trains were normally operated as two 3-car formations. The seventh car, KiHa 52 123, in Niigata livery, was taken out of service after operating for only seven months, and is stored at Tutuban Depot as a source of spare parts for the rest of the fleet.[4]

The trainsets were retired from passenger service in 2020 and they were replaced by Indonesian-built PNR 8000 class DMUs on the PNR North Main Line. KiHa 52-122 was later refurbished as the newest member of PNR's maintenance fleet in Caloocan, named the "Rescue Train" with the orange livery.[5] The other two units from the KiHa-O trainset are still in storage in Tutuban as of October 2021.[6] KiHa-B trainsets on the other hand were already retired in 2016 and Bicol trainsets were replaced by KiHa 35s.[7]

The former toilets in each car are locked out of use.[4]

Formation

During their service as commuter trains, the two three-car sets were referred to as "KiHa-O" (for orange) and "KiHa-B" (for blue) named after the liveries they carry. They were formed as shown below.[4]

 
KiHa-O 52-13752-12752-122
KiHa-B 52-10252-12052-121

Preserved examples
Preserved KiHa 52 130 in June 2010

In addition to KiHa 52 125 operated on the Isumi Railway, as of 2014 three Kiha 52 cars are preserved in Japan, as listed below.[8]

References
  1. "キハ52車両概要" (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  2. Kusamachi, Yoshikazu (29 January 2014). いすみ鉄道のキハ52、3月から「首都圏色」に [Isumi Railway's KiHa 52 to be repainted into Metropolitan Livery from March]. Response (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  3. JR全車輛ハンドブック'92 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1992]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1992. p. 296.
  4. Saito, Miko (March 2014). フィリピン国鉄南方線の日本型車両 [Japanese rolling stock on the PNR Southern Line]. The Railway Pictorial (in Japanese). 64 (887): 64–72.
  5. DEL DMU KIHA TRAIN SCENE RSM CALOOCAN SHOP. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  6. Jimena, Jared (10 October 2021). Tres Marias. Retrieved 14 October 2021. (registration required)
  7. Peadon, Brad (March 2020). Diesel Multiple & Electric Multiple Units. PNR Rolling Stock Update (Report). Vol. III.
  8. Sasada, Masahiro (25 November 2014). 国鉄&jr 保存車大全 2015-2016 国鉄&JR保存車大全2015-2016 [JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide 2015-2016] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. p. 125. ISBN 978-4863209282.
  9. ジオステーション ジオパル [Geostation Geopal]. Itoigawa Sightseeing (in Japanese). Japan: Itoigawa Sightseeing Association. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
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