KiHa 38

The KiHa 38 (キハ38) is a Japanese diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type introduced by the Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1986. These are converted from ageing KiHa 35's to come up for the modernization through conversion into a new rolling stock before it was privatized in 1987.

KiHa 38
KiHa 38-2 & KiHa 38-1003 on the Kururi Line in 2010
In service1986present (Japan)
2014–present (Myanmar)
ManufacturerFuji Heavy Industries
ReplacedKiHa 35
Constructed19651966 (as KiHa 35)
Entered service1986
Refurbished19861987
Number built7 vehicles
Number in service1 vehicle (as of 2020) in Japan
4 vehicles (as of 2020) in Myanmar
Number preserved1 vehicle
Formation2/3/4 cars per trainset (JNR/JR East)
1 car multiple working DMU (Mizushima Rinkai Railway)
4/5 cars per trainset (Myanmar Railways)
Operator(s)JNR (19861987)
JR East (19872012)
Mizushima Rinkai Railway (2014present)
Myanmar Railways (2014present)
Depot(s)Kisarazu, Yangon
Line(s) servedHachiko Line, Kawagoe Line, Kururi Line, Mizushima Main Line, Yangon Circular Railway
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in)
Width2,929 mm (9 ft 7.3 in)
Doors3 per side[1]
Prime mover(s)DMF14-HZ
Multiple workingKiHa 30, KiHa 37[1]
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

After the JNR was privatised in 1987, all seven cars were transferred to JR East.

No KiHa 38s remain in service since they ceased operation on the Kururi Line in December 2012, along with the last KiHa 30 also retired by JR East on the same year, which got replaced by the new KiHa E130s on the same line.

In 2014, five cars were transferred to Myanmar Railways, and one car was transferred to Mizushima Rinkai Railway which entered service in May 2014.

Operations

JR East

Mizushima Rinkai Railway

Myanmar Railways

Withdrawal and resale

Mizushima Rinkai Railway

In 2014, KiHa 38 1004 was transferred to the Mizushima Rinkai Railway and was renumbered to KiHa 38 103.[2] It entered service on 12 May 2014.[3]

Myanmar Railways

Five former KiHa 38 railcars were shipped to Myanmar to be operated by Myanmar Railways in August 2014.[4] They entered service in 2014.[5]

The following cars were transferred to Myanmar:

Former numberRBE body number by Myanmar Railways
KiHa 38-2RBE 25101
KiHa 38-3RBE 25102
KiHa 38-4RBE 25103
KiHa 38-1001RBE 25104
KiHa 38-1002RBE 25105

Preserved examples

  • KiHa 38 1: preserved at Isumi Poppo-no-oka.[6]

References

  1. "千葉県のJR久留里線、引退直前の旧型気動車(その3) - キハ38形" [Chiba prefecture's JR Kururi Line, old railcar just before retirement (Part 3) - Kiha 38 type]. news.mynavi.jp (in Japanese). Mynavi Corporation. December 1, 2012. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  2. "キハ30,キハ37,キハ38の6両が水島臨海鉄道へ" [6 KiHa 30, KiHa 37, KiHa 38 to Mizushima Rinkai Railway]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  3. 「キハ37、38、30形式」の運転開始について [Start of KiHa 30 / 37 / 38 operations]. mizurin.co.jp (in Japanese). Japan: Mizushima Rinkai Railway news release. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  4. "ミャンマー国鉄元 JR東日本キハ38形". 2427junction.com. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  5. "【ミャンマー国鉄】キハ38ミャンマーで運転開始" [(Myanmar National Railways) Kiha 38 start operation in Myanmar]. rail.hobidas.com (in Japanese). Neko Publishing. September 16, 2014. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  6. "いすみポッポの丘がリニューアルオープン" [Isumi Poppo no oka is reopened]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. March 22, 2020. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
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