JNR KiHa 20 series

Data (as of 29 Feb 2024)

History

KiHa 20 series consists of various types, including KiHa 20 (as a type) and KiHa 52 as well as mail and parcel trains. The KiHa 20 series was developed by Japanese National Railways mostly for rural lines. At the time of introduction, the series were powerful, reliable and big enough to carry passengers on longer journeys. They were designed effectively as a suburban type, but JNR used some of them for express services as well. More than a thousand carriages were introduced to various lines across the country, from Hokkaido to Kyushu. It is not well known that the KiHa 20 were also operated in Tokyo until the 1980s. 38 more carriages of the series were ordered by small private railways, mostly in Hokkaido (which no longer exist as coal mines were closed). The KiHa 20 series is considered to be one of the most popular diesel train among railway enthusiasts, because of iconic style and liveries.

Withdrawal commenced before the privatisation of JNR, and most carriages of the series were scrapped by 1993. However, some KiHa 52 remained far longer than expected, as they had two engines to climb mountains, and they were used on unprofitable lines. JR East used them until 2009, while JR West retained them until 2010.

Some of those deregistered from JNR or JR companies were transferred to private railways such as Kashima Rinkai Railway, Mizushima Rinkai Railway and Tsugaru Railway, but most of them have already retired. A few of them are preserved across the country, including static display.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

Currently, a KiHa 20 runs on Hitachinaka Seaside Railway and a KiHa 52 runs on Isumi Railway. Both are de facto preserved trains in the Greater Tokyo Area.

Hitachinaka Seaside Railway uses the KiHa 20 on the entire line. It often ran at weekends until before the pandemic, but it mostly stays at a depot since 2021. It is effectively for a few group tours only, and its retirement is imminent.

Isumi Railway uses the KiHa 52 at weekends and holidays. It was used along with KiHa 28 until its retirement. It will be withdrawn from regular weekend services in March 2024 but will remain operational for a while. KiHa 52's large-scale overhaul took place in 2020, indicating that it can run until 2024.

Photos

In the 1980s, JNR painted diesel trains to vermilion and grey, to reduce costs. It is sometimes called "Tarako" (pollock roe) livery by enthusiasts.

KiHa 20 of Hitachinaka Seaside Railway is painted in the original livery (JNR Standard Livery for Diesel Trains), though looks yellowish.

Mizushima Rinkai Railway in Okayama Prefecture had been known for using the KiHa 20 series everyday. They retired in 2013, but one of them is preserved.