KiHa 32 series

The KiHa 32 series is a low-capacity commuter diesel multiple unit initially operated by the Japanese National Railways and later the Shikoku Railway Company since March 1987.
==History==
The KiHa 32 series was developed to replace older diesel railcars currently in service on JNR lines in Shikoku as well as to strengthen JNR's diesel fleet; the KiHa 20 series cars in use at the time were predicted to reduce the strength of JNR's fleet due to their obsolescence. Fuji Heavy Industries and Niigata Tekkō were thus tasked to manufacture the cars, of which 21 cars were manufactured, all in 1987; these were some of the last diesel railcars produced for the JNR before its eventual privatization.
Commercial operation for the cars began on 6 March 1987. After JNR's privatization, ownership of the 21 cars was assumed by JR Shikoku; no additional cars were manufactured after JNR's privatization. Wanman operation began in 1988. The cars were assigned to Matsuyama, Tokushima and Kochi Depots; all cars remain in service. They currently operate on the Yosan, Uchiko, Yodo and Dosan Lines.
KiHa 32 3 and 32 4 were converted in 2011 and 2014 respectively to become the Kaiyodo Hobby Train and Tetsudo Hobby Train respectively; both cars are tie-ins with Japanese toy manufacturers. The Kaiyodo Hobby Train is a tie-in with Japanese toy manufacturer Kaiyodo and the Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto, with various Kaiyodo figures displayed inside the railcar; the Tetsudo Hobby Train is a tie-in with Japanese toy manufacturer Takara Tomy, with various motorized trains on display inside the railcar. 
Both cars also received cosmetic changes for their exterior; the Kaiyodo Hobby Train received a complex livery based on Kaiyodo's figures, while the Tetsudo Hobby Train received a livery and a false front cab extension mimicking that of the 0 Series Shinkansen. Said extension is only present on one side of the car; the other side only received a livery mimicking the nose of the 0 Series Shinkansen rather than a full frontal nose extension. This was done to allow for multiple operation. The car also received the two-tone horn used by the Shinkansen.
===KiKuHa 32 series===
Two KiKuHa 32 series cars, KiKuHa 32-501 and 32-502, were manufactured in 1997 and 2003 respectively by Niigata Tekkō and Niigata Transys to act as trolley trains; these are largely identical to the KiHa 32 series cars but feature an open-air design with no full-height windows or air conditioning. Both cars also do not feature prime movers, so they are often towed by KiHa 185 series cars when they have to be used. 32-501 and 32-502 currently operate as the Ai Yoshinogawa Minecart and the Anpanman Torokko respectively.
==Design==
The KiHa 32 series use a squared-off design similar to many other railcars of the time, with dual headlights in either square or rounded sealed beam fixtures mounted under the front windows; the headlight shape is dependent on the manufacturer. The cars are painted with a white base coat with blue accents; these were originally painted with a white base coat with orange accents.
===Cab variations===
KiHa 32 5 2020.jpg|KiHa 32 5 in December 2020
KiHa 32 3 2021.jpg|Tetsudo Hobby Train in March 2021, showing fake frontal nose extension
KiKuHa 32 502 2021.jpg|Anpanman Torokko in June 2021
==Specifications==
Construction is of steel; while these cars were manufactured around the same time as the KiHa 31 and KiHa 54 series cars, the KiHa 32 series cars use steel to save costs. The cars are of a dual cab design and can be operated in single car units. Many parts from scrapped trains, such as seats, bogies, transmissions, doors and air conditioning are used to save costs. The cars also use parts originally intended for use on buses to decrease costs even further. The cars feature bench seating. The design of the cars allow easy installation of equipment for Wanman operation. The cars are designed based on JR's specifications of diesel railcars used on third-sector railroads.
The KiHa 32 series cars are equipped with a DMF13HS prime mover producing 247 HP (250 PS); this is actually a Niigata Tekkō prime mover produced under license. This same prime mover is used in the KiHa 31 series cars manufactured around the same time. An existing hydraulic transmission from scrapped railcars is also used, but features a strengthened clutch. Due to a number of design changes, such as weight reduction of the car bodies and the engine, the cars can accelerate at a speed nearly equivalent to that of a two-car KiHa 58 series consist.
Category:Diesel trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Fuji Heavy Industries locomotives
Category:Niigata Tekkō locomotives