KiYa 97 series

The KiYa 97 series is a non-revenue diesel multiple unit operated by the Central Japan Railway Company since April 2008 for transporting long and heavy objects by rail.
==History==
The KiYa 97 series was developed as a purpose-built self-propelled locomotive which could be used to transport large objects such as rails and pipes with power distributed throughout the entire set.
Two variants of the sets were produced; one variant for transporting shorter loads, designated R1 through R4, and another for transporting significantly longer loads, designated R101. R1 through R4 were constructed by Nippon Sharyo and completed in December 2007; they entered service in April 2008. R101 was also constructed by Nippon Sharyo and completed in March 2008; it entered service in July 2008. Both feature a different design from each other.
When not active, R1 through R4 are located at Nagoya Depot and R101 is located at Mino-Ōta Depot. Three days a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, one of the shorter-load trains travels from Inazawa Station to Nagoya Port Station, which connects to the JR Central Nagoya Materials Center via the Nagoya Port Line, a JR Freight line; from here it is coupled to a Class DE10 or a Class DD200 locomotive.
==Design==
The KiYa 97 series use a unique design featuring a raised driver's cab and long beds for transporting items. Both sets feature a significantly different appearance, with R1 through R4 featuring a squared-off driver's cab similar to the KiYa 95 series and R101 a rounded driver's cab.
==Specifications==
Construction is of steel. The KiYa 97 series cars are heavily based on the KiHa 75 series sets in terms of underfloor equipment. The Cummins prime movers used by the sets are mated to a Niigata Converter DW19R hydraulic transmission, upgraded from previous transmissions to allow for better slow speed performance.
Both types of sets are extremely different in appearance and functionality. R1 through R4 are formed into two-car units and can be coupled back to back. R101 features a significantly different appearance and composition; R101 can be operated in a consist of up to thirteen cars in length, with cars being able to be removed or inserted up to the specified length for different types of cargo.
==Gallery==
KiYa 97 R101 2023.jpg|R101 in September 2023
==See also==
*KiYa E195 series, similar type of train operated by JR East
Category:Diesel trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives