KiHa 58 series/SoundExpress Hinokuni

The SoundExpress Hinokuni was a fairly short-lived charter-only service run by converted KiHa 58 and KiHa 65 series diesel multiple units operated initially by the Japanese National Railways and later the Kyushu Railway Company from 1986 to 1994.
==History==
The SoundExpress Hinokuni was an early Joyful Train consisting of two two-car sets converted from JR Kyushu KiHa 58, 28 and 65 series cars. The cars selected for the conversion were KiHa 58 700, 58 701, 65 61 and 28 2485; after conversion the cars did not receive any changes to their numbering. The set entered service in 1986 and would be used for special services like the Suntory Beer Express and similar events; in 1992, two cars, 58 700 and 65 61, were repainted into Huis ten Bosch colors and removed from the consist, while in 1994, the remaining two cars were repainted back into JNR colors with Cream No.4 "wheat" base coat with Red No. 4 "Scarlet" accents and used for general service. All cars were later scrapped. The set was based at Kumamoto Depot throughout its entire service life.
==Design==
The SoundExpres Hinokuni featured the same general design as the KiHa 58 series cars they were converted from. The set featured a white base coat with green accents.
==Specifications==
:Main article: KiHa 58 series, KiHa 65 series
Construction is of steel. Performance statistics are largely identical to that of the KiHa 58 series and KiHa 65 series cars these were converted from; this article will still detail some additional statistics about the cars.
The cars featured reclining seats reclaimed from scrapped Green Class cars (first class), and was equipped with a LaserDisc karaoke system. This was the first train to be equipped with a LaserDisc karaoke system, and it is from this that the train got its name of SoundExpress.
Category:Diesel trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Unique locomotives
Category:Kumamoto Works locomotives