KiHa 130 series

The KiHa 130 series was a low-capacity Japanese diesel multiple unit operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company from November 1988 to June 2001.
==History==
Built from 1988 to 1989 by Niigata Tekkō (now Niigata Transys), the KiHa 130 series cars were introduced as low-cost lightweight diesel railcars that could deal with the increased demand for rail transport in rural areas, in addition to replacing older diesel railcars such as the KiHa 22 and KiHa 40-100 series cars. The cars are identical to the Hokkaido Chihoku Kōgen CR70 and CR75 series railcars also produced by Niigata Tekkō around the same time.
The eleven cars produced were used exclusively on the Hidaka Main Line from their introduction on said line on 3 November 1988; they were stationed at Tomakomai Depot. While the cars did help to speed up train travel on the Hidaka Main Line as well as helping to streamline service, the cars were disliked by commuters due to their small interiors. The cars were also noted for being extremely lightweight, with two cars being heavily damaged in accidents with level crossings in 1991 and 1996 respectively; car KiHa 130-5, the victim of the 1996 accident, was so badly damaged it was considered to be irreparable with most parts of the car scrapped on site. The car was then replaced with KiHa 160 series car KiHa 160-1 and abandoned at a snowdump in Teine, Sapporo along with numerous other retired diesel railcars. Despite dislike from commuters, the cars were progressively given refurbishments such as cab reinforcement, PA system and an announcement system from 1992 to 1996.
Retirements began in August 1998, with all but one car, KiHa 130-8, withdrawn from regular service in 2000, their body structure and construction materials being poorly-suited for use in Hokkaido's climate, in addition to deterioration due to aging. KiHa 130-8 would be painted in a Hidaka Pony paint scheme and was used for additional services on the Hidaka Main Line until it was withdrawn from service on 17 June 2001. No new diesel railcars were produced to replace the KiHa 130 series sets, with older KiHa 40 series cars being used to replace the KiHa 130 series cars. This meant that the KiHa 130 series cars were replaced by the railcars they were intended to replace. All were struck from the register by 2003; the KiHa 130 series was the first train type introduced by the JR Group to be retired from service.
No KiHa 130 series cars have been preserved.
==Design==
The cars were based on Niigata Tekkō's NDC series of diesel railcars, so design language carries over. The cars are painted white with green accents; Hidaka graphics are seen on the sides of the cars.
==Specifications==
Construction was of steel. Each car was 15.8 meters long. The cars all use DMF13HS prime movers which generate 250 PS (247 HP, 184 kW).
==Preservation==
The following KiHa 130 series cars were preserved in the past but have since been scrapped:
Car number	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Previous sets	Last location 	Notes
KiHa 130-5	Niigata Tekkō	October 1988 	February 1996	N/A 	Teine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan 	Involved in level crossing accident, abandoned at snowdump with numerous parts removed, last sighted 2008; scrapped after that date
KiHa 130-8	Niigata Tekkō	June 1990 	June 2001 	N/A 	Tomakomai Station, Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan	Last operational car, painted in special Hidaka Pony paintscheme, stored near Tomakomai Station after retirement; scrapped 2007
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Diesel trainsets
Category:Niigata Tekkō locomotives