KiHa 35 series

The KiHa 35 series, along with the similar KiHa 30 and KiHa 36 series, are a family of diesel multiple units operated by the Japanese National Railways and its various successor companies from December 1961 to December 2012.
==History==
Built from 1961 to 1966 by Fuji Heavy Industries (now known as Subaru Corporation), Niigata Tekkō (now known as Niigata Transys), Nippon Sharyo, Teikoku Sharyō (now defunct) and Tokyu Car Corporation (now known as J-TREC), the KiHa 35 series was originally used as a "commuter" diesel railcar for high-density services.
The 413 cars produced were inherited by almost all of JR's divisions; first introduced to commuter lines such as the Kawagoe, Sagami, Nara, Sakurai and Kansai Main Lines, electrification of said lines prompted reallocation of the cars to more remote parts of the country - regions towards which they have been rather ill-suited due to their uncomfortable longitudinal seating layout. In their later years, some cars were transferred to third-sector operators such as the Kantō Railway and the Mizushima Rinkai Railway, where they still see service today.
As most of these diesel railcars were operational for over 50 years, they were quickly replaced by newer railcars until the last three cars, KiHa 30 62, 30 98 and 30 100, owned by JR East and used on the Kururi Line, were retired from service on 1 December 2012. Car KiHa 30 100 has since been transferred to the Mizushima Rinkai Railway in 2014 for revenue service during morning and evening peaks, along with 30 98 which serves as a spare part donor.
==Variants==
The KiHa 35 series is the basic, single-cab design with toilets; the KiHa 35-0 series is the warm weather variant of which 217 have been built, while the KiHa 35-500 series cars are cold weather variants. The ten 35-900 cars are built by Tokyu Car Corporation from stainless steel using technology licensed from Budd. The KiHa 36 series cars are single-cab cars without toilets.
The KiHa 30 series cars have a double-cab design without toilets. Two sub-series exist; the KiHa 30-0 and KiHa 30-500 series cars. The KiHa 30-0 series cars are used in warm environments, while the KiHa 30-500 series cars have modifications that allow them to operate in harsh conditions such as the cold.
The KiHa 35-300 and KiKuHa 35-300 series cars are modified KiHa 35 units for use on the then-unelectrified Wadamisaki spur line, a high-capacity commuter shuttle line. Both sub-types feature additional standing space and additional doors on one side; KiKuHa 35-300 series cars are converted into unpowered cab cars to minimize maintenance costs.
KiHa 38 series cars are rebodied and re-engined KiHa 35 series cars.
==Design==
The cars are distinguished by multiple adaptations to commuter operations, such as a high-capacity, longitudinal seating layout, external sliding doors and lighter weight, as well as their boxy appearance and, on most examples, front reinforcement panels.
The KiHa 35-900 series cars were designed using a design under license from the Budd Company.
==Specifications==
Construction is of steel, though some sub-variants of the series used stainless steel construction. Each car is 20 meters long and 2.929 meters wide. Originally DMH17 engines were used on all units, while Cummins DMF14HZ engines have been swapped into the three Kururi Line examples.
==Preservation==
The following KiHa 35 series cars have been preserved:
Car number 	Manufacturer 	Date manufactured	Date retired 	Previous sets	Location 	Notes
KiHa 30 15 	Niigata Tekkō 	March 1963 	February 1987 	N/A 	Railway Technical Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan 	Painted in shōnan orange; used for drivetrain testing purposes
KiHa 30 35 	Niigata Tekkō 	September 1965 	September 1996	N/A 	Ashio Station, Tochigi, Japan 	Displayed outdoors
KiHa 35 70 	Nippon Sharyo 	November 1964 	September 1996	N/A 	Ashio Station, Tochigi, Japan 	Displayed outdoors
KiHa 35 901	Tokyu Car Corporation	April 1963 	February 1987 	N/A 	Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, Gunma, Japan 	Displayed outdoors
KiHa 30 62 	Nippon Sharyo 	February 1966 	December 2012 	N/A 	Kuniyoshi Station, Chiba, Japan 	One of last three operational KiHa 35 series cars; planned to be restored to operating condition
KiHa 30 51 	Nippon Sharyo 	December 1965 	March 2008 	N/A 	Mino-Ōta Rolling Stock Depot, Gifu, Japan 	Can be viewed from roadside, not open for public viewing; poor cosmetic condition
KiHa 30 70 	Nippon Sharyo 	February 1966 	March 1990 	N/A 	Kajiya Line Ichihara Station Memorial Museum, Hyōgo, Japan	Displayed outdoors; repainted a number of times
KiHa 30 72 	Nippon Sharyo 	March 1966 	March 1990 	N/A 	Kajiya Line Ichihara Station Memorial Museum, Hyōgo, Japan	Displayed outdoors; repainted a number of times
KiHa 30 69 	Nippon Sharyo 	February 1966 	March 1990 	N/A 	Kajiya Line Ichihara Station Memorial Museum, Hyōgo, Japan	Displayed outdoors; repainted a number of times
KiHa 30 18 	Nippon Sharyo 	February 1964 	October 1996 	N/A 	Ashinomaki-Onsen Station, Fukushima, Japan 	Displayed outdoors
KiHa 30 55 	Nippon Sharyo 	February 1966 	March 1990 	N/A 	The Hirosawa City Rail Park, Ibaraki, Japan 	Displayed outdoors near various other locomotives and trainsets
KiHa 30 96 	Nippon Sharyo 	July 1966 	March 1990 	N/A 	The Hirosawa City Rail Park, Ibaraki, Japan 	Displayed outdoors near various other locomotives and trainsets
 	 	 	 	N/A 	 	
==Gallery==
File:KiHa 35 901 2023.jpg
== References ==
Category:Diesel trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Fuji Heavy Industries locomotives
Category:Niigata Tekkō locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives
Category:Teikoku Sharyō locomotives
Category:Tokyu Car locomotives
Category:Built in 1961