miyakoji Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 JR Hokkaido's new KIHA285, from Higashi-Yodogawa to Ohmi-Shiotsu, courtesy of Masaharu Aono. 1 Link to comment
railsquid Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Hmm, ugly looking little thing. Link to comment
JR 500系 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 HHhmmm... it looks really squarish, with a really weird angled front... Not really liking this. The previous Kiha-283 used for the Super Oozara or Super Hokuto was much better... Link to comment
Claude_Dreyfus Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Interesting video...especially the 'chase' sequences. One question, I know the unit had the two end-boards, but should there also be a tail light? Certainly that train could not have run that way in the UK, particularly at night, without the red flashing light at the rear. Link to comment
Sacto1985 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Alas, this appears to be a one-off trainset, and will likely never run in passenger revenue service (there is talk it could be converted to a rail line inspection train). JR Hokkaido decided to standardize on KiHa 261 trainsets for many limited express services in Hokkaido, with the KiHa 281 and 283 DMU's assigned to the fastest services. 1 Link to comment
miyakoji Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Alas, this appears to be a one-off trainset, and will likely never run in passenger revenue service (there is talk it could be converted to a rail line inspection train). JR Hokkaido decided to standardize on KiHa 261 trainsets for many limited express services in Hokkaido, with the KiHa 281 and 283 DMU's assigned to the fastest services. I knew this number was familiar, but it totally slipped my mind. Prophet of the Way posted about this on the jtrains mailing list a few weeks ago. This train had a regular model number, so it seemed like a sample/demonstrator for a regular production run. Too bad, seems like it has some cool technological developments. In his email to the list, he wrote that this functionality would probably disabled or removed for its future as a maintenance of way train :(. Link to comment
miyakoji Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Here's the Tetsudou Fan news item: http://railf.jp/news/2014/09/27/201500.html Link to comment
Densha Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) So even before the prototype is actually tested, JR Hokkaido decided to discontinue the development of the whole series? Strange and wasting of money. I think I read somewhere last week that they stopped development because JR Hokkaido is short on money with the JR Hokkaido Shinkansen project going on. The KiHa 285 series was supposed to replace the KiHa 183 series, but I guess they will keep the 183's for now. Edited September 27, 2014 by Densha 1 Link to comment
Sacto1985 Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Densha, I think given that JR Hokkaido will get more KiHa 261 trainsets starting next year, they decided to standardize on the KiHa 261 on most longer-distance trains in Hokkaido, which will allow them to finally phase out the aging KiHa 183's. Link to comment
utrainia Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Reading between the lines of the Kiha 285 Wikipedia article, I think given JR Hokkaido's recent track maintenance woes they've decided to focus more on track upkeep and safety, rather than on faster trains and reducing journey times. Each new trainset no doubt requires a certain amount of specialist knowledge and training to look after, and I suspect JR Hokkaido is keen to instead put this energy into ensuring the tracks stay the right width apart ;-) Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Running tests earlier this month of the prototype set within the confines of the Naebo Works. Note no diesel engine noise, as it's running using the hybrid motor assist, which has a traction motor powering the axles via a transmission shared with the diesel power pack. Too bad this is a one-off model. So much potential wasted by JR Hokkaido blunders. 1 Link to comment
Densha Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 It sounds strange, somewhat between an electric motor and a diesel motor. Also, hell it's ugly! Link to comment
miyakoji Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 It's not that bad, lol. I have to agree with Bikkuri, it seems like a lot of wasted potential. Link to comment
Ronny Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 (edited) There's no diesel-electric train made in series in Japan? Edited October 28, 2014 by Ronny Link to comment
miyakoji Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 There's no diesel-electric train made in series in Japan? The DF200 locomotive is diesel-electric, and JR East's upcoming luxury cruise train will be too, with the option of turning off the diesel when it's under wire. But other than that, I don't think so. Link to comment
miyakoji Posted June 7, 2016 Author Share Posted June 7, 2016 As reported by Prophet of the Way on the jtrains mailing list, and as already updated on English Wikipedia, the lone 3-car KIHA 285 formation will probably be scrapped. Apparently even the plan to make it a track inspection train has been canceled. So, in its present condition it would still require a lot more money to be fit for passenger service? If it's got seats in it, I would think they could operate it on some kind of revenue service for just a few years, while it's almost guaranteed not to need expensive maintenance or repair. Or sell it for a fraction of cost and let someone else get a few years out of it. Scrapping seems like a complete waste. (yes Bikkuri I know it tilts ) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KiHa_285_series Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 JR Hokkaido has so many problems, I don't think they want to bother dealing with an oddball set, even for a couple of years. Diesel units have so many more moving parts, and the ones here in Hokkaido are used intensively (also you have the half year winters), the wear and tear is considerable compared to other parts of the country. Link to comment
miyakoji Posted March 5, 2017 Author Share Posted March 5, 2017 Looks like it's being scrapped. Too bad. 1 Link to comment
Suica Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Yup... scrapped before it ever saw service. What a waste. 1 Link to comment
katoftw Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 There wasn't really a need for these 285s once the Hokkaido Shinkansen opened up, yes? Reducing the amount of 283s and 789s JR Hokkaido needed since they aren't running between Shin-Aomori and Hakodate anymore? Link to comment
kvp Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Actually it looks like the compound pendular + air suspension system was way too complex to worth maintaining and the hydraulic-electric-mechanical transmission was not as efficient as an electric transmission. The unit probably broke down too much to worth keeping in running condition especially that most non suburban and non trunk lines are scheduled to be closed once deferred maintenance makes them unusable. Mainlines don't need so much tilting and suburban lines are mostly electrified. On the other hand a train with a full pneumatic tilting system and a diesel generator battery electric propulsion system based on an electric commuter frame might be viable. Add in the option for overhead power and that could be a viable new design. Link to comment
trainsforever8 Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Should have at least been in a museum 1 Link to comment
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