The was a

diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...

(DMU) train type operated in Japan on

limited express A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common ...

services between 1968 and 2010. Initially introduced by

Japanese National Railways The abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987. Network Railways As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pref ...

(JNR), the trains were later operated by

West Japan Railway Company , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...

(JR-West) and

Shikoku Railway Company The , commonly known as , is the smallest of the seven constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates of intercity and local rail services in the four prefectures on the island of Shikoku in Japan. The company has it ...

(JR Shikoku) following privatization in 1987.

Operations

The KiHa 181 series was developed for use on

services on non-electrified mountainous routes, and was used on services such as the '' Tsubasa'', '' Shinano'', '' Yakumo'', and ''

Hamakaze The is a limited express train service in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), which runs from to and . Stops Trains stop at the following stations: - - - - ( Nishi-Akashi) - () - - - - - - - - - - - () - ...

'' on the main island of

Honshu , historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island separ ...

, and the '' Shiokaze'' and ''

Nanpū The is a limited express train service in Japan operated by Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku), which runs from to . Trains are formed of 3-car or 2+3 car sets of 2700 series DMUs, and sometimes are coupled with '' Shimanto'' services betwee ...

'' in

Shikoku is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...

History

A total of 158 KiHa 181 series cars were built between 1968 and 1972. On the privatization of JNR in 1987,

JR-West , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and i ...

received 94 cars, and

JR Shikoku The , commonly known as , is the smallest of the seven constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates of intercity and local rail services in the four prefectures on the island of Shikoku in Japan. The company has it ...

received 44 cars. The KiHa 181 series trains were gradually displaced by the arrival of modern tilting diesel trains and increased electrification, and the last JR Shikoku cars were withdrawn by 1993. The last JR-West cars remained in use on ''

'' services until November 2010 when they were replaced by new

KiHa 189 series The is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on '' Hamakaze'' limited express services between and since November 2010 and '' Biwako Express'' services between Osaka and since March 2014. ...

DMUs, and were finally withdrawn in December 2010.

Resale

A number of former JR-West KiHa 181 series cars were shipped to Myanmar after they were withdrawn, entering service from January 2013.

Preserved examples

Three KiHa 181 series cars are preserved in Japan. * KiHa 180 1: Stored at Mino-Ota Depot in

Minokamo, Gifu is a city located in Gifu, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 56,972 and a population density of 74.81 persons per km2, in 22,508 households. The total area of the city was . Geography Minokamo is located in south-central Gifu Pref ...

* KiHa 181 1: Preserved at the

SCMaglev and Railway Park The is a railway museum owned by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) in Nagoya, Japan. The museum opened on 14 March 2011. The museum features 39 full-size railway vehicles and one bus exhibit, train cab simulators, and railway model d ...

in Nagoya * KiHa 181 12: Preserved at the former Tsuyama Depot in

Tsuyama, Okayama is a city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 102,294 and a population density of 200 persons per km². The total area was 185.73 km². The area increased in 2005 as the result of a merger with adjacent to ...

File:JNRKiha181-1.jpg, Preserved KiHa 181 1 at

Sakuma Rail Park The was an open-air railway museum located next to Chūbu-Tenryū Station on the Iida Line in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. It was operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), and was opened on 21 April 1991. The museum closed on 1 N ...

in August 2008 before being later moved

Interior

File:JR shikoku kiha181-104 akomo kai syanai.jpg, Interior of a series in 1988

References

{{JR Shikoku trainsets 181 series Japanese National Railways West Japan Railway Company Shikoku Railway Company Train-related introductions in 1968 Niigata Transys rolling stock Nippon Sharyo multiple units Fuji rolling stock