The is a four-axle
B-B wheel arrangement
In rail transport, a wheel arrangement or wheel configuration is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed under a locomotive. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and c ...
diesel-hydraulic locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conveyed to the driving wheels ...
type operated in Japan since 2014 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).
Operations
The KiYa 143 locomotives are used as self-propelled
snowplough
A snowplow (also snow plow, snowplough or snow plough) is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes. Although this term is often used to re ...
units during the winter season, replacing ageing
JNR Class DD15
The is a four-axle Bo-Bo wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotive type operated in Japan as a self-propelled snowplough unit since 1961 by the national railway company Japanese National Railways (JNR), and later by East Japan Railway Com ...
and
JNR Class DE15
The is a five-axle C-B wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotive type operated in Japan as a self-propelled snowplough unit since 1967 by the national railway company Japanese National Railways (JNR), and later by Hokkaido Railway Company ...
locomotives, and for hauling non-revenue services during other periods with the snowploughs removed.
Design
The KiYa 143 locomotives use the same diesel engines and braking systems as JR West's
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. ...
diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains.
History
The first KiYa 143, KiYa 143-1, was delivered from
Niigata Transys
is a Japanese railway vehicle and equipment manufacturer based in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company is a subsidiary of IHI Corporation and has a factory in Niigata, and representative offices in Osaka, Sapporo, Sendai, and Niigata.
Products
Low- ...
in February 2014.
This was followed by KiYa 143-2 in March 2014.
Fleet status
, nine KiYa 143 locomotives were in operation, allocated as follows.
Classification
While technically a diesel locomotive, the KiYa 143 is classified by JR West according to its
diesel multiple unit (DMU) numbering scheme.
References
External links
JR West press release (February 2014)
{{JR-West rolling stock
Diesel locomotives of Japan
West Japan Railway Company
Bo-Bo locomotives
1067 mm gauge locomotives of Japan
Railway locomotives introduced in 2014
Niigata Transys rolling stock