The is a four-axle B-B wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotive type operated in Japan since 2014 by West Japan Railway Company (JR West).
Operations The KiYa 143 locomotives are used as self-propelled snowplough units during the winter season, replacing ageing JNR Class DD15 and JNR Class DE15 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 diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains.
History The first KiYa 143, KiYa 143-1, was delivered from Niigata Transys 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.
Number Delivered Depot allocation () KiYa 143-1 February 2014 KiYa 143-2 March 2014 KiYa 143-3 19 October 2016 KiYa 143-4 1 November 2016 KiYa 143-5 14 November 2016 KiYa 143-6 27 February 2017 KiYa 143-7 13 February 2017 KiYa 143-8 15 March 2017 KiYa 143-9 21 March 2017
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)