| Sentetsu Keha class | |
|---|---|
_%25E3%2583%25AA%25E3%2583%25A0%25E3%2583%259D%25E9%25A7%2585_(%25E3%2583%25AA%25E3%2583%25A0%25E3%2583%2588%25E9%25A7%2585)_%25EB%25A6%25BC%25ED%258F%25AC%25EC%2597%25AD_(%25EB%25A6%25BC%25ED%2586%25A0%25EC%2597%25AD)_Rimpo_(Rimto)_-_panoramio.jpg) A Gyeongseong-built Keha railcar seen in service on thePukbunaeryuk Line inNorth Korea with the Korean State Railway in 2012. | |
| Operators | Chosen Government Railway Korean National Railroad Korean State Railway |
| Specifications | |
| Engine type | Petrolrailcar |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
TheKeha (Japanese ケハ, Korean 게하) class railcars were a group of 3rd classpetrol-poweredrailcars of theChosen Government Railway (Sentetsu). There were five types of such railcars, built inJapan andKorea. The exact classification and numbering of these railcars is not certain; certain is only that their type designation was Keha.[1] After the end of the war they were inherited by theKorean State Railway inNorth Korea and by theKorean National Railroad inSouth Korea.
The first petrol railcars in Korea were thenarrow-gaugeNakeha class and the Keha1 and Keha2 class standard-gauge railcars which entered service with Sentetsu in 1930.[1]
The Keha1 and Keha2 class railcars were built for Sentetsu in 1930 byMaruyama Sharyō andNippon Sharyō respectively. These semi-streamlined railcars, powered by a 107 hp (80 kW)Waukesha Motor Company type 6RB 6-cylinder petrol engine mounted under the floor, were of lightweight construction, weighing 25 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons); they were 20 m (66 ft) in length and had a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph). They had seats for 100 passengers, and the interiors were well received by the travelling public. They were a success, and more were ordered.[1]
Following the success of the first six petrol railcars, Sentetsu put another 21 into service in the next two years, with theGyeongseong Works delivering eleven (numbered 15 through 25) in 1931 and ten more in 1932 (numbered 26 through 35). These were also powered by the Waukesha 6RB engine and seated 100, but they were shorter than the first six cars. The passenger compartment was heated by hot water pipes connected to a boiler in the goods compartment. They were equipped with both air and hand brakes, and the air compressor had a multipleV-belt drive. Driving cabs were located at both ends of the railcar.[1] It is not known what their new numbers and classification became in Sentetsu's 1938 general renumbering, but some eventually were numbered in the 70-79 range.[2]
In 1934, a single railcar built by Nippon Sharyō was put into service, which were very similar in appearance to theJapan National RailwaysKiha07-class railcars,[1] and in 1936 the Gyeongseong Works built a single railcar (numbered 1) for company use. This railcar could carry 20 passengers and had a conference room with a table. Mechanically, they were basically the same as the passenger version, but it was nearly 4 m (13 ft) shorter.[1]
Nippon Sharyō delivered five 100-passenger railcars of a new design. Powered by a 170 hp (130 kW) Kawasaki KP170B 6-cylinder engine, they were intended for use on mountainous lines. Finally, in 1942, an uncertain number, probably seven, of railcars of yet another design were built by Nippon Sharyō.[1]
All of these railcars had a single powered axle (1A-A1wheel arrangement). Those built in 1930 used a 12V generator, but all subsequent ones used 24V, after Sentetsu opted to standardise with the L3-type 24V, 900W axle-mounted generator.[1]
| Year | Builder | Quantity | Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Nippon Sharyō, Maruyama | 6 | Keha1, Keha2. Total from each builder unknown. | |
| Mar 1931 | Gyeongseong Works | 2 | 15, 16 | "Standard" design |
| Aug 1931 | Gyeongseong Works | 9 | 17–25 | "Standard" design |
| May 1932 | Gyeongseong Works | 6 | 26–31 | "Standard" design |
| July 1932 | Gyeongseong Works | 4 | 32–35 | "Standard" design |
| 1934 | Nippon Sharyō | 1 | Unique streamlined railcar | |
| 1936 | Gyeongseong Works | 1 | 1 | Short railcar for official use |
| 1938 | Nippon Sharyō | 5 | More powerful railcars for use on mountain lines | |
| 1942 | Nippon Sharyō | 7? | Final petrol car, unique design, non-streamlined |
At the time of Liberation, 31 of 60 railcars of all types (steam,diesel and both standard- and narrow-gauge petrol) were left in theSouth; these were subsequently operated by theKorean National Railroad.[1] Around 1954, the KNR renumbered its standard gauge railcars into the 100 series.[2] The petrol railcars were retired between 1957 and 1963, replaced by theDC-class diesel-hydraulic railcars, and all were scrapped.[1]
| Number | Builder | Build year |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Nippon Sharyō | 1934 |
| 103 | Gyeongseong Works | 1931–32 |
| 106 | Gyeongseong Works | 1931–32 |
Very little is known about the service lives of the 29 railcars that remained in theNorth after the partition of Korea and were inherited by theKorean State Railway, but at least one Gyeongseong-built unit was seen in service on thePukbunaeryuk Line in 2012; its number is unknown.[3]
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