Abstract
In the Early Showa era of Japan, the Ministry of Railway started their new rail-car design project. In those days, many omnibus transportation private companies constructed in the country and these companies invaded passengers of rural lines of the Ministry of Railway and medium and small private railways. This project planned two-axle semi steeled smallish rail-cars and these were completed on 1929 at the Nippon Sharyo Seizo Co., Nagoya. Twelve rail-cars were constructed from 1929 to 1931 at the same builder. Later, these rail-cars were classed as Kihani 5000, these were combined a third class and a luggage room. These rail-cars were mounted domestically made 40 PS marine gasoline engine made by the Ikegai Iron Works under the main frame. As weight of these rail-cars were 15 tons and too heavy, so engine's power was not enough to operation. Later, design project of the Ministry of Railway redesigned new light weighted bogie type rail-cars class Kiha 41000 on 1933. These new type rail-cars were constructed by the private rolling stock builders and railway works of the Ministry of Railway. In this report, a short history of rail-cars class Kihani 5000, Kiha 41000 and Kiha 42000 were introduced.
