User Guide

MICROSOFT TRAIN SIMULATOR ENGINEER’S HANDBOOK
HOW TO DRIVE A DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE | 50
KIHA 31
The KIHA 31 is a dual cab (front and rear) self-propelled diesel-hydraulic passenger railway car. Unlike
the massive GP38-2 and Dash 9 locomotives with their multi-thousand horsepower engines and
electric transmissions, the KIHA 31 employs a modest and economical 246 hp engine coupled to a
two-speed hydraulic transmission, similar to the transmission in an automobile. The KIHA 31 modeled
in Train Simulator traverses the scenic Hisatsu tourist route on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu as
a single car or as a multiple car consist, depending on passenger traffic levels.
The KIHA 31 is a true diesel locomotive with a hydraulic transmission (rather than converting power
to electric traction motors), which makes driving the KIHA similar to driving a manual transmission
automobile. On downhill grades, you can apply the Engine Brake, which essentially ties the engine
directly to the wheels without gears so that the wheels are slowed by the engine. This saves wear on
the train’s brake shoes, and helps to prevent them from overheating.
A common KIHA 31 operating practice is unpowered operation—coasting—because it’s quiet and
economical. In fact, when traveling down from the mountain summit at Yatake, you may not need to
apply the throttle at all to start the train moving after a stop; try just releasing the brakes and coasting!
Note: You’ll find two KIHA 31 models in Train Simulator. The only difference between them is
that the KIHA 31 Isaburo/Shinpei has a placard in its window noting that it is the Isaburo/
Shinpei sightseeing train, which makes long stops at points of interest. The Isaburo/Shinpei
train runs only between Hitoyoshi and Yoshimatsu.