{{short description|Diesel multiple unit train type}} {{More citations needed|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox train | background = | name = KiHa 38 | image = Kururi line kiha38.JPG | imagesize = 320px | caption = KiHa 38-2 & KiHa 38-1003 on the Kururi Line in 2010 | service = 1986&ndash;present (Japan) <br> 2014–present (Myanmar) | manufacturer = [[Fuji Heavy Industries]] | factory = | family = | replaced = [[KiHa 35]] | yearconstruction = 1965&ndash;1966 (as [[KiHa 35]]) | yearservice = 1986 | refurbishment = 1986&ndash;1987 | yearscrapped = | numberconstruction= | numberbuilt = 7 vehicles | numberservice = 1 vehicle ({{as of|2020|lc=y}}) in Japan <br> 4 vehicles ({{as of|2020|lc=y}}) in Myanmar | numberpreserved = 1 vehicle | numberscrapped = | formation = 2/3/4 cars per trainset (JNR/JR East)<br> 1 car multiple working DMU (Mizushima Rinkai Railway)<br> 4/5 cars per trainset (Myanmar Railways) | fleetnumbers = | capacity = | operator = [[JNR]] (1986&ndash;1987)<br />[[JR East]] (1987&ndash;2012)<br />[[Mizushima Rinkai Railway]] (2014&ndash;present)<br />[[Myanmar Railways]] (2014&ndash;present) | depots = {{STN|Kisarazu|x}}, Yangon | lines = [[Hachiko Line]], [[Kawagoe Line]], [[Kururi Line]], [[Mizushima Main Line]], [[Yangon Circular Railway]] | carbody = Steel | trainlength = | carlength = {{convert|20,000|mm|ftin|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|2,929|mm|ftin|abbr=on}} | height = | floorheight = | platformheight = | entrylevelorstep = | doors = 3 per side<ref name="mynavi01122012">{{cite web |url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/trainphoto-27/ |title=千葉県のJR久留里線、引退直前の旧型気動車(その3) - キハ38形 |trans-title=Chiba prefecture's JR Kururi Line, old railcar just before retirement (Part 3) - Kiha 38 type |language=Japanese |date=December 1, 2012 |website=news.mynavi.jp |publisher=Mynavi Corporation |access-date=June 7, 2020 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200607191644/https://news.mynavi.jp/article/trainphoto-27/ |archivedate=June 7, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> | maxspeed = | weight = | acceleration = | deceleration = | traction = | engine = DMF14-HZ | poweroutput = | transmission = | aux = | powersupply = | hvac = | bogies = | brakes = | safety = | coupling = | multipleworking = [[KiHa 35|KiHa 30]], KiHa 37<ref name="mynavi01122012"/> | gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}} }}

The {{Nihongo|'''KiHa 38'''|キハ38}} is a Japanese [[diesel multiple unit]] (DMU) train type introduced by the [[Japanese National Railways]] (JNR) in 1986. These were converted from ageing [[KiHa 35]]'s to meet modern standards as new rolling stock before the company was privatized in 1987. After JNR was privatized, all seven cars were transferred to [[JR East]].

No KiHa 38s remain in service since they ceased operation on the [[Kururi Line]] in December 2012, along with the last [[KiHa 35|KiHa 30]], which were also retired from JR East in the same year They were replaced by the new [[KiHa E130]]s on the same line.

In 2014, five cars were transferred to [[Myanmar Railways]], and one car was transferred to [[Mizushima Rinkai Railway]] which entered service in May 2014.

==Operations== ===JR East=== * [[Hachiko Line]] * [[Kawagoe Line]] * [[Kururi Line]], until 2012

===Mizushima Rinkai Railway=== * [[Mizushima Main Line]], since 2014

===Myanmar Railways=== * [[Yangon Circular Railway|Yangon Circular Line]], since 2014

<gallery> File:JRE-DC38-Hachiko.jpg|JR East KiHa 38-2 traversing the Hachiko Line between Kitafujioka and Gumma-Fujioka Station on 1988. File:JNR_Type_Kiha_38_DMU_064.JPG|Interior File:JRE-Kiha38 2-KururiLine.jpg|JR East KiHa 38 on the Kururi Line in 2012. File:Kururi line kiha30+kiha38.JPG|KiHa 38-1 coupled with KiHa 30–63 in classic two-toned JNR livery in July 2012. </gallery>

==Withdrawal and resale==

===Mizushima Rinkai Railway=== In 2014, KiHa 38 1004 was transferred to the [[Mizushima Rinkai Railway]] and was renumbered to KiHa 38 103.<ref name="railfan10072013">{{cite web |url=https://railf.jp/news/2013/07/10/150000.html |title=キハ30，キハ37，キハ38の6両が水島臨海鉄道へ |trans-title=6 KiHa 30, KiHa 37, KiHa 38 to Mizushima Rinkai Railway |date=10 July 2013 |work=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location=Japan |language=Japanese |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304120149/https://railf.jp/news/2013/07/10/150000.html |archivedate=4 March 2019 |url-status=live |accessdate=4 March 2019}}</ref> It entered service on 12 May 2014.<ref name="mizurin14042014">{{cite web |url=http://www.mizurin.co.jp/info_detail/index/38.html |script-title=ja:「キハ37、38、30形式」の運転開始について |trans-title=Start of KiHa 30 / 37 / 38 operations |date=14 April 2014 |website=mizurin.co.jp |publisher=Mizushima Rinkai Railway news release |location=Japan |language=Japanese |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304121119/http://www.mizurin.co.jp/info_detail/index/38.html |archivedate=4 March 2019 |accessdate=4 March 2019}}</ref>

<gallery> File:MR kiha38 104.JPG|Mizushima Rinkai Railway KiHa 38-104 (formerly KiHa 38–1003) traversing the Mizushima Main Line in 2014. </gallery>

===Myanmar Railways=== Five former KiHa 38 railcars were shipped to Myanmar to be operated by [[Myanmar Railways]] in August 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://2427junction.com|title=ミャンマー国鉄元 JR東日本キハ38形|last=|first=|website=2427junction.com|language=|access-date=2020-06-08 }}</ref> They entered service in 2014.<ref name="neko16092014">{{cite web |url=http://rail.hobidas.com/rmn/archives/2014/09/38.html |title=【ミャンマー国鉄】キハ38ミャンマーで運転開始 |trans-title=(Myanmar National Railways) Kiha 38 start operation in Myanmar |date=September 16, 2014 |website=rail.hobidas.com |publisher=Neko Publishing |language=Japanese |access-date=June 7, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608181529/http://rail.hobidas.com/rmn/archives/2014/09/38.html |archivedate=June 8, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The following cars were transferred to Myanmar:

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Former number!! RBE body number by Myanmar Railways |- | KiHa 38-2|| RBE 25101 |- | KiHa 38-3 || RBE 25102 |- | KiHa 38-4 || RBE 25103 |- | KiHa 38-1001 || RBE 25104 |- | KiHa 38-1002 || RBE 25105 |- |}

==Preserved examples== *'''KiHa 38 1''': preserved at Isumi Poppo-no-oka.<ref name="railfan22032020">{{cite web |url=https://railf.jp/news/2020/03/22/203000.html |title=いすみポッポの丘がリニューアルオープン |trans-title=Isumi Poppo no oka is reopened |date=March 22, 2020 |work=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location=Japan |language=Japanese |accessdate=June 7, 2020 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200607185416/https://railf.jp/news/2020/03/22/203000.html |archivedate=June 7, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery> File:Popponooka JRE-Kiha38-1.jpg|KiHa 38 1 at ''Poppo no oka'' </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|JNR Kiha 38}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120820061838/https://www.jreast.co.jp/train/local/kiha30.html JR East website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{JR East EMU}}

[[Category:Diesel multiple units of Japan]] [[Category:Japanese National Railways]] [[Category:Train-related introductions in 1986]] [[Category:East Japan Railway Company]] [[Category:Fuji rolling stock]]