JR Hokkaido In December 1985, KiHa 59 was remodeled from KiHa 26 and KiHa 56 cars at the Naebo plant in
Sapporo, Japan. It was the last resort train to be introduced by the
Japanese National Railways which was privatized to be separated and destined to
JR Hokkaido in
Hokkaido region. The train was initially called "Alpha Continental Express" and started operating on the Ishikatsu Line as a chartered tourist train. It attracted widespread attention due to its design and facilities, and was operated as a group chartered train, and been offered temporary limited express trains all over the country against the backdrop of the resort boom before and after the era. The Alpha Continental Express was nicknamed as "Alcon" which they only used when contracted transportation with both Tomamu and Sahoro resorts, and they also offer other services used such as "Resort Express", "Peppermint Express", and "JTB Panorama Express". Although it was popular during that time, they also encountered different problems which became apparent when the newer rolling stocks introduced. The maximum speed was limited to 95 km/h, which made it difficult to adapt to the timetables of newer JR Hokkaido express trains, which they are struggled to perform on the lines to be arrived and depart on-time. It has been used for nearly 10 years since the conversion and nearly 30 years since being manufactured in the 1960s. It was withdrawn in 1995.
Formations The
Alpha Continental Express trainset was formed as follows (1985 – 1995). They also offered in different train services in Hokkaido region such as "Resort Express", "Peppermint Express", but not "JTB Panorama Express" which they add one carriage in 1986, resulting in a four-car formation. They also operated the special train service called "JTB Panorama Express" trainset which was formed as follows (1986-1995). File:Kiha59 alkon resort exp.jpg|"Resort Express" special train services in 1986 File:Kiha59 alkon peppermint exp.jpg|"Perppermint Express" special train service File:Kiha59 alkon JTB panorama exp.jpg|JR Hokkaido's KiHa 59 Alpha Continental Express special service, the "JTB Panorama Express" in a four-car formation File:JR Hokkaido KI HA 59 2.JPG|JR Hokkaido KiHa 59-2 "Alpha Continental Express" in preservation
JR East The three-car train was converted in November 1989 at JR East's
Koriyama Works from former KiHa 58 and KiHa 28 diesel cars to become the KiHa 59 series
Gracia Joyful Train set for use on special charter services in the
Sendai area and
north east of Japan. The train was withdrawn in May 2003 and rebuilt to become the
Kogane trainset, repainted in a white, gold, and orange livery and re-entering service from July 2003. and was subsequently shipped to the Philippines.
Formations The
Gracia trainset was formed as follows (1989 to May 2003). The
Kogane trainset was formed as follows (July 2003 - December 2010). File:JTgracia.jpg|Gracia Joyful Train in 2003 File:DC58_Kogane.jpg|KoGaNe Train in 2010
JR West JR West introduced their "VIVA West"
Joyful Train service in 1989. It was formed at JR West Hiroshima works after "Resort Saloon Fiesta" train services in 1989 by remodeling former KiHa 28 and 58 series cars. The remodeling work was carried out at the Habu rolling stock plant (now the Shimonoseki General Rolling Stock Office). It was also temporarily used as a passenger train for short train services, and ended operation after nearly ten years and was scrapped in March 1999.
Formations The
Viva West trainset was formed as follows (1989 – 1999). ==Operations in the Philippine National Railways==