fall inside a hole
Super Rail Kuha 481 Series with Headlights L Express Set (1980)
Originally written June 14, 2025
In the early 1980s the Super Rail series began to feature many new trains with bogies and headlights including a new 481 series L Limited Express train. In 1980 the Kuha 481 Series with Headlights L Express Set (前照灯付クハー481系 L特急セット) was released for the Super Rail Black series.
The box is marked N-30, dating it to 1981, but I have seen older copies where the box is marked N-29 for 1980, the year the 481 series was first released in Super Rail form. Like other Super Rail Black sets with headlight features, the black background of the front of the box has small light flares.
Set contents
| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 3
pieces |
Kuha 481 series with headlights |
|
| 4 | Straight Rail |
 |
| 8 | C Curve Rail |
 |
| 4 pieces | Tunnel |
 |
| 4 | Overhead wire holders |
 |
| 1 | Signal |
 |
| 2 | Trees (one of each type) |
 |
| 2 | Reversing insert |
 |
The Super Rail 481 series with headlights is based on the mid-model 200 series trains with redesigned front end - the older trains resembled the older 151 series bonnet-nose trains which were also released in Super Rail form. The two headlights on the power car light up.
The train's roof comes off to reveal the compartment which takes two C batteries.
These 1980s bogie trains are nicely tooled, and I see why Tomy positioned this as more advanced than Plarail and as an alternative to real model trains, being a more kid-friendly size than N scale trains which rose to popularity in Japan throughout Super Rail's availability. I particularly like the roof and pantograph details on the intermediate car.
The Super Rail Black series often featured simpler sets than the earlier large Super Rail sets as well as some of the later 1980s sets that came in the striped white style of boxes, but the oval is at least a decent size with two straight rails on each side. Two reversing plates are included.
Included are a nice compliment of accessories, two types of trees and the light-type signal that clips into the bottom of the track as well as the earlier version of the Super Rail tunnel with the darker green plastic mixed in. Four single-wire catenaries that clip onto the side of the track are also included.
A neat set that helped to show off the new larger trains Super Rail introduced in the 1980s. The layout is nothing that spectacular, but the accessories are not too bad.