fall inside a hole

Iron Bridge(s)

Iron Bridge (てっきょう)/J-03 Iron Bridge (J-03 鉄橋) (1964)

<--- J-02 Block Tunnel <--- J-02 Stretching Tunnel

J-04 Big Iron Bridge (1981) --> J-04 Big Iron Bridge (1997) -->

The original single straight iron bridge with iconic red side plates first appeared in the early/mid 1960s, with the Pla-Rail packaging shown here appearing in the early 1970s. Early examples can be seen on some of the early Plarail boxes in the Plarail Museum.

Late 1960s and early 1970s releases have smooth bridge sides with four holes in the top "beam" and use these more fragile but rather stylish white bridge supports.

Beginning in 1975 the individual Iron Bridge began using the brick-patterned bridge supports used with the 1973 Big Iron Bridge. Rivet moldings were added into the red side supports.

Older bridges have longer support nubs but these were shortened at some point in the later 70s.

The iron bridge sides have been released in a few different colors in different sets as well as used as-is in red. The Block Bridge Girder system that began in 1984 integrated supports for the classic red bridge sides, keeping them relevant into the 2000s. Some accessories like the J-29 Horn Rail also used the iron bridge sides.

Double Track Iron Bridge (ふくせんてっきょうレール) (1968-1974)

In 1968 alongside the introduction of the new double track rail standard a double track version of the red Iron Bridge was released that use the same bridge sides and included a smooth Double Track Straight Rail and two Double Track Bridge Girders. The double track version of the iron bridge remained available until 1974, with the double track straight rail going out of print not long after and not reappearing until the late 1990s.