fall inside a hole

Station Platform (1960s-1980s)

First written March 25, 2024

 

The Station (えき) or Station Platform (駅・ホーム) was a series of commuter train-style train station platforms with a set of stairs on one side, a sign board, roof, and benches. Later more detailed versions include a small kiosk. The Station Platform was replaced by the Elevated Station which represents a similar commuter platform.

Mid 1960s station platforms are slightly taller and have taller white pillars holding the roof section up. Some of these stations can be seen in the Plarail Museum. Later 1960s versions had white roofs, benches, and signs with red pillars. Early individual releases have blue bases and include an uncommon style of tree. 1970s individual releases had a yellow station platform and an orange roof, and later dropped the included trees.

In the later 1970s the station returned to a blue platform, as seen here on this 1977 example. All of these platforms can be disassembled into the platform, roof, and supports.

The bottom of the station shows how the sign board and benches are held in. Later versions screw in the benches and have a hole in the central support post. This earlier platform does not have a pronounced manufacturing mark like later versions.

Around 1978 the roof tooling was updated with the hanging signboards and supports around the central kiosk. Some sets still included the less-decorated version of the platform which still came with the updated roof.

The platform was also updated with this revision to have screwed-in benches and Tomy and Japan markings.

Station Platform (decorated version) (1978)

Beginning in 1978 a more detailed version of the Station Platform was included in some sets and also released individually. This station platform has a red roof with white supports and has nice stickers on the sign board and hanging signs. A kiosk and station office takes the place of the central platform support. I really, really like the look and design of this station.

The hole in the center of the middle support was added by 1983 so that the platform tooling could also be used as the platform for a licensed Disney-themed station. This example comes from a 1984 production run example of the Electric Locomotive Overpass Set.

This station was only produced in Japan and actually outlived the original station platform, last being used in 1990. With the move to new power in 1987, the new Elevated Station was used in sets going forward, and the "Eki" station platform was discontinued.