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Plarail 1987 Catalogue

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1987 saw the introduction of the new-power gearbox, with the first "real" new power releases all appearing on the cover of this catalogue, which was printed in May 1987. The spread also shows a lot of Block Buildings, including a J-22 Elevated Station that is actually elevated!

The text at the top of the spread showing sets comments on Plarail's wide variety of products, the safety of the plastic and flexible rails, that the standard has not changed in 29 years, and to start with any set. On display were the first new power sets, the 2-Speed Shinkansen Set and the 2-Speed Shinkansen Three-Dimensional Station Set, as well as many later or longer-lasting old power sets like the Rail Road Level Crossing Set, Basic No.1 Set D-51, Electric Locomotive Overpass Set, and apparently even the Beginner's Sets.

The late old-power lineup, with the three new new-power trains shown up top - most of the rest of the range was dropped or converted to new power through the rest of 1987, although some locomotives remained as old-power types until smaller, flatter gearboxes were developed. Also shown on the right are three Plaroad vehicles.

Accessories, early Panel Stations and a variety of other stations, staple tunnels and bridges, and the recently introduced Plarail Town buildings. As touted earlier in the pamphlet, many rails have not changed since their introduction in the 1960s, with large radius curves, the double track system, and older sloped bridge rails and joint rails on sale.

The Super Rail range of the later 1980s - the Japanese economic bubble gave the larger, more expensive Super Rail range more sets and a decent number of trains and accessories still in production.

The last page shows Action Rail, in particular two Hello Kitty licensed versions of the 1970s Plarail Land sets and the colorful Working Vehicle Big Loader. Three layouts are also shown, one based on the Basic No.3 Set and two others that are not quite as extravagant as some of the early 1980s suggestions.