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My Plarail train collection

Plarail is a Japanese toy train system first released in 1959. The Plarail range includes a wide variety of track and trains, accessories, cars, licensed character toys, and exported sets. Shown here are many of the Plarail trains in my collection.

Sets

Trains

Rail

Scenery

Tomica

Catalogues

Thomas series

Exports

Trains

The "standard" Plarail train releases seen in sets, individual packs, and many train packs are three-car trains with a battery-powered lead car, with some early trains being hand-rolled and many later trains having different gearbox and chassis styles

Early Plarail Trains (1959-1976)

The first hand-rolled Plastic Train Sets were released in 1959 based on the Tot Railroad track standard, with the first electric plastic trans appearing in 1961. The first Plarail releases based on specific Japanese trains appeared with a hand-rolled and electric version of the new Hikari Shinkansen train in 1964. In the later 1960s several colors of commuter trains were released and in the early 1970s several new trains based on real Japanese trains were introduced. These trains were released in three different generations of lift-off top boxes. This is considered the "early old power era"

Year	Name	Description
1966	New Electric Super Express Hikari	Early powered 0 series with "second generation" gearbox and roof power switch with early plastic couplings. Tooling based on the "prototype" 1000-series Shinkansen design with square windows in the doors
1971	D51 Express Train	Early D51 with old coupling rods and metal crank pins and 10-series coaches with pantographs from the shared Electric Super Express Hikari intermediate car molding
1972	Express Train	Second generation 485 series express train
April 1973	DD51 Diesel Locomotive	Original DD51 release with grey roof and metal rim-drive gearbox and chassis and three short freight cars
April 1973	Freight Cars	Four-pack release of the then-new box van, tanker, log wagon, and brake van
1974	Super Express Hikari	Blue and white 0 series with painted window surrounds and metal gearbox
1974	Train (Green)	Green 103 series commuter train with mid 70s couplings
1974	D51 Express Train	Mid 1970s D-51 with revised passenger car tooling

"Train" boxes (1976-1978)

In 1976 the briefly-lived fourth generation "train" style of boxes began to be used alongside new "mid old power era" set boxes in 1977. This era also brought about new individual power car and freight car releases

Year	Name	Description
1976	DD51 Diesel Locomotive	Individual DD51 with metal gearbox and bent-up power switch
1976	Container car	Individual release of the 1970 green container car. Also included in some three-pack releases and sets
1976	Refrigerator car	Individual release of the white "refrigerated" recolor of the container car
1976	Tank car	Individual release grey Shell tanker
1976	Car container car	Individual release of the 1970s flatbed with car
1976	Box van	Individual release of the early 1970s brown box car
1976	Wood car	Individual release of the early 1970s log car with logs
1976	Guard's van	Individual release of the early 1970s stubby JNR-style brake van
1976	L Limited Express	Original mid 70s 583-class L Limited Express with metal gearbox and fragile wheel supports
1977	Hikari	Rereleased "New" Hikari with more common lighter grey pantograph

"EC" Old power era (1978-1987)

The great 1980s mid-late old-power era Plarail range was released in the fifth generation "EC" series of boxes with a cartoon steam locomotive similar to the yellow style of set boxes used into the 1980s.

Year	Name	Description
1978	EC02 Panorama Express	Red and white panorama train
1978	EC03 L Limited Express	Late 1970s and 1980s L Limited Express with metal and later plastic gearbox
1978	EC05 Tokai Type Train	Old power green and orange 165 series Tokai express train
1978	EC06 Subway Train	Silver-plated old power Eidan 6000-style subway train
1978	DL01 DD-51	Rereleased DD51
1978	EL01 EF-58	Fifth generation individual release of the metal gearbox EF-58
1978	EL02 EF-66 Round Trip	Fifth generation individual release of the reversing Round-Trip EF66 with single rear pickup bar
April 1979	Livestock car	Individual release cattle van with opening doors that reveal animals inside
April 1979	Mail car	Individual release mail van with opening doors that reveal mail and packages inside
April 1979	EC09 Hikari with Light	Original version of the 0 series Shinkansen with illuminated nose. Plarail's first train with a light
April 1979	EL05 Blue Train	Old power EF65 locomotive with two 24-series passenger cars
March 1980	Car Transporter	Individual rolling stock release of an orange auto carrier with two small cars
April 1980	SL04 D-51 with Light	Original fifth generation release of the D51 with Light with green container car and grey Shell tanker
1981	EC12 Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light	Rim-drive 200-series Shinkansen with illuminated nose
1981	EC14 Vista Car	Vista Car III 30000 series double decker observation car limited express train
1982	Mickey Poppo Red	American style steam locomotive based on the Tokyo Disneyland Railroad
1984	Mickey Poppo Green	Green version of Mickey Poppo
1984	Radio Control Hikari	Remote-control old power 0 series Hikari. Takes two C batteries plus a 9 volt for the remote and the only control is "ON" or "OFF"
1984	Radio Control Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen	Mid 80s radio control 200 series Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen
1984	Radio Control Blue Train	Radio control Blue Train with old power EF65 and 24 series coaches
1984	EL06 Family Travel Salon Car	Only Plarail release of the EF64 with two Salon Express Tokyo Joyful Train cars with removable roofs and detailed interiors for the included family dolls to sit in
1985	EC22 New Shinkansen with Light	Old power 100 series Shinkansen with headlights

Early new power boxes (1987-1994)

In 1987 when most of the range was updated to use the new power gearbox new sixth generation boxes were introduced

Year	Name	Description
July 15 1987	2-Speed Shinkansen	Two-speed new power 100-series Shinkansen, originally made in Japan and later Thailand
August 10 1987	Hikari with Light	New power 0-series Shinkansen with illuminated nose
August 10 1987	Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light	New power 200-series Shinkansen with illuminated nose
August 10 1987	Blue Train	New power EF65 with two 24 series passenger cars
August 10 1987	Tokai Type Express Train	New power 165 series Tokai train
August 10 1987	Subway Train	Rereleased silver-plated subway train
August 10 1987	D-51 Locomotive with Light	Late Japan and early Thailand era rim-drive D51 with light, Shell tanker car, and auto carrier with cars
August 10 1987	Shuppo D-51	Late Japan and early Thailand release of the 1982 Shuppo D51 with tender and chuffing mail car
August 10 1987	DD-51	Old power plastic gearbox DD51 diesel locomotive sold in a 6th generation box into the mid 90s
August 10 1987	EF-58	Individual EF-58 updated for new power
August 10 1987	Round-Trip EF-66	Sixth generation individual release of the single-bar Round Trip EF66
August 10 1987	C-12	Old power C12 steam locomotive released individually in sixth generation packaging. First produced in Japan and later Thailand
March 10 1988	Furano Express	Converted KiHa 80 series diesel to look like a European excursion train
March 15 1989	Play Wagon Set	Engineless three-pack with a well wagon with pipes, auto carrier with car, and flatbed with containers
September 25 1989	Super Hitachi	Japan-made original-livery Super Hitachi 651 series
March 15 1990	Super Hikari	Regular two-speed release of the reimagined Hikari based on the mockup for the next Shinkansen shown around this time
~1990	Suburban Train (Blue Line)	Thailand-made unplated rerelease of the Joban line 415 series
August 10 1990	Double-Decker Suburban Train	Tokaido 211 series train with double decker car
1991	Super View Dancer	Double-decker 251 series train in original grey color
1992	2-Speed Tsubasa	400 series Shinkansen with two-speed new power gearbox
1992	2-Speed Nozomi	Two-speed 300 series Shinkansen, originally in sixth generation packaging
April 23 1993	Kamome Express	Red and black 485-series "Seagull Express" train
July 15 1993	Fun Intermediate Car Set A	Three-pack of intermediate cars for the 300 and 100 series Shinkansens and the intermediate 24 series "blue train" coach
July 23 1993	Doll Play Commuter Train	209 series commuter train in orange with cab and tail car seats for the two included "Doll Play" series dolls
September 1 1993	Doll Play Nozomi	300 series Shinkansen with cab and tail car seats for the two included "Doll Play" series dolls
Later 1993	Doll Play D51 Steam Locomotive	D51 steam locomotive with tender and passenger car with cutout seats for the two included "Doll Play" series dolls

Middle new power boxes (1994-2003)

In the mid 1990s with almost all products manufactured in Thailand a new seventh generation style of box was introduced, with the range expanding with many new trains. Several special release trains were released in the later 1990s as well, leading to more special releases in the years after

Year	Name	Description
1994	Subway Train	Last regular rerelease of the 1970s subway train tooling in seventh generation packaging
1994	Kintetsu Urban Liner	Seventh generation rerelease 21000 series Kintetsu Urban Liner
1994	Suburban Train (Double Decker)	Rereleased 211 series Tokaido train with double-decker car
1994	2-Speed Nozomi	Two-speed 300 series Shinkansen in seventh generation packaging
1994	All 2-Story Shinkansen Max	E1 class Shinkansen, the first all double-decker
1994	D51 Locomotive with Light	New power D51 with light, Shell tanker car, and auto carrier with cars in a seventh generation box
1994	Meitetsu Blue Liner	Specially-decorated Meitetsu 1000 series train
1995	C-12 Steam Locomotive	New power C12 individual release in seventh generation packaging
1995	JR Kyushu Sonic 883	Original silver and blue-livery 883 series Sonic train
1995	Golden Tsubasa	A golden 400 series Shinkansen given away as a prize in the "Collect, Collect Campaign"
1995	300X Shinkansen	Plarail 955 class experimental 300+km/hour Shinkansen
1996	Doctor Yellow	922-series Doctor Yellow line-inspection train based on the new power Hikari with Light
1996	E2 Hokuriku Shinkansen	Initial release of the E2 Shinkansen
Late 1996	500 Series Shinkansen	Regular three-car 500 series Shinkansen release
April 17 1997	Nankai Rapit	Blue express train with distinctive cab style servicing the Kansai International Airport
1997	E3 Akita Shinkansen Komachi	E3 series Shinkansen
October 14 1997	Chin Chin Tram	Plarail Day limited edition reimagining of the late 1960s Plarail tram
March 1998	Fun Action Freight Car Set	Three "action" freight cars with moving elements or removable cargo with a fun theme
1998	Doll Play Mickey Mouse Train	Diesel train with two open carriages and four Disney character dolls
October 14 1998	Chin Chin Tram Old Setagaya Line Type	Plarail Fan Club-exclusive green version of the Chin Chin Tram
December 25 1998	West Hikari	0 series train with light and updated details representing Hikaris that ran on the westernly Sanyo section of the line
1998	E2 Shinkansen Asama	Renamed E2 Shinkansen
1998	700 Series Shinkansen	Nicely detailed 700 series Shinkansen
January 22 1999	Car Train	Silver EF81 locomotive hauling a "car train" with Tomica car
February 5 1999	Commuter Train (Sky Blue)	205 series commuter train with light blue stripe
February 26 1999	Tinplate Plarail	Tinplate streamlined C53 steam locomotive released to celebrate Plarail's 40th anniversary and Tomy's history with tin toys
April 1999	Revival! Electric Plastic Train Trio	Three 103-series trains with more details than other Electric Train variations
June 26 1999	Gold-Plated 700 Series 40th Anniversary Plarail Memorial Video	Commemorative 40th anniversary VHS video with unpowered two-unit gold 700 series Shinkansen
July 1999	40th Anniversary Plarail Limited Edition Set	A limited edition modernized reissue of the 1960s Plastic Train and Electric Plastic Train with rolling stock
1999	Fan Club Exclusive Plarail 40th Anniversary Album	Five-car commemorative album produced in a series of 3000 and available for sale only to Plarail Fan Club members
July 1999	Go Go Shuppo Set	Yellow American-style steam locomotive with two red coaches from the TV show Adventure Asphalt Island
July 1999	Mail Train Set	Red postal service EF66 and mail van from the Adventure Asphalt Island series
October 14 1999	Plarail 40th Anniversary Edition	Plarail Day release EF61 locomotive and observation car first sold on a special train celebrating 40 years of Plarail
December 28 1999	20th Century Toy Museum Exhibition Rotary Snowplow	Reprint rotary snowplow with blue C12 commemorating the 20th Century Toy Museum Exhibition
2000	Enoden	Chin Chin Tram recolored to represent 300 series Enoden tram. Enoshima Electric Railway limited product
Early 2002	700 Series Shinkansen	Late seventh generation 700 series with updated pantograph design

Eighth generation boxes (2001-2002)

The briefly-used eighth generation of boxes was introduced with graphics representing the trains included inside, preempting Tomy's more to a less generic, more individual-train-focused boxes

Year	Name	Description
April 26 2001	EH500 Kintaro	Two-unit EH500 3 electric locomotive with flatbed and tank loads
June 7 2001	EF210 Momotaro	EF210 102 electric locomotive with Schnabel-type large cargo car
October 14 2001	Electrical Inspection Car	Plarail Day fan club exclusive release 193-series inspection car
November 1 2001	EF15 Electric Locomotive	Brown EF15 electric locomotive based off the older EF15 molding with two flatbeds with shipping containers

Ninth generation S series boxes (2002-)

In 2002 the entire range was revamped with older trains discontinued and many trains gaining more real-to-life details like train graphics and running numbers. Many new trains were released in the 2000s with the new power gearbox powering many trains alongside more AA-battery-powered trains

Year	Name	Description
July 18 2002	S-01 700 Series Shinkansen	Slightly updated 700 series Shinkansen for the revamped 2002 range
July 18 2002	S-09 E3 Series Akita Shinkansen Komachi	Updated E3 Shinkansen rerelease Komachi
October 14 2002	Bonnet Express Hakucho	2002 Plarail Day limited edition 485 series train
2003	K-02 DD51 type 1150	Updated DD51 with realistic livery and real running number
2003	K-03 EF66 type 11	Updated EF66 with JR blue livery and EF 66 11 running number
January 2005	Plarail 45th Anniversary Set	Anniversary set with a recolor of the 1999 reissue Electric Plastic Train with neat Tomy-themed containers as well as reprints of the initial unpainted red and green Electric Trains
January 27 2005	S-55 Meitetsu 2000 Series MuSky	Meitetsu 2000 series train servicing Chubu Centrair International Airport
April 28 2005	200 Series Shinkansen	Plarail Expo rerelease of the later shark-nose 200 series shinkansen
April 28 2006	Nankai Rapit Clear Color	Plarail Expo exclusive translucent and silver variation of the Rapi:t Nankai 50000 series train
2007	S-01 700 Series Shinkansen with Light	Updated 700 series Shinkansen with working headlight
2007	Mississippi	Tokyo Disneysea exclusive Disney train
~2007	S-34 165 Series Tokai Type Express Train	Post-Takara Tomy merger box for the 165 series Tokai type train
April 28 2009	0 Series Shinkansen	2009 Plarail Expo limited release 0 series Shinkansen
April 28 2010	Twilight Express	Expo release EF81 with green passenger cars
December 9 2010	S-41 Sleeper Express Cassiopeia	EF510-hauled sleeper train with funky double-decker cars
January 20 2011	KF-01 C12 Steam Locomotive	Retooled AA battery C12 steam locomotive
March 17 2011	SCMAGLEV and Railway Park Opening Commemoration Special Set	Special commemorative pack with the 300X Shinkansen, EF58, and two tail cars representing trains at the Railway Park
2012-2013	Silver Plated 200 Series Shinkansen	Silver-plated 200 series Shinkansen with translucent green skirting

Tenth generation S series boxes (2014-)

In 2014 a new more modern style of individual release box was introduced alongside the modern "new mechanism" gearbox. Some older trains were rereleased in the new style, often when the train was updated with the new mechanism, while some trains remained in older boxes.

Year	Name	Description
January 31 2015	S-50 E531 Series Joban Line	New mechanism Joban Line dark blue stripe E531 series commuter train
2019	Plarail 60th Anniversary Plastic Steam Train	Reprint version of the Plastic Train with unpowered locomotive similar to the original (and a powered box car, unlike the original)
March 14 2019	S-16 Speed change with rails!! E5 series Shinkansen Hayabusa	E5 shinkansen with two-speed chassis and special track to make it change gears
September 28 2024	Shinkansen 60th Anniversary Commemoration 0 Series Shinkansen Hikari 1 & Super Express Hikari Set	Special 65th anniversary of Plarail pack commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Tokaido Shinkansen with two 0 series trains

Plarail Expo

Since the early 2000s Tomy has hosted mostly-yearly Plarail Expo events with games and prizes for children as well as special-release trains. Links to the Plarail Expo releases in my collection can be seen here.

Anniversary Products

Since the 1980s Tomy has released special products to celebrate the anniversaries of Plarail's inception. Links to the anniversary products in my collection can be seen on the Plarail Anniversary Products page.

Plarail Day

In 1997 Tomy established October 14th as Plarail Day and released limited trains for general and Plarail Fan Club-only releases. The Plarail Day trains in my collection can be seen on the Plarail Day page.

Incomplete trains

Because of the nature of mostly buying Plarail second-hand, often I come across trains that are incomplete. Many specific releases I do not hope to randomly find the missing components to but there are some older trains I think are neat and would like to one day find the rest of the components for so I can write a full page about them. These are covered in the Plarail junkyard.