fall inside a hole
Plarail Super Express Hikari NO.1 set (1970)
First written August 1, 2026
The Super Express Hikarigo No.1 set (ちょうとっきゅうひかりごうNO.1) was released in 1970 in the early old power era of lift-top boxes. It is a classic No. 1 oval set with a second-generation Plarail 0 series Shinkansen train and accessories. This copy has a 1971 ST mark, the ST toy safety mark system having begun in 1971, and the original printings of this box did not have this mark, as shown in the Plarail Museum.
Set components are located in a plastic tray that sits over a cardboard frame. This is the first set I have had with the original cardboard ribbon intact. It is folded around and then stabled through the plastic tray. The original owner removed the top staple and I pulled out the lower one to scan the ribbon.
Set contents
| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 3 pieces | Electric Super Express Hikari |
|
| 2 | R-01 Straight Rail |
|
| 8 | R-03 Curve Rail |
 |
| 2 | Standing Tree |
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| 1 | Signal |
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| 1 | Crossing gate |
|
The Hikari train in this set is the "second generation" Electric Super Express Hikari type, and it has newly tooled power and tail cars that more closely represent the real 0 series trains. There are more windows in the end cars and the windows in the doors as well as the windshields represent the real trains more. The intermediate car remains the original type, and the square door windows can still be seen.
Instead of being glued to their chassis like previous Hikaris, the intermediate and tail cars are now screwed down and can be removed. The train uses the chunky early 1970s style of couplings.
Early trains of this type, probably from around 1970, used plastic gears on the output of their gearboxes, but by the time of this 1971-issue set this was changed to the black rubber drums.
Rails at this time were completely smooth with no roughness or tread to the rails and only marks related to production like ejector pin marks and tooling numbers on the bottom. Smooth rails remained in use until the mid 70s introduction of roughtop rails.
The accessories in this set have Japan marks on the base and inside the tree. The trees are similar to later types but the signal is the very nice older plastic lens type.
This crossing gate has been long out of print, with this being one of its later appearances. The gate has hanging details and two of them were often used to represent a railroad crossing's gates. This accessory was eventually replaced by the much more elaborate Railroad Crossing in 1970.
Being a No.1 set, the layout is pretty simple. There are a nice number of accessories but the set is obviously basic.
Click for video with sound
Other than the newer style of train, this set is basically identical to past Hikari No.1 sets...
| Set name | Super Express Hikarigo No.1 ちょうとっきゅうひかりごうNO.1 |
Release period | 1970-1971 |
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| All photos | p_super_express_hikari_no1_(1970) | ||