The
Super Express Hikari Turnout Set (ちょうとっきゅうひかりごうターンアウトセット) was released in 1974
and features the standard for the day blue and white Super Express
Hikari as well as the then-recently introduced
Half Straight Rail and
Turnout Rail.
The right side of the box is marked G-23 signifying it was produced between October 1974 and September 1975. Very early runs of this set lack the area in the vacuformed tray to hold a C battery - this feature was included in all other plastic tray sets (although they did not come with batteries) and it seems it was accidentally forgotten in the first production run of this set.
Set contentsQuantity |
Item |
Photo |
---|---|---|
3 pieces | Super Express Hikari (painted window surround type) |
|
2 | R-02 Half Straight Rail |
|
10 | R-03 Curve Rail |
|
2 pieces | R-11 Turnout Rail (one pair) |
|
1 | Station |
|
4 | Catenary |
|
2 | Standing Tree |
|
2 | Signal |
|
The Super Express Hikari included in this set is a mid 1970s blue and white example with the solid red nose cone and painted window surrounds. It uses the old all-metal gearbox and the old early 70s chunky style of couplings.
The station in this set is an earlier example of blue and red version of the station platform with the older style of underside. The box shows the earlier yellow and orange version of this station.
Track in this set is all roughtop, which began being added to previously-smooth rail toolings in 1974. Turnouts and half straight rails were both new for 1974 but this set was produced after the turnouts were updated from their original smooth surface to roughtop treaded.
The catenaries are the earlier unmarked type while the signals and trees are marked Japan on their bases.
At the time this was a relatively basic set but it came with the cool Shinkansen as well as some new rails and what was at the time a relatively new color of the station platform. It is obvious to see how this set's layout evolved into the various Basic No. 2 sets, several of which included a 0 series Hikari.
Set name | Super Express Hikari Turnout Set ちょうとっきゅうひかりごうターンアウトセット |
Release period | 1974-~1976 |
Train rating | Track rating | ||
Accessory rating | Overall | ||
Notes: |