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Plarail Basic No.1 Set (1977)

First written August 29, 2026

The Basic No.1 Set (基本No.1セット) was the smallest of the new-for-1977 numbered Basic sets. The set includes a classic D-51 steam locomotive and freight train of short cars. In itself this set was an adaptation of a 1976 set with D-51 and railroad crossing.

 

The MS-28 mark on the top of the box suggests this set was actually manufactured in 1979. The box offers suggestions for expanding the set with some of the late 1970s track packs.

Set contents

Quantity	Item	Photo
3 pieces	D51 with log car and box van
1	R-01 Straight Rail
8	R-03 Curve Rail
1	Railway Crossing (plastic type)
1	Standing Tree
1	Signal
4	Catenary

The D-51 steam locomotive in the set is the standard later 1970s type with all-plastic side rods.

Being before the introduction of the D-51 with Light, the headlight is filled-in and textured - later sets like the Basic No.1 Set D-51 which had an unlit D-51 used the lit tooling without the extra hardware.

The classic log car and box van are included for the D-51 to haul. With this copy of the set being produced around 1979, the couplings on the trains have yellowed... It would have been nice to get the logs for the log car too.

The rail in this set is late 1970s roughtop with Made in Japan markings.

The main accessory is the operating Railway Crossing, with boom gates that lower as the train passes. This is from the middle period of production with the all-plastic boom arm pegs with the round covers glued in place.

The set also includes a standard tree and sticker-type signal as well as four red overhead catenaries.

The oval with railroad crossing layout was established in the very early days of Plarail and lives on in basic sets. Obviously, it is similar to earlier and later sets.

Set name	Basic No.1 Set 基本No.1セット	Release period	1977-1979
Train rating		Track rating
Accessory rating		Overall
Notes:
All photos	p_basic_no1_set

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