fall inside a hole
Electric Locomotive Overpass Set (1981)
Originally written November 9, 2023
The Electric Locomotive Overpass Set (電気機関車立体交差セット) was released in 1981 and includes an EF15 electric locomotive with freight train and the classic "overpass" layout with raised section, station platform, and railroad crossing. This set was first released in 1981 but stayed in production for several years after until the transition to new power around 1987 so it can still be found somewhat regularly. The number MS-33 on the side of the box signifies that my copy is from sometime in the middle of this set's production with a box printed in 1984, which is backed up by the inclusion of a 1984 catalogue inside. This set is sort of a successor to 1974's EF-15 Electric Locomotive Overpass Panorama Set, which included an EF-15 and older accessories.
Set contents
| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 4 pieces |
EF-15
Electric Locomotive and freight train |
 |
| 14 | R-03 Curve Rail (roughtop with Japan markings) |
 |
| 2 |
R-06 Slope Rail |
 |
| 1 | R-08 Stop Rail (smooth with Japan markings) |
 |
| 2 pieces | R-11 Turnout Rail (one pair) (roughtop with Japan markings) |
 |
| 5 |
J-13 Bridge Girder |
 |
| 1 | Station Platform |
 |
| 1 |
Railway Crossing (later screw type) |
 |
| 6 | Catenary |
 |
| 1 |
Row of trees |
 |
| 1 |
Signal |
 |
The EF15 was manufactured between 1947 and 1958. Over 200 were built and they remained in use until the mid 1980s on freight lines. First appearing in Plarail form in 1970, the EF15 in this set is based on the lit version released in the Container Loading and Unloading set from 1980, but without the light feature installed. The EF15 was not in individual production during this era and would not reappear individually again until 2001's EF15 Electric Locomotive.
The EF15 uses the all metal rim-drive gearbox and, as far as I know, was never updated to use the milky plastic rim-drive gearbox. It uses the long front power switch to clear the walkway at the ends of the locomotive. The original rim-drive tires have been covered with a layer of heat-shrink tubing as described here.
The cars are all the older 1970s "stubby" design with a shared chassis. These are a mid 1980s make with Japan markings.
The station platform is the nicer more-decorated type that evolved from the 1970s station platform. It features many sticker details and the roof, supports, and central kiosk can be removed from the platform.
The railroad crossing is the standard green based one from the era. Many other "overpass" layout sets include a railroad crossing in the rear section of the layout like this.
Rails are all the old "roughtop" type from the mid 80s besides the ascending tracks which are treaded.
Interestingly, the instruction sheet and box show the switch on the stop rail facing the station platform as built here. In this era before the introduction of accessories like the R-18 Slope Curve Rail the direction rails were placed in was less important. Manuals from this era such as the one for this set below do not even depict track connectors, although some accessories necessitate being placed in a certain direction.
The instructions also show how to use the old Bridge Girders by sliding them down one section of track, attaching a second section, and then sliding the support over and around the joint. My copy of this set also included a 1984 catalogue.
Like many other sets I own, this one is mostly constructed from regular off-the-shelf Plarail accessories with no real exclusive pieces. The layout and accessories are perfectly fine for the set, and the EF15 looks nice, but otherwise the components are pretty standard. I really like the look of the EF-15 and while the stubby freight cars are pretty common they still look very fitting with the engines and accessories of this era and in this set. The overpass layout is already more interesting than the numbered Basic set layouts and is easier to expand to be even larger with elevated accessories.