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Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen Set (1982)

Originally written December 8 2024

The Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen Set (東北上越新幹線セット) was a small basic No.1-style set released in 1982 based on the Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen line and new 200-series Shinkansens that operated on it. The set features the Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light released individually around the same time.

The number MS-31 on the side of the box shows that it was printed in 1982. This yellow style of box was mostly phased out around 1981, but this and a few other sets - all small basic-style sets released in the 1980s - used the old yellow style.

Set contents

Quantity	Item	Photo
3 pieces	Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light (200 series shinkansen)
2	R-01 Straight Rail
8	R-03 Curve Rail
2 pieces	J-02 Block Tunnel (entrance and exit pieces only)
4	Catenary
1	Standing Tree
1	Signal

The green and white 200 series Shinkansens entered service in 1982 to service the mountainous Tohoku and Joetsu lines. 200 series trains very much resembled the original 0 series trains with rounded noses, with 200 series trains having green trim where the 0 series had blue.

The 200 series was the second Shinkansen class to be developed, predating the mid 80s 100 series trains with their shark noses, although some late 200 series trains were manufactured in the 100 series styling. 200 series have snowplows fitted to help deal with snow on the lines.

The track in this set is standard early 1980s roughtop rail. The signal and standing tree are made in Japan examples with the riveted signal arm.

There was also a Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen Deluxe Set released in 1982, but to be honest it only has a few additional pieces - only two new track pieces (admittedly slope rails to make part of the layout elevated) and no switches. In 1987 this set was rereleased with a new power Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light as the Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light Set.

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