fall inside a hole

Radio Control I'm a Train Driver Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen Set (1984)

Originally written February 8, 2025

The Radio Control I'm a Train Driver Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen Set (ラジオコントロール ぼくはうんてんしゅ 東北上越新幹線セット) was released in 1984 featuring the new radio control 200 series Shinkansen. It was the only set in the mid 1980s I'm a Train Driver series of radio control Plarail and was the most expensive set in the 1984 catalogue.

The number N-33 on the side of the box shows that it was printed in 1984. I quite like the unique light blue box that somewhat matches the color of boxes used for the individual Radio Control: I'm a Train Driver trains. Also reappearing is the old Hikari-go mark.

Set contents

Quantity	Item	Photo
1	Radio Control Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen
1	Remote Control
4	R-01 Straight Rail
8	R-03 Curve Rail
2 pieces	J-02 Block Tunnel (entrance and exit pieces only)
1	Station Platform
4	Catenary
4	Standing Tree
1	Signal

The green and white 200 series Shinkansens entered service in 1982 and was one of the initial 1984 radio control trains, released during the so-called winter era of Plarail. The power car takes one C battery with the intermediate car taking another. The middle car's body is friction fit over the radio control receiver box.

The train has all-metal couplings, which is nice and premium and helps these older R/C trains hold up better than some other connected couplings. The remote has just one control, a lever for ON and OFF. It takes a 9-volt battery and, in this case, is missing the battery compartment door cover. All copies of this set were produced with 40Mhz trains, I believe, although the individual trains could be found in 40 and 49Mhz variants.

The track in this set is an oval of standard mid-80s roughtop rail. A nice total of four trees are included as well as a signal and short block tunnel.

This was the first radio control Plarail set, and was an expensive set during the winter era, mostly due to the cost of the train, as there really isn't a ton to the set... I really like the 200 series Shinkansen, and 80s old power Plarail, and remote control toys, so I like it.

rationale page