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2-Speed Shinkansen Three-Dimensional Station Set (1987)
The 2-Speed Shinkansen Three-Dimensional Station Set (2スピード新幹線 立体ステーションセット) released in 1987 and features the two speed version of the 100-series Shinkansen and the first use of the then-new R-18 Slope Curve Rail and the panel station system. This set would be changed slightly and rereleased twice over the next two years
Set contents
| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 3 pieces |
2-Speed Shinkansen |
 |
| 2 | R-01 Straight Rail |
 |
| 6 |
R-03 Curve
Rail |
 |
| 1 |
R-08 Stop
Rail |
 |
| 2
pieces |
R-11
Turnout Rail (one pair) |
 |
| 20 pieces | R-18 Slope Curve Rail (entire outfit) |
 |
| 11 pieces | Panel Station (comprised of two white bases, six windows, one white roof, and two signs) |
 |
| 2 pieces | J-02 Block Tunnel (front and rear sections only) |
 |
| 4 |
Catenary |
 |
| 2 |
Standing
Tree |
 |
| 1 |
Signal |
 |
The 100 series Shinkansen was introduced in 1985 to run the faster Hikari service on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. 100 series trains actually came after the 200 series trains due to the numbering schema of Japanese National Railways at the time. 100 series trains had a sharp "shark nose" front and double-decker coaches and were originally decorated with the stylized NS seen on the Plarail intermediate car for "New Shinkansen."
The two-speed variant of the 100-series Shinkansen was introduced in 1987 and was built out of the same chassis as the existing 100 series with lights with a new two-speed gearbox. This example is an earlier made in Japan variant that uses a black power switch. The shell and chassis are mostly unchanged from the lit version. The shell and chassis are both, of course, marked as made in Japan. A later Thailand-made example of the 100 series can be seen on the 1987 2-Speed Shinkansen Set page.
The slope curve rails and mini bridge girders were both new for this year and first used in this set. This set includes all the components of the individual R-18 Slope Curve Rail set including four of each A and B slope rails and twelve stackable mini bridge girders. Slope rails were only ever produced with the treaded rail surface introduced around this time and seen on some other rails in this set.
The "panel station" system was also introduced this year. As the name suggests, different panels can be slotted and stacked together to form stations and other buildings. Large bases molded around a normal straight rail's worth of track, sometimes with stoppers, windows, roofs, and signs were all produced in different colors.
The sign included with the station reads "新幹線の駅 STATION" or literally Shinkansen Station Station. The two-level station and the sign implies the station could serve as an interchange between the Shinkansen line and the local branch, with a 0-series Shinkansen and a local subway or commuter train on the sticker.
Being a 1987 release, all the components inside are made in Japan. The Slope Curve Rails and Mini Bridge Girders as well as all of the panel station components which were new for this year and are also all manufactured in Japan.
The straight and curve rails in this set are the older Japanese roughtop molding with the new treaded rail surface over the top. Other rails like the turnout rails were not yet updated and are still roughtop.
Because the panels included with this set do not include integrated stoppers (I don't believe these appeared until later, when panel station production moved to Thailand) the stop rail coming out of one side of the station actually stops the Shinkansen with most of the train at the station "platform." Switching the train between the upper and lower loops is a nice play feature and the 100 series looks nice climbing up the inclined curves. Adding a second local train to service the lower station and using the stop rail and switches to try to run both engines around the shared stretch of track is also fun.
Click for longer video with sound
Click for video with sound
Being able to run the 100 series at two speeds is also fun, although there is not really a smooth way to change speeds while the engine is running. Although the 0, 200, Super Hikari, 300 and 400 series Shinkansens (as well as newer Shinkansens I do not know as much about) all had remote control versions I do not believe the 100 series Shinkansen ever had a remote control version. Mr. Motorman, anyone?
In 1988 the set was rereleased with the same name and updated box art with a single "right" single/double track point rail as part of the "Fun Connection Campaign" to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Plarail. In 1989 it was rereleased again with the Super Hikari instead of the 100 series with an additional left turnout, curve rail, stop rail, and set-exclusive yellow garage added as part of the campaign. Boxed examples of both of these sets can be found in the Plarail Museum. The Super Hikari Three Dimensional Station Set was exported to Germany as Tomy Express Set 03.