fall inside a hole
Overpass Nozomi Set with Video (1993)
The Overpass Nozomi Set with Fun Train Video (たのしい電車ビデオ付 立体交差のぞみ号 セット) was released in 1993 and features a standard "overpass" layout with a 300 series Shinkansen and a VHS video cassette. The trend of including a VHS video cassette with sets began with 1991's Overpass Set with Fun Train Video, a very similar set with a 100 series Shinkansen and additional accessories.
Set contents
| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 3 pieces |
2-Speed
Nozomi (300 series Shinkansen) |
 |
| 2 |
R-01 Straight Rail |
 |
| 12 |
R-03 Curve Rail |
 |
| 2 |
R-06 Slope Rail |
 |
| 1 |
R-08 Stop Rail |
 |
| 2
pieces |
R-11 Turnout Rail (one pair) |
 |
| 6 |
J-14
Block Bridge Girder |
 |
| 1 |
J-17 New Railroad Crossing |
 |
| 1 |
J-22
Elevated Station |
 |
| 1 |
VHS Videocassette |
The Nozomi (のぞみ meaning wish or hope) is the fastest train that runs on the Tokaido and San'yō Shinkansen lines. The service was introduced in 1992 and was first run by the new 300-series Shinkansens. The 300-series was the newest and fastest Shinkansen at the time of this set's release. By the end of the 90s the 300-series had begun to replace the older 100 and 0 series trains on the slower routes as well.
This was the first use of the regular 300-series in a set, with the Remote Control Nozomi Set releasing in 1992 and the Doll-Play version coming in two other sets in 1993. Like the individual release, the Nozomi in this set uses the two-speed gearbox of the era. In 1991 Tomy released their first set with a video cassette, the Overpass Set with Fun Train Video. The inclusion of this video cassette was part of the "たのしさつなごうキャンペーン" or "Let's Have Fun Campaign." Tomy ended up continuing to release sets with VHS tapes throughout the 90s (even outside of Japan), with many sets coming with few if any scenery pieces (funnily enough, several VHS sets come with the 300-series Shinkansen, but that was the newest and fastest Shinkansen until the later 90s and thus a popular option).
The 300-series chassis is actually based off of a much older 70s design. The sticker in the shell of my Nozomi says that it was manufactured in August 1994. The box's ST 3 number means the box was printed in 1993, possibly as part of the original run. My box is sun faded unevenly on the top cover as well as drastically faded on one side.
Like other "overpass" sets such as 1990's Hikari with Light Overpass Set, this set includes the basic station and crossing of the era, the Elevated Station and New Railroad Crossing, both first released in 1985. All components of the set were produced in Thailand.
The made in Thailand curve rails in my set were produced in ex-Japanese molds with a raised portion over where the Japan text used to be. A numbering system to keep track of which rail came from which mold is also employed on the straight rails.
Although it was missing the video tape, my set did include the original manual and a copy of the 1993 Plarail catalog, although the staples had come out and the cover was slightly sun faded like the cover of the box.
Apparently the inclusion of the video tape is worth the equivalent of the handful of trees, signals, and catenaries that sets like this typically come with, because the only accessories in this set are the standard and very common Elevated Station and New Railroad Crossing (my example is missing several of the ovular yellow stickers for the gates).
The Nozomi running in the "ON" and "HI" speeds (click for full size videos with sound).