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C57 SL Banetsu Monogatari Set (2005)
First written October 16, 2025
Continuing the 2000s trends of basic sets with neat trains and set variant accessories, Tomy released the C57 SL Banetsu Monogatari Set (C57 SLばんえつ物語号セット) in 2005. The bottom of the box says of the C57 and Banetsu Monogatari: 201 C57 steam locomotives were manufactured starting in 1937 (Showa 12). Combining a slim boiler with large wheels (the same diameter as the C62 steam locomotive). The C57 was affectionately known as the "Lady" for its beautiful, tough appearance. No. 180 is a Gunoka, third-generation C57, which was born in August 1946 (Showa 21) after the war and ran the equivalent of circling the Earth 42 times before being scrapped in 1969 (Showa 44) After being scrapped, it was preserved at the Pu School in Niitstu City, Niigata Prefecture and in 1999 (Heisei 11) it was revived for the first time in 30 years as the "SL Banetsu Monogatari" and is currently in service under the jurisdiction of JR East. The SL Banetsu Monogatari train travels from Niigata to Aizu-Wakamatsu in approximately four hours.
The box describes this as an "entry" or "starter" set - This is the perfect set for anyone just starting out with Plarail!
Set contents| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C-57 No. 180 and coach |
 |
| 1 | R-01 Straight Rail |
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| 8 | R-03 Curve Rail |
 |
| 1 | R-08 Stop Rail |
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| 1 | J-01 Tunnel (set variant) |
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| 1 | J-23 Country Station (Lakeside Station set variant) |
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| 3 | Standing Tree (pink) |
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The Banetsu Monogatari is a Joyful Train operated by JR East between Niigata and Aizu-Wakamatsu. This set depicts the train with the original brown and cream-liveried coach, and the repainted blue coach appears with C57 180 in the 2009 C57 No. 180 Steam Locomotive Basic Set.
The locomotive has the Banetsu Monogatari headmark and an open cab to seat a PlaKid figure - although none is included in the set! In an era where PlaKids were appearing everywhere, even in sets that did not have PlaKid-specific trains, why leave out a PlaKid in a set that has a cab to seat one for the first time?
The C-57 first appeared in Plarail form in the S-53 C57 No. 1 Steam Locomotive Yamaguchi individual release in 2003, but this set was the first time that unit 180 was represented in Plarail form. Unit number 1 and 180 are the only two examples of the class preserved in working condition. The train is tender drive, of course, as the PlaKid takes up the space where a gearbox would traditionally be. It does make the tender look a little large and bulky.
The coach is a 12 series car, with the Banetsu Monogatari name and emblem on the sides. It represents the rear car of train as used between 1999 when the service began and 2007 when the carriages were repainted.
The station in the set is a Lakeside Station variation on the classic Country Station.
The tunnel has a variant of the portal stickers... I think the rectangular hanging protrusion inside is from when this tunnel had an Alpha-system chip installed for the Thunderbird Express Scenery Set.
Three pink standing trees are included, matching the pink trees on the station. Some other sets include different shades of pink trees which can be used to fill out the set even more.
It is a basic entry set, but the train is very nice and the accessories match and fit the set nicely. The followup set from 2009 has a more interesting layout with slightly elevated bridge and a turnout, but the accessories are perhaps not as nice - although it does include a PlaKid! Also shown above is the set with a few extra accessories.
| Set name | C57 SL Banetsu Monogatari Set C57 SLばんえつ物語号セット |
Release period | 2005 |
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