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Plarail Basic Sets and Set Types
Plarail has seen many long-standing layouts as well as briefly-produced set-exclusive items - shown on this page are many of the "basic" sets I own which have small layouts and common accessories, as well as other long-standing layouts like the Overpass set.
Plarail Basic Sets
Since the early days of Plarail in the 1960s, numbered sets have given a simple indication of the size of the set contained. In the 1970s many trains were released in oval sets and in later 1970s these basic layouts evolved into the numbered Basic sets. The No. 1 set is a basic oval, and the No. 2 set is a passing loop, with the lesser-seen No. 3 set incorporating a passing siding. Although these sets do often include accessories, they were typically off-the-shelf types as opposed to set variants. Collected here are the "Basic No." and similar type sets in my collection.
| Year |
Set name |
Description |
Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Electric Limited Express Hikarigo Set NO.1 | Includes a first-generation powered 0-series Shinkansen with roof switch, early plastic couplings, a small oval of track, and early examples of some classic accessories |
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| 1974 | Super Express Hikari Turnout Set | First of the oval-with-passing-loop sets, with blue and white Super Express Hikari |
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| 1977 | Basic No.2 Set | First "No. 2" passing loop set with blue-nose Hikari 0 series |
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| 1977 | Basic No.3 Set | First No. 3 set, with passing loop, siding, and larger overall layout with rim-drive L Limited Express |
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| 1977 |
Junior Train Set |
U.K. market oval set with C-12 and freight train - incorrectly shown larger on the box |
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| Spring 1979 |
Basic No.2 Set Hikari with
Light |
Update of the 1977 Basic No.2 Set with the new-for-1979 Hikari with Light |
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| Spring 1979 | Blue Train Set | Oval set including the new Blue Train and railroad crossing with sound |
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| 1979 | Junior Express Set 4545 | Small German-market basic set with an oval of track, EF58, and two passenger cars |
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| 1982 | Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen Set | Small basic set featuring the then-new 200 series Shinkansen |
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| 1982 | Basic No.1 Set D-51 | Rereleased No. 1 Basic set with D-51 freight train |
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| 1982 | Shuppo D-51 Set | Basic No.2 Set-style layout with country station, D51, cattle wagon, and "chuffing" mail car |
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| 1983 | Mickey Poppo NO.1 Set | Basic oval set with Mickey Poppo Red and several family dolls |
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| 1987 | Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light Set | New power rerelease of the 1982 oval basic set with a 200 series Shinkansen with light |
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| 1987 | 2-Speed Shinkansen Set | Includes 2-speed 100 series Shinkansen with the classic basic No. 2 set passing loop with station |
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| 1988 | Tomy Train 1 | Passing loop Tomy Train set with reversing mixed traffic steam train |
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| 1989 | Tomy-Express Set 01 | German release of the small Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light Set with 200 series Shinkansen |
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| 1989 |
Tomy-Express Set 02 | German release of the 2-Speed Shinkansen Set with dark blue rails and "TOMY EXPRESS" 100 series Shinkansen |
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| 17 April 1992 | Thomas the Tank Engine Basic Set | The second Thomas-series set, a slightly enlarged version of the No. 2 layout, rereleased and exported many times |
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| 25 February 1993 | Henry Train Set | Thomas-series Henry introductory set with the Basic No.2 layout |
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| 1993 | Tunnel Sound Train Set | Updated No. 2-style Tomy Trains set with chuffing passenger car |
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| 1997 | Thomas the Tank Engine Starter Set | Oval of track with Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, tree and stoplight for North America |
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| 1999 | Thomas the Tank Engine Set | Small set with oval of track, turnout, crossing with sound, and Thomas with freight cars; rereleased a few times |
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Overpass Set
Another common and long-lasting layout is the "Overpass" and its variations, with a lower loop that branches off and up to an elevated section that crosses over the lower track. It first appeared in 1974 and has also been used in export sets. Modified versions continue to appear as the recent "Best Selection" sets and remote control sets.
| Year |
Set name |
Description |
Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | EF-15 Electric Locomotive Overpass Panorama Set | First set to use the classic "overpass" layout, with early EF15 and freight train |
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| 1979 | Junior Express Set 4570 | "Overpass" layout set with C12 and Stelco-made auto carrier, tanker car, railroad crossing, and more |
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| 1981 | Electric Locomotive Overpass Set | "Overpass" layout set with EF15 and freight train, nice station, and level crossing sold for many years |
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| 1988 | Hikari with Light New Overpass Set | 30th Anniversary Plarail set with four-car Hikari and overpass layout |
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| 1988 | Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light New Overpass Set | Overpass layout set with 200 series Shinkansen and exclusive intermediate car celebrating Plarail's 30th anniversary |
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| 1988 | Tomy Train 2 | Tomy Train-series overpass set with bridge and reversing train |
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| 1988 | Tomy Train 3 | Even larger Tomy Train export set with more accessories and additional sidings |
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| 1990 | Mickey Poppo Set | Disney set that includes a variant of the Mickey Poppo, modified overpass layout, Disney station, and "it's a small world" ride |
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| 1990 | Hikari with Light Overpass Set | Includes 0-series Shinkansen with light and classic "overpass" layout with the new-for-1990 R-19 automatic turnout rail as well as two "bonus" straight track sections |
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| 1991 | Tomytrain 3 | Redesigned European Tomy Train 3 set with reversing steam freight train |
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| 1993 | Overpass Nozomi Set with Video | Includes 300-series Shinkansen and classic overpass layout as well as a VHS video |
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| 1993 | Tomy Train 2 | Updated European Tomy Train overpass-style set with train with light feature |
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| April 2001 | Doctor Yellow Train Depot Set | Larger overpass layout with depot sheds and the first 923-series Doctor Yellow train |
First, Beginner and Starter Sets
Tomy has also released a variety of Beginner and First sets, quite often also with small layouts, positioned as starter sets for the series. Two circle sets appeared in the mid 1970s, with the complexity of layouts varying over time. In the later 1990s with the shift to focus on trains and accessories the First Try and My Town Train series were released with small layouts and detailed trains. Several "First" Thomas-series sets have also been released
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Beginner's Set Hikari | Introductory set with oval and two-car unlit Hikaris |
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| 1989 | First Set | Includes a 0-series Shinkansen and a number of rare pieces like red track-to-surface ramps and yellow iron bridge supports |
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| July 1993 | Doll Play First Set | Initial Doll Play set introducing the series with 300 series Nozomi and driver and passenger figures to ride it |
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| 1998 | Thomas Starter Set | Export Thomas starter set with turnout |
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| 2000 | First Try Set Red | Includes a nicely detailed and fairly accurate repaint of the old DD51 molding, container car, and small circle of track with switches |
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| 2001 | First Try Set Dark Blue | Includes an EF66 with the running number EF 66 11 and a Schnabel-type large cargo car with removable machinery and circle of track |
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| May 30 2002 | Thomas the Tank Engine First Plarail Set | Small Thomas oval set in a bucket |
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| December 2002 | My Town Train Set Hokkaido | Small set with C11 171 steam locomotive and two old passenger cars |
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| August 27 2009 | Thomas the Tank Engine Basic Set | Starter set with oval of track, recolored Ffarquhar Station, Thomas, and turnout |
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| October 3 2013 | Thomas the Tank Engine Basic Set | Basic oval set with Thomas, station and tunnel |
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| September 29 2018 | Thomas the Tank Engine Basic Set | Basic set with the new CGI-face Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel |
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Later Basic-style sets
In the early 2000s when Tomy began to focus on the detail level of trains as well as accessory variations many smaller oval sets were released that often had exclusive trains and accessories
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2003 | Thomas the Tank Engine Snow Shoveling Set | Thomas-series set with snowplow and "snowy" rails and accessories |
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| March 2004 | Kyushu Shinkansen 800 Series Tsubame Set | Small "entry" set with new 800 series Shinkansen and panel station |
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