fall inside a hole

Furano Express (1988)

First written December 8, 2024

The Plarail Furano Express was released on March 10th, 1988 and depicted the Furano Express "Joyful Train" which was a modified set of Kiha 80 series diesel units made to look like a European-style excursion train that entered service in December 1986. The "Sneaker Train" version of the Furano Express, which was an All Nipon Airways-sponsored livery used in late 1987, was released at the same time, but went out of production around 1993.

 

Earlier examples of the train would have been produced in Japan, although my example is a later Thailand-made type. The Furano Express never changed to the seventh generation box type and remained on sale in the late 1980s sixth generation style until it was discontinued around 1997.

The power car chassis is the rectangular train type, with the tail car using their style of intermediate car chassis as well. The intermediate car uses a descendant of one of the 1980s radio control intermediate car chassis.

Lightening Express (Tomica World Super Deluxe Set) (1998)

After it was discontinued from regular Japanese sale, the Furano Express was released as the Lightening Express in the Tomica World 7423 Super Deluxe Set. This set was released in Europe and the United States and is a massive set with multiple trains and a ladder truck, and was still available around 2000. My example is missing the original chassis but is unchanged from the Japanese release and even uses the old style of rear couplings. Its nice to have another intermediate car too.