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Benkei (1998)

First written September 5, 2025

In 1998 a new power reproduction of the old Plarail Benkei, a JNR 7100 series steam locomotive imported from the United States into Japan in the 1880s, was released as the 1998 Plarail Day special release. Some good information about Benkei in particular as well as some photos can be seen on this webpage.

On October 14th, 1998 the Benkei (弁慶号) reprint was released as the Plarail Day limited release. It comes in the same shorter style of box as the previous and next Plarail Day releases and includes a signal.

The Benkei was one of the earlier steam locomotives introduced to Plarail, appearing around 1972 alongside the C58 in the second era of liftoff boxes. Like the original train, it has an attached tender that holds the C battery that powers the train.

Indeed, this new-power Benkei is really based on the new-power Mickey Poppo of the era, and use the same gearbox. Mickey Poppos are also American-style locomotives, but it isn't as accurate of a tooling to the real Benkei as the old type.

Like the real trains, the tenders have the locomotive's names on the side in large characters. The tender cover has a September 1998 mark, ahead of the October release.

The signal is the late 1990s and early 2000s rim base type that was mostly used in export sets.