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Fan Club Exclusive Plarail 40th Anniversary Album (1999)

First written January 25, 2025

In 1999 as part of their celebration of the 40th anniversary of Plarail Tomy released a Plarail Fan Club-exclusive five-train pack as the Fan Club Exclusive Plarail 40th Anniversary Album (ファンクラブ限定プラレール 40thアニバーサリーアルバム).

This pack was originally advertised as a limited edition of 1000, but apparently there were actually 3000 produced, and the Plarail Museum has a higher serial number in that range on display... It was available only to Plarail Fan Club members for 7500 yen, and was still available into the 2000s. Five trains, all of them exclusive variations... Tomy really released a lot of 40th anniversary products.

The upper inner box flap shows a timeline of some different Plarail releases. The mentioned events are:

  1. 1959: "Plastic Train Set" is now on sale. This is the beginning of Plarail's history. The pictured train is a later plastic-coupling Plastic Train. Plastic Train Set (1959~69). The first Plarail. It rolled by hand without using batteries or motors. The note under the picture says that the photo is an old product.
  2. 1961: "Electric Plastic Train Set" is now on sale. The pictured train is the first battery powered Plarail locomotive, based on a German clockwork train. Electric Plastic Train Set (1961~66). The first electric Plarail. Streamlined body like a foreign steam locomotive. Like the Plastic Train, it notes the picture is an old product.
  3. 1964: The Tokaido Shinkansen opens in time for the Tokyo Olympics. "Dream Super Express Hikari Set" is now on sale. The pictured train is the early unpowered Plarail 0 series Shinkansen. Dream Super Express Hikari Set (1964~68). A non-powered 4-car Hikari set that can be rolled by hand. The red car body is rare.
  4. 1968: "Plarail Electric Train" released in three colors: red, yellow, and green. The train pictured is an early green Electric Train with unpainted roof and bent up power switch. Plarail Electric Train (1968~81). A train modeled after common commuter trains that run through familiar towns.
  5. 1971: The very popular Plarail "D-51" joins the group. Pictured is a later D-51 Express Train with plastic crank pins and coaches lacking pantographs. D-51 Express Train (1971~80). Two passenger cars were connected to D-51.
  6. 1972: Benkei and Chin Chin Tram appear in Plarail. The pictured train is the original release Benkei steam locomotive. Benkei (1972~76). A locomotive used when the first railway was built in Hokkaido.
  7. 1972: Benkei and Chin Chin Tram appear in Plarail. The pictured train is the original release Chin Chin Tram tram. Chin Chin Tram (1972~75). It moves along the tracks laid in the roadway while making a Chin Chin sound.
    1973: The Plarail "C-12 Rotary Snowplow" is now available. No associated picture.
  8. 1974: The first private railway vehicle appears, the "Panorama Express". The oldest vehicle still made today, the "Tokai type Express Train" appears. The image shows a new-power Tokai-type train. Tokai Type Express Train (1974~). The oldest vehicle still manufactured.
  9. 1978: Narita Airport opens. This year, "L Limited Express" is released in Plarail. Modern release estimates date the L Limited Express to 1967 or certainly 1977, with a revised version appearing in 1978. Pictured is a new power L Limited Express. L Limited Express (1978~). When JR was a national railway, limited express trains were of this style.
  10. 1979: Light is on. "Hikari-go with Light" released for the first time. Pictured is a new power Hikari with Light. Hikari-go with Light (1979~96). The first car with lights on. It was the 4th generation Hikari issue of Plarail and was on sale until 1996.
  11. 1981: The Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen is released in Plarail one day before its opening. Pictured is a new power Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Light. Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Lights (1981~92). The first Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen appeared as a vehicle with lights.
    1982: Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen opens. First character vehicle "Mickey Poppo (Red)" is now available. No associated picture.
    1984: New bank notes current bank notes) issues. This year in Plarail comes a control function. "I'm a Train Driver" is released. No associated picture.
  12. 1987: This year, Plarail introduced 2-speed Shinkansen vehicles. The pictured train appears to be an early Thailand-production 2-Speed Shinkansen with white power switch.
  13. 1992: Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi, Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa opens. Plarail trains also appeared in this year. "Thomas the Tank Engine" appears. Pictured is the 2-Speed Nozomi. 2-Speed Nozomi (1992~). A popular train on the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen.
  14. 1992: Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi, Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa opens. Plarail trains also appeared in this year. "Thomas the Tank Engine" appears. Pictured is the 2-Speed Tsubasa. 2-Speed Tsubasa (1992~). The first Shinkansen to run on a conventional line connecting Tokyo and Yamagata.
  15. 1994: "Shinkansen Max" released. The first large-scale scenic component "Future Express Nozomi" is released. Pictured is the All 2-Story Shinkansen Max. Shinkansen Max (1994~). All two-level train on the Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen.
  16. 1996: Third character vehicle "Doll Play Doraemon Set" released. "500 Series Shinkansen" released. "E2 Shinkansen Asama" released. Pictured is the E2 Shinkansen. E2 Shinkansen Asama (1996~). Shinkansen running between Tokyo and Nagano. It is now possible to connect with the E3 series.
  17. 1996: Third character vehicle "Doll Play Doraemon Set" released. "500 Series Shinkansen" released. "E2 Shinkansen Asama" released. Pictured is a 500 Series Shinkansen. 500 Series Shinkansen (1996~). Shinkansen made by JR West. Designed to reduce air resistance. It's cool and looks like a jet plane.
  18. 1997: "E3 Akita Shinkansen Komachi" released. October 14th is established as "Plarail Day" and the limited edition product "Chin Chin Densha" is released. Pictured is the 1997 Plarail Day Chin Chin Tram reissue. Plarail Day Limited Reprint Chin Chin Densha (1997). It was released to commemorate Plarail Day on October 14th.
  19. 1997: "E3 Akita Shinkansen Komachi" released. October 14th is established as "Plarail Day" and the limited edition product "Chin Chin Densha" is released. Pictured is the E3 Shinkansen. E3 Akita Shinkansen Komachi (1997~). The Shinkansen that connects Tokyo and Skita runs on conventional lines between Morioka and Akita.
  20. 1998: Plarail Day limited product Benkei released. 700 series Shinkansen on sale. Plarail's first foreign vehicle "Eurostar" is released. E4 Series Shinkansen Max released. Colorful express train "Fresh Hitachi" released. A Plarail fan club has been created. Pictured are the five initial "Fresh Hitachi" colors. Fresh Hitachi (1998~). JR East's limited express trains come in five color variations.
  21. 1998: Plarail Day limited product Benkei released. 700 series Shinkansen on sale. Plarail's first foreign vehicle "Eurostar" is released. E4 Series Shinkansen Max released. Colorful express train "Fresh Hitachi" released. A Plarail fan club has been created. Pictured is the E4 Shinkansen Max. E4 Shinkansen Max (1998~). JR East's new Shinkansen has more seats than the E1 series MAX.
  22. 1998: Plarail Day limited product Benkei released. 700 series Shinkansen on sale. Plarail's first foreign vehicle "Eurostar" is released. E4 Series Shinkansen Max released. Colorful express train "Fresh Hitachi" released. A Plarail fan club has been created. Pictured is the Eurostar, also released in the UK an some parts of Europe under the Tomica World range. Eurostar (1998~). An international express train that runs through the Anglo-French tunnel connecting England and France.
  23. 1998: Plarail Day limited product Benkei released. 700 series Shinkansen on sale. Plarail's first foreign vehicle "Eurostar" is released. E4 Series Shinkansen Max released. Colorful express train "Fresh Hitachi" released. A Plarail fan club has been created. Pictured is the 700 Series Shinkansen. 700 Series Shinkansen (1998~). A Shinkansen jointly developed by JR Tokai and JR West that incorporates technology from the 300 series, 500 series, and 300X.
  24. 1998: Plarail Day limited product Benkei released. 700 series Shinkansen on sale. Plarail's first foreign vehicle "Eurostar" is released. E4 Series Shinkansen Max released. Colorful express train "Fresh Hitachi" released. A Plarail fan club has been created. Pictured is the rereleased Benkei. Plarail Day Limited Reprint Benkei Issue (1998). The second revised vehicle released to commemorate Plarail Day on October 14th.
  25. 1999: "Revival! Electric Plastic Train Trio" released. "Tinplate Plarail" released. Plarail celebrates its 40th anniversary. Pictured is the tinplate C53 and coach from the Tinplate Plarail pack. Tin Plarail (1999). 40th anniversary product. The body is made of metal instead of plastic.
  26. 1999: "Revival! Electric Plastic Train Trio" released. "Tinplate Plarail" released. Plarail celebrates its 40th anniversary. Pictured are the three rereleased Electric Plastic Train Trio. Revival! Electric Plastic Train Trio (1999). 40th anniversary product. A 3-color set of reproductions of representative vehicles that can be said to be the face of Plarail vehicles.

A note at the bottom right mentions that not all vehicles shown in the chronology are currently on sale.

My example has a relatively low serial number and is unopened. I sort of hate buying sealed old toys, especially when they are rare, and this set with known production quantity qualifies... I did not pay too outrageous of a price, although it was more than the original sale price, but I do not want to open a set that has not already been opened before.

The trains inside are all nice in their own way - the first two trains are then-modern reproductions of the period color variations of the original Plarail Plastic Train and Electric Plastic Train. The back of the box says of the Plastic Train: The "Plastic Train" that appeared in 1959 (Showa 34) can be said to be the origin of Plarail, and was a five-car train. Although it was not called Plarail at that time, the specifications of the rail parts and the connection play have been inherited by Today's Plarail vehicles. The "Plastic Train" differed greatly from today's Plarail in that it was rolled by hand rather than by motor power. Furthermore, this Plastic Train was an original design that was not modeled after an actual vehicles. There was also a color variation in which the train was red. Production ended in 1969 (Showa 44). The red variant of the locomotive mentioned on the box was reproduced in the general-sale 40th Anniversary Plarail Limited Edition pack. Of the Electric Plastic Train, it says: The "Electric Plastic Train" released in 1961 (Showa 36) was a three-car train, including the first motor-powered vehicle in the series, and ran on a single C battery. The three-car train system which runs on C batteries has been passed down to current Plarail vehicles. Like the "Plastic train," this "Electric Plastic train" is also a vehicle with an original design. There was also a black color variation of the train. Production ended in 1966 (Showa 41). Like the Plastic Train, the black version of the Electric Plastic Train mentioned here was included in the general-sale pack.

The D-51 is a new-power representation of the discontinued D51 Express Train, of which the box says: A total of 1,115 D-51 steam locomotives were manufactured between 1936 (Showa 11) and 1945 (Showa 20), making it one of Japan's most representative steam locomotives. It has four driving wheels and was designed to produce a lot of power. All were retired in 1975 (Showa 50), but in recent years, No. 498 was revived and can once again be seen running on the main line. No. 200 is also preserved in working order at the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum in Kyoto. The Plarail D-51 Express Train was introduced in 1971 (Showa 46) and production ended in 1980 (Showa 55).

The 0 series Shinkansen is the Hikari with Light, which had been discontinued a few years earlier, but here it returns with the added silver roof details as seen on the West Hikari. The West Hikari has red nose cones and grey wheels, but this Hikari with Light reproduction has red wheels like the original and yellow nose cones... I suppose you could get the ultimate Hikari with Lights by taking the power car from this train and the tail car from a West Hikari to make a silver-roof train with yellow illuminated front and rear red nose cones. The box says: The Tokaido Shinkansen 10 series was manufactured for the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in October 1964 (Showa 39) Since then, more have been produced, with around 2,300 cars manufactured. The unique front end was familiar as the face of the Shinkansen, but with the birth of new Shinkansen trains sych as the 100 series, 300 series, and 500 series, the chances of seeing it have decreased. The Plarail was introduced in 1979 (Showa 54) and production ended in 1996 (Heisei 8).

The 500 series Shinkansen is a more accurately colored version than the regular release at the time was. The back of the box says of it: It was launched in January 1996 as a new Shinkansen train capable of running at a maximum speed of 300km per hour. Its body has a sharp, streamlined shape, like an airplane with the wings removed. In addition, it was manufactured as a new Shinkansen train for the 21st century, adopting a T-shaped pantograph. It is used for the "Nozomi" and connects Tokyo and Hakata in 4 hours and 49 minutes. The Plarail was introduced in 1996 (Heisei 8) and is currently on sale.

What a set... Plarail hasn't done another five-car pack to date. I'm still on the lookout for perhaps an opened copy of this set so that I have one to play with...