Since the 30th anniversary celebrated in 1988, Tomy has released a number of special anniversary products, usually limited in some way.
In 1988 two special anniversary sets were produced with special additional anniversary intermediate cars
Year |
Name |
Description |
Photo |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Hikari with Light New Overpass Set | 30th Anniversary Plarail set with four-car 0 series 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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Plarail's dedicated fanbase had only grown since its inception, and in the later 1990s Tomy began to market to this crowd with Plarail Expo events, the Plarail Fan Club, and a trove of special releases for the 40th anniversary of Plarail celebrated in 1999
Year | Name | Description | Photo |
---|---|---|---|
February 26 1999 | Tinplate Plarail | Tinplate streamlined C53 steam locomotive released to celebrate Plarail's 40th anniversary and Tomy's history with tin toys |
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April 1999 | Revival! Electric Plastic Train Trio | Three 103-series trains with more details than other Electric Train variations |
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June 26 1999 | Gold-Plated 700 Series 40th Anniversary Plarail Memorial Video | Commemorative 40th anniversary VHS video with unpowered two-unit gold 700 series Shinkansen |
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July 1999 | 40th Anniversary Plarail Limited Edition | A limited edition modernized reissue of the 1960s Plastic Train and Electric Plastic Train with rolling stock |
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1999 | Fan Club Exclusive Plarail 40th Anniversary | Five-car commemorative album produced in a series of 3000 and available for sale only to Plarail Fan Club members |
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1999 | Let's Play With Parents and Children!! Shinkansen Set | Nice set commemorating the 40th anniversary of Plarail with a special red and white new power 0 series referencing the 1960s and early 1970s red and white Hikaris and a 500 series Shinkansen plus a loop of double rail track with station |
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Perhaps seeing many of the 40th anniversary products lingering on shelves, much fewer 45th Anniversary products were released - in fact, I think there was only one train pack, which was actually released in early 2005. Perhaps they were fatigued from lagging stock from the 40th anniversary...
Year |
Name |
Description |
Photo |
---|---|---|---|
January 2005 | Plarail 45th Anniversary Set | Anniversary set with a recolor of the 1999 reissue Electric Plastic Train with neat Tomy-themed containers as well as reprints of the initial unpainted red and green Electric Trains |
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2009 saw an interesting take on reissuing the Plastic Train and saw a relatively large set featuring a new tooling of the C-12 steam locomotive as well as several detailed freight cars and a bridge with the idea of offering what a modern equivalent of an early Plarail Plastic Train set would be - a steam-pulled freight train with nice track layout but with modern detail standards and play features
Year | Name | Description | Photo |
---|---|---|---|
April 23 2009 | 50th Anniversary C12 Steam Locomotive Arch Bridge and Rail Set | Anniversary set with C12, unique freight cars, and figure eight layout with bridge and station |
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2019 saw a new reissue of the classic Plastic Train with a new unpowered locomotive tooling and powered box car as well as a neat C-62 set with track-triggered sound and light features
Year |
Name |
Description |
Photo |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Plarail 60th Anniversary Plastic Steam Train | Reprint version of the Plastic Train with unpowered locomotive similar to the original (and a powered box car, unlike the original) |
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March 2020 | Action on the Rails! C62 Steam Locomotive Set |
In 2024 Plarail turned 65 and the Tokaido Shinkansen turned 60 - to commemorate both, Tomy issued a special Shinkansen pack
Year | Name | Description | Photo |
---|---|---|---|
September 28 2024 | Shinkansen 60th Anniversary Commemoration 0 Series Shinkansen Hikari 1 & Super Express Hikari Set | Wide-windowed Hikari representing number 1 that ran to open the Shinkansen in 1964 and the same modern tooling used to reproduce a red and white Super Express Hikari like Plarail produced at the time |
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