The EF66 is a fast electric freight locomotive capable of hauling 1,300 tons of freight at up to 110 km/hr. 55 locomotives were built between 1968 and 1975 with a further 33 later type 100 locomotives built between 1989 and 1991. The last original series EF-66 locomotive left JR Freight service in 2022 while most of the later 100 series trains are still in service with JR Freight.
The first Plarail EF-66 trains were the Round-Trip locomotives with reversing gearboxes first released in 1976. A few different set and individual release variants exist. Newer EF66 toolings are all based on these old friction-drive EF-66s. These EF-66s continued to be produced in Japan until late 1992 when the toolings were moved to Thailand and converted to new power.
These reversing EF-66s are some of my absolute favorite Plarail trains of all time. I love the Round-Trip series and wish it was easier to get more of the pieces, engines, and sets. The export toy line Tomy Train in the late 1980s to mid 1990s used Plarail track and some related standards but with reversing engines with magnetic couplings, which is also a pretty cool system.
After the toolings moved to Thailand and were converted for new power, EF-66s in the same color scheme but without any of the reversing capabilities went on sale first in late sixth generation and then beginning in 1994 seventh generation individual release boxes. This EF-66 would remain in the normal lineup until the brand refresh in 2003.
During this period Tomy also began to experiment more with offering different realistic color variants and running numbers. In 2001 an EF-66 in an updated white and light blue freight livery was included in the Railway Yard Set Full of Freight Cars and in later 2001 the First Try Set Dark Blue included an updated and more detailed blue EF-66 with the running number EF 66 11. Both of these engines use the "curvy logo" chassis and the version of the body shell molding with EF66 in the noses like the period individual release.
In 2003 when the range was refreshed and updated across the board the regular individual release new power EF-66 was replaced by the K-03 EF66 type 11, which is an updated and more detailed EF-66 similar to the 2001 First Try Set EF-66. Indeed, they both have the running number EF6611.
My K-03 EF66 type 11 was manufactured in June 2004. It has some playwear - some of the window lining is rubbing off, and there is some plastic stress visible from the outside of the shell.
The noses on the refreshed 2003 EF66 tooling are flat so that different running number stickers could be applied for different releases instead of always just saying EF66. The new version also now wears the JR logo. This new individual release has the new squared off Tomy logo chassis with more support around the battery contacts. I quite like both this release and the First Try set version.
In late 2003 the K-08 EF66 type 12 was released in a freight livery similar to the 2001 Freight Yard Set EF66 but with a realistic running number and some other details. The EF66 also reappeared in three-packs in 2003 for the updated S-39 Blue Train, replacing the EF65 in the original Blue Train.