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Remote Control Plarail

Starting in the mid 1980s during the old power era Tomy began releasing remote control Plarail trains and occasionally other products. Shown here are the remote control Plarail toys in my collection

I'm a Train Driver Radio Control Plarail (1984)

In 1984 during the "winter period" of the later old power era Tomy released the first remote control Plarail trains, with six of the common and popular trains on the era being represented. In addition to the three trains I have, the period L Limited Express, Tokai Type Train, and Subway Train were produced. These trains had simple on-off controls and operated on either 40 or 49 megahertz

Year	Name	Description
1984	Radio Control Hikari	Remote-control old power 0 series Hikari. Takes two C batteries plus a 9 volt for the remote and the only control is "ON" or "OFF"
1984	Radio Control Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen	Mid 80s radio control 200 series Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen
1984	Radio Control Blue Train	Radio control Blue Train with old power EF65 and 24 series coaches
1984	Radio Control I'm a Driver Tohoko Joetsu Shinkansen Set	The first radio control Plarail set and the only released in this series, with 200 series Shinkansen

I'm Driving the Super Hikari and Nozomi (1988-1998)

In 1988 a new more advanced radio control version of the Super Hikari that had two forward and a reverse speed as well as controllable lights and a horn. In 1989 and 1990 a set of infrared remote control points and controller were released first in an even larger set with the R/C Super Hikari and then individually. When the Super Hikari mockup Shinkansen was phased out in favor of the real 300 series Shinkansen in followup sets. Parts of these train's mechanism was adapted for the later 1990s infrared control 300 series Shinkansen

Year	Name	Description
1988	I'm Driving the Super Hikari Set	Initial large radio control Super Hikari set with suspension bridge and panel station
1990	E-01 Remote Control Controller	Controller for the early 1990s remote control switch system
1990	E-02 Remote Control Point Rail (A)	Left-handed "A" switch for the early 90s remote control system
1990	E-03 Remote Control Point Rail (B)	Remote control right-handed "B" switch for the 1990s remote control switch system
1992	I'm Driving the Remote Control Nozomi Set	Updated version of the I'm Driving the Super Hikari set with the 300 series Nozomi
1995	I'm Driving the R/C Plarail Nozomi Set	Smaller remote control Nozomi set with no accessories

Voice Control Plarail (1995)

During the silver "PLA RAIL" remote control era three radio control trains with voice-activated remotes were released in 1995

Year	Name	Description	Photo
July 21 1995	Voice Command Tsubasa	400 series Shinkansen with voice-activated remote control

I'm the Driver: Infrared Control (1998)

In 1998 the radio control Nozomi was redesigned to use a infrared control system with a new larger version of the previous controller that also had two paddles to flip two infrared switches included in the set it was released in. The 300 series style train was exported without the switches and this train served as the basis for the Doctor Yellow train with CCD video camera

Year	Name	Description	Photo

In 2005 a remote control 700 series train with sound was released that used a cell phone-looking remote with different "data chips" that could be inserted to change the train's chime. During the earlier "new mechanism" era a whistle or cell phone app-controlled train as well as a new Doctor Yellow with two cameras and app control was released. More recently, the Master Grip Controller series of trains and sets with a remote control chassis that can be swapped into the other trains with the swappable new mechanism.