Here’s a look back at the history of the Plarail DD51, inspired by the recent announcement of a new DD51 Double Header Set, to be released in March 2022.

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DD51 Diesel Locomotive [DD51ディーゼルきかんしゃ], type 2 ‘Merry-go-round’ box.
DD51 Diesel Locomotive Set [DD51ディーゼルきかんしゃセット].
DD51 Diesel Locomotive [DD51ディーゼルきかんしゃ], type 3 ‘Hikari’ box. Roof and chassis changed from grey to black, though not in the box illustration.
DD-51 Diesel Locomotive [DD-51 ディーゼル], two boxes, a generic type 4 ‘Train’ box with the product name on a sticker, and another with the name printed on it.
DD-51, type 5 ‘EC’ box, with item number DL01 on the end. There ~~may also be~~ is a rare version in this box with the original grey roof & chassis (edit:- see post #8 dated 17-Mar-25 below).
DD-51, type 6 box.
DD-51 Diesel Locomotive [DD-51ディーゼル機関車], type 7 box. This was the start of the ‘new power’ era, with the top switch and pinion driven axle that we know today replacing the earlier front switch and friction driven wheels. The wheels have changed from red to yellow.
Tomica Plarail World - Motor Tomica Basic Set [トミカプラレールワールドモータートミカベーシックセット]. The DD51 has no number plate. The first production in a realistic livery - Hokutosei blue train, but without the shooting star. The set also contains a unique colour Motor Tomica CR-V.
Tower Rail Set [タワーレールセット]. The green ‘Safety First’ stickers shown on the box were separate in the set, more often than not you’ll see the locomotive without them.
First Try Set, Red [ファーストトライセットあか].
Euro Car Train [ユーロカートレイン], with a Tomica Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon.
Blue Train Set [ブルートレインセット]. Individual loco numbers applied for the first time, namely motorized DD51 58 (although this never existed) and dummy DD51 37 (which was scrapped before the Hokutosei blue livery was ever used). The station colouring is unique to this set, and eight Pla-kids is the stuff of dreams.

2002 Plarail Day. DD51 Type Diesel Locomotive (New Paint) [DD51形ディーゼル機関車(新塗装)]. Plarail Fan Club members’ gift. The non-existent DD51 58 again, this time in a new JR Freight livery.

K-01 DD51 851 [DD51形851号機], type 9 box.
K-02 DD51 1150 [DD51形1150号機]
Sleeping Cars Set [寝台車セット], Toys “R” Us exclusive. Powered DD51 1068 and dummy DD51 1148, plus an EF81.
S-59 Blue Train Izumo [ブルートレイン出雲], DD51 1186.
Tomica & Plarail Town Set [トミカとプラレールの街セット]. Hokutosei DD51 1068 again, but with a new ‘car train’ drumhead and grey wheels. Also a Tomica Evo X.
KF-03 DD51 851 [DD51形851号機]. K and F numbers amalgamated into KF numbers. This is the same as K-01.
Tomica Loading Freight Cars Set [トミカ搭載貨車セット]. Hokutosei DD51 1068 with ‘car train’ drumhead, the same as in the 2008 Tomica & Plarail Town Set.
Car Train Hokkaido [カートレイン北海道]. Released at Plarail Expo, and once again it’s the Hokutosei DD51 1068 with ‘car train’ drumhead.

Which brings us to 2022, and the Last Blue Train Hokutosei DD51 Double Header [最後のブルートレイン北斗星DD51重連仕様]. This will have two new locos, a motorized DD51 1100 with Hokutosei drumhead, and dummy DD51 1138. The last Hokutosei Blue Train ran in 2015, so it’s taken a while for it to be commemorated.

Have I missed any?