Help with Japanese!

Super

While going through my storage of extra stuff I came across this train. I believe I have learned from Gerisplarail1 that these are Event Exclusive engines. I have seen a lot of color variations of these but none of them appealed to me except for this one...um...except for those yellow wheels that I will replace with black or gray. Anyway on the sides, in English it says ET-300_1 Express but I would like to know what it says on the front in Japanese. Does it simply say "Tomy"? I found another one i my storage that is all black with no Japanese on it and red wheels...ugh...will have to swap them out too.<img src="/assets/files/placeholder.png" alt="(missing)"><img src="/assets/files/placeholder.png" alt="(missing)">

Gerisplarail1

It is an event exclusive and yes it just says Plarail on the front in Japanese.

Super

Many thanks Geris for the translation and teaching me about Event Exclusives. Too bad they didnlt print the year or Event they were given away at. Do you happen to know if this train is modeled after a real one? I have not had any luck searching for it. It is very interesting looking.

Gerisplarail1

It is not based on a real train, the blue/silver event exclusive you have pictured was a prize from the fishing game at the plarail festivals held in 1999 celebrating plarails 40th Anniversary, this is a replica of a black train engine Tomy originally released in 1961. 3 of these were prizes in 1999, blue/silver, green/dark green, and yellow/red.

Super

Thanks Geris, I have seen some videos of the fishing game for the kids although not way back then. They must have continued the tradition with all their events. Might their be pictures of the black one they released in 1961? I will post a picture of the all black one just like this one I have in one of these boxes somewhere.

Gerisplarail1

Super wrote
Thanks Geris, I have seen some videos of the fishing game for the kids although not way back then. They must have continued the tradition with all their events. Might their be pictures of the black one they released in 1961? I will post a picture of the all black one just like this one I have in one of these boxes somewhere.

here are pics<img src="/assets/files/placeholder.png" alt="(missing)"><img src="/assets/files/placeholder.png" alt="(missing)">

Super

Wow, will you look at that vintage all metal motor housing and strange on/off switch. I believe that is almost exactly what the all black one that I have looks like so it must be a rerelease of this original. Is there a story about this one? I wouldn't imagine it to be an Event Exclusive. And look at those couplings with the hook facing up. Thanks Geris is this one yours?

Gerisplarail1

No this isn't mine just in my catalog of reference pictures, you are correct in 1961 they did not have events haha Plarail was only 2 years old. this was a standard release, I am pretty sure this was still before the toys were modeled after real life trains. I think there is a black replica that Tomy produced I thought I had pictures but I cannot find them, too many pics to look through haha.

MuddyPoppins

Sorry no comprehendè...
"I don't speak Spanish!!!" 😉

Super

This is a picture like the one I have (somewhere) that I just saw on the Japan Auctions. Looks just like the original but has the updated motor with the switch on top.<img src="/assets/files/placeholder.png" alt="(missing)">

Gerisplarail1

Yeah thats it I just don't remember what year it was released and what it was released for... Plarail Day maybe?

Super

I sure wish there was a real one. Looks like she would be related to an Ironclad ship from the mid 1800's and go into battle.

ROCKINATOR

Looks like a streamlined Hudson loco, but squished into a tank engine.

DalaGStanator

The black livery with the red wheels also makes it look like a Deutsche Bundesbahn loco.

Super

Thanks DalaGStanator

I really like the looks of that Deutsche Reichsbahn. I assume it is German, Is it only found in Germany? There is so much going on in that picture with all the boiler piping and all the rods and levers on the wheels. It doesn't look to have a tender coupled to it, is this a museum piece or is the fuel self contained?

ROCKINATOR

You can see some of the coal bunker in the photo. It's just almost empty.

DalaGStanator

@[deleted]

I was looking for a picture of one of the German locos I remembered with a similar livery to that Plarail one, and then I found that tank engine, so I used it as an example of the Deutsche Bundesbahn livery.