Plarail EF63 Sound Set

[ripley802]

Well I was watching an auction for the Brown anniversary edition EF which was new in the box, but it ended up selling with the regular EF63 for 17,000¥ which is probably not that bad of a price for it but too much for me.  I did want to post some pics of the box though for reference and incase anyone’s runs upon one.  And @Super this may help us understand why it is called the “Nagano Shinkansen 10th anniversary” Set.  

[Super]

@Super this may help us understand why it is called the “Nagano Shinkansen 10th anniversary” Set.  

I din't see anything to help me understand.

I didn't know you were still interested in these Ripley, I will keep another eye out.

[ripley802]

The set comes with an E2 Shinkansen it looks like.

Yeah I am still looking for this one. Most likely used but even those sell for quite a bit. Just saw two go for 7500¥ +

The story with the Shinkansen label....

EF63s were built specifically as helper locomotives and worked in pairs to push trains over Usui Pass. On the return trip, the EF63’s massive braking system (each axle had its own dynamic brake) would be used to control trains coming back down the pass. In 1997, a Shinkansen line was opened nearby and routed through a tunnel that eliminated the grueling grade at Usui Pass. Service over the pass was discontinued on the regular 3ft 6in gauge line past Yokokawa, thus ending the need for the EF63s based there.

The brown paint scheme came along fairly late in the career of the EF63 and was done as a commemorative “retro” color way, even though they’d originally been delivered in the familiar blue color.

Yeah, I’m a *BIT* of an EF63 geek!

[Super]

Thanks OTR

Not sure I see why this set has these 3 trains and its a 10th anniversary of what?

[ripley802]

This may have something to do with it:
https://m.japan-rail-pass.com/mobile/jap...-to-nagano

I am assuming this may have been release possibly in 2007 and commentates the completion of this rail line in 1997? Just speculation though.

[Super]

Just curious about the why of this set. I wonder if it was released as a site specific, limited edition which might explain why the dual brown EF63 engines. Does the brown EF63 have sound?

Thanks OTR

Not sure I see why this set has these 3 trains and its a 10th anniversary of what?

Sorry, I wrote that in the midst of getting “Daddy’d” to death. I meant to clarify that the set commemorates the 10th anniversary of the end of regular service over the Usui Pass, with the EF63s and the 489 series Asama, and the introduction of the Shinkansen service, both in 1997.

The 489 Asama was one of primary trains that would’ve been helped over the pass by the EF63s and the Shinkansen is what replaced them.

[Super]

Ahhhhh!...that makes sense, Thanks OTR