Note: The E-235 on a N-Gauge track for photo purposes / use a plarail track to run it!
The Yamanote Line is one of Japan’s most iconic lines.
Where those in Tokyo ride JR East’s E-235 on the popular loop to get to major stations throughout Japan.
I have been riding on the Yamanote Line since I was a young lad in college starting with the 205 series, then the E231 and now the E235 (which was introduced in 2015). So, while I own the N-Gauge version, I wanted to test out the Plarail version.
Now, the Yamanote trains have been released on Plarail for decades, and three I mentioned have been released including the 103’s, when they were used on the Yamanote Line (Green train from 1963-1988).
Now this is probably the first and it may be the last time I will review an ES plarail train. As I go for the standard line of Plarail, the ES line is the budget-friendly line that is targeted for parents who want affordable plarail to introduce to their children.
For one, the doors are sticker-based and they operate on a single speed and are a few inches smaller than the standard S-line of Plarail. So, you can use it on smaller tracks in a smaller space which is a plus.
But even more significant is how much cheaper they are at Y1000-Y1300 (which is equivalent to $7.34 – $9.55 USD, with today’s currency). But considering the standard plarail is only Y1700 ($12.49), personally I like the standard version.
Personally, for me, I don’t like applying any stickers to trains, but fortunately these are big enough to place in (well, whether it’s on perfectly straight is another story). But the trains are pretty plain without the stickers.
But the straight still has cutout windows and a detailed roof.
And of course, utilizes the couplers which Plarail has been known for and the rubber treads.
But it’s when you start putting on the stickers, this train comes to life.
I do like that metallic silver paint on the train but for the most part, the stickers were not too difficult to put on.
And as a safety precaution, like all Plarail, the batteries must be unscrewed on and it takes on a single AA battery.
For parents, I think this plarail would easily suffice because it’s small and cheap and it’s a safe product. So, you can easily purchase 2-3 trains to make your child happy for an equivalent of $20-$25 USD.
Parents would probably need to put on the stickers but the single speed is adequate and for the most part, the ES trains will be enough for children and I think it’s an excellent move by Takara Tomy to release these for their Plarail line and to make things more economical, considering everything is going up in price, parents can buy plarail for a very good price and it does everything that a standard Plarail can do on a single speed.
It’s also smaller and much more easier to clean up and children can roll it if you decide to use batteries or not.
But if anything, these are budget-priced Plarail and in today’s economic landscape, it’s great that Takara Tomy offered a budget-friendly plarail for children or those who are seeking trains that take up less space and are inexpensive.
