ETA: September 2026 Price may be subject to currency fluctuations - you have the right to cancel if it changes more than £5 in either direction.

Important

This item uses Train Trax's website pre-order function.  For simplicity of processing, each product will need to be placed on a seperate pre-order as they will probably arrive at different times. If more than one pre-order does arrive at a similar time then it will be possible to combine shipping charges.

Add to your basket as normal. You can then choose to provide card details to be held securely by the preferred payment provider 'Stripe' ready for when the item arrives. You will not be charged until despatch.

If you don't want to provide card details up-front, please choose 'Pay Later'. This just enables me to receive details of your order and no payment needs to be made at this time. You will receive an acknowledgment of your order. I will send an invoice when your order is passing through UK Customs, you can then pay the invoice online using any card or BACS.

You may see the item marked in stock on my website, this merely indicates I have pre-ordered sufficient stock to fulfil your order.

Non UK Customers: UK VAT will be automatically deducted from your invoice, you will however be liable for any taxes in your country.

Click for more information about pre-orders.

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Product notes translated from KATO:

JR West's limited express Mahoroba links Osaka and Nara. The second dedicated 683 Series 6000 formation, Yukyu, uses black and grey-brown colouring to suggest the depth of Buddhist statues aged by time and cultural inheritance.

Main Features:
- Recreates N02 formation of Kyoto branch, Suita General Rolling Stock Depot.
- Beautiful black and grey-brown livery with decoration accurately reproduced.
- Head/tail lights illuminate with warm white LEDs.
- Slotless motor for smooth, quiet running.
- Destination stickers included, including Mahoroba and Raku Raku Yamato.
- Can be stored in the bookcase from the Annei set.
- KATO body-mounted close couplers fitted.
- DCC friendly.

ETA: September 2026 Price may be subject to currency fluctuations - you have the right to cancel if it changes more than £5 in either direction.

Important

This item uses Train Trax's website pre-order function.  For simplicity of processing, each product will need to be placed on a seperate pre-order as they will probably arrive at different times. If more than one pre-order does arrive at a similar time then it will be possible to combine shipping charges.

Add to your basket as normal. You can then choose to provide card details to be held securely by the preferred payment provider 'Stripe' ready for when the item arrives. You will not be charged until despatch.

If you don't want to provide card details up-front, please choose 'Pay Later'. This just enables me to receive details of your order and no payment needs to be made at this time. You will receive an acknowledgment of your order. I will send an invoice when your order is passing through UK Customs, you can then pay the invoice online using any card or BACS.

You may see the item marked in stock on my website, this merely indicates I have pre-ordered sufficient stock to fulfil your order.

Non UK Customers: UK VAT will be automatically deducted from your invoice, you will however be liable for any taxes in your country.

Click for more information about pre-orders.

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Product notes translated from KATO:

●The Mahoroba Express is a limited express train that connects Osaka and Nara. It used to be operated as a special train, changing the vehicles used, the route, and the stations it stops at. It became a regular train in March 2025, and in April, a special vehicle was introduced that was a renovated 3-car 683 series 2000 series train and renamed to the 6000 series. The body paint color of the first train "Anpei" introduced in April is "gold, which represents overflowing vitality and fertility," and "sappan color, which originates from a dye brought from the continent during the Nara period and is often seen on treasures of the time," and is characterized by a design that expresses the "sunshine of paradise" that illuminates the peace of all things.

◆The 683 series dedicated to the newly active "Mahoroba" is already available in N gauge. You can enjoy the beautiful exterior with patterns and body paint that embody the charm of Nara at your fingertips.

Main Features

Among the cars used on the "Thunderbird" limited express, the 683-4000 series is a nine-car fixed formation manufactured between 2009 and 2011. Unlike the 681 and 683-0 series, both leading cars feature a front-mounted through door (the Kuro 683 is in preparatory work) and a single-arm pantograph. Additionally, offset collision prevention structures have been adopted for improved safety, and these can be seen on the end panels. Renovations were carried out in 2015, changing the design from the previous gray-based color scheme to a black and blue-based color scheme.

Seat markings will be updated to reflect the current situation where all cars are reserved seats, and the accompanying stickers will be updated to reflect the time before and after the Hokuriku Shinkansen Tsuruga Line opened. Combine it with the 10-2149 681 Series "Thunderbird" (Renewed Car) Add-on Set, scheduled for release at the same time, and the 10-2144 683 Series-2000 "Noto Kagaribi" (Renewed Car), scheduled for release in February 2026, to create a 12-car train just like the real thing.

The Starter Set is an all-in-one set that includes the 683 Series-4000, the rolling stock, track (Unitrack), and control equipment (Power Pack) required for operation. To step up your game, add the Add-on Set or the 10-2149 681 Series "Thunderbird" (Renewed Car) Add-on Set, scheduled for release at the same time, to create a full train formation, or expand the track to allow passing trains operating in the same area.

Main Features

Main Features

● Of the vehicles operated by the limited express "Thunderbird", the 683 series 4000th is a group of nine fixed-cars manufactured from 2009 to 2011. Unlike the 681s and 683s, both front-mounted cars feature an appearance equipped with a frontal penetrating door (the Kuro683) is preparatory work and a single-arm pantograph. In addition, an offset collision countermeasure structure has been adopted to improve safety, and the difference can be seen on the wife's surface. Renewal work was carried out in 2015, and it has been changed from a design based on conventional gray to a design based on black and blue.

◆ In addition to changing the contents of the seat display according to the current situation where all cars have been reserved seats, we will update the attached seal to those that include the contents before and after the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Tsuruga. You can enjoy the same 12 cars as the actual car, along with the "10-2149 681 series "Thunderbird" (revamped car) expansion organization" to be released at the same time, and "10-2144 683 series 2000 "Noto Kaguri Fire".

◆The starter set is an all-in-one set that combines the 683rd series 4000th, as well as the vehicles, tracks (unitrack), and control equipment (power packs) necessary for operation. As a step-up, we recommend adding a set of expansions and simultaneous release "10-2149 681 series Thunderbird (revised car) expansion organization" and making full-scale formation, as well as passing trains that are active in the area by extending the track.

Main Features

● Until the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line between Kanazawa and Tsuruga in March 2024, the Hokuriku region operated the limited express "Thunderbird" and "Shirasagi" from Osaka and Nagoya, and the Hokuriku Main Line was called "Limited Express Kaido" so much that the Hokuriku Main Line was called "Limited Express Kaido". After the opening of Tsuruga on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the above two trains were shortened to Tsuruga, but the limited express "Noto Kagari" that went north from Kanazawa to Nanao and Wakura Onsen continues to operate, and it is the only conventional line limited express active in the surrounding area. Currently, the 683rd series 2000units, which were previously used for "Thunderbird", are responsible for its operation.

◆ We will commercialize the 683rd series 2000th unit, which is still active as a limited express "Noto Kagari" that remains in the Hokuriku region. In addition to "Noto Kaguri-hi", it is also recommended to reproduce the limited express "Thunderbird" before the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Tsuruga in combination with various products of the 683 series. In addition, you can enjoy it together with [10-2013/2014 Happine Fukui 521 series].

Main Features

Limited express trains in the JR West Kinki area have a network starting from Osaka and Kyoto to the Hokuriku, San'in, and Kinan areas. In particular, the limited express trains to Hokuriku have been famous since the days of Japan National Railways, including the Raicho. The 683 series is operated as the limited express "Thunderbird" on the Hokuriku Main Line. This type was designed as a successor to the 681 series, and debuted in 2001 to replace part of the aging 485 series. After the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Kanazawa in 2015, it underwent a renewal, and the previous gray-based design was changed to a black and blue-based design.

In addition to adopting a slotless motor, the 683 series 0 series will be commercialized by reproducing the coupler without a hook at the top and the front safety belt hook of the through-top car. This limited express train is attracting attention with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tsuruga. Please enjoy it with various trains in the Kansai area.

Limited express trains in the JR West Kinki area have a network starting from Osaka and Kyoto to the Hokuriku, San'in, and Kinan areas. In particular, the limited express trains to Hokuriku have been famous since the days of Japan National Railways, including the Raicho. The 683 series is operated as the limited express "Thunderbird" on the Hokuriku Main Line. This type was designed as a successor to the 681 series, and debuted in 2001 to replace part of the aging 485 series. After the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Kanazawa in 2015, it underwent a renewal, and the previous gray-based design was changed to a black and blue-based design.

In addition to adopting a slotless motor, the 683 series 0 series will be commercialized by reproducing the coupler without a hook at the top and the front safety belt hook of the through-top car. This limited express train is attracting attention with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tsuruga. Please enjoy it with various trains in the Kansai area.

Prototype

Of the vehicles operated on the "Thunderbird" that connects Osaka to Kanazawa and Wakura Onsen, the 683 series 4000 series is a 9-car fixed train group manufactured between 2009 and 2011. Unlike the 681 series and 683 series 0 series, both leading cars are characterized by the appearance equipped with a frontal head with a front through door (black 683 is preparatory work) and a single arm pantograph. In addition, an offset collision countermeasure structure is adopted to improve safety.

The 683 series 2000 series is active in the 12-car train, which is combined with the 9-car train such as the 4000 series during the high-customer season. With the opening of Kanazawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, refreshment work was carried out, and since 2015, the current interior and painting have been renewed in sequence.

Model

By adopting a newly developed slotless motor, it demonstrates smoother and quieter running performance than existing motors.

This is a 9 Car Powered Set. Other Thunderbird rolling stock is available.

Features

•     Prototype is before renewal of T48 train belonging to JR West Kanazawa General Vehicle Office
•     Beautifully reproduces the old Thunderbird color
•     Adopting a newly developed slotless motor realizes smoother and quieter running
•     The non-slip part on the cab roof is expressed in the same color as the roof color
•     The shape of the underfloor equipment that is partially different from the 0/2000 series is reproduced

Prototype

Of the vehicles operated on the "Thunderbird" that connects Osaka to Kanazawa and Wakura Onsen, the 683 series 4000 series is a 9-car fixed train group manufactured between 2009 and 2011. Unlike the 681 series and 683 series 0 series, both leading cars are characterized by the appearance equipped with a frontal head with a front through door (black 683 is preparatory work) and a single arm pantograph. In addition, an offset collision countermeasure structure is adopted to improve safety.

The 683 series 2000 series is active in the 12-car train, which is combined with the 9-car train such as the 4000 series during the high-customer season. With the opening of Kanazawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, refreshment work was carried out, and since 2015, the current interior and painting have been renewed in sequence.

Model

By adopting a newly developed slotless motor, it demonstrates smoother and quieter running performance than existing motors.

This is a 4 Car Powered Set. A 5 car add-on set (with book-style case) is available to make a prototypical train.

Features

•     Prototype is before renewal of T48 train belonging to JR West Kanazawa General Vehicle Office
•     Beautifully reproduces the old Thunderbird color
•     Adopting a newly developed slotless motor realizes smoother and quieter running
•     The non-slip part on the cab roof is expressed in the same color as the roof color
•     The shape of the underfloor equipment that is partially different from the 0/2000 series is reproduced