fall inside a hole
Child Guidance Railroad
Originally started in the Bronx, New York in 1953 as the toy division of New York Archer Plastics, Child Guidance Toys released the first Child Guidance Railroad sets in the early 1960s. Child Guidance Railroad proved popular, with companion highway and building systems being released in 1963 and the range surviving Child Guidance being bought by Dunhill-Questor in 1967 and CBS Toys in 1978. CBS sold Child Guidance Railroad under the Gabriel name before the Child Guidance name was phased out after 1985 when Hasbro bought CBS Toys, and the range disappeared. Most sets used plastic push-trains with some having battery-powered trains manufactured by Tomy in Japan. The Child Guidance Railroad standard was popular in America and was also used by Mettoy-Playcraft in the U.K., Toltoy in Australia, HEROS in Germany, and even into Japan where Plarail had also evolved out of the Tot Railroad system.
I remember many years ago when I was in middle school going to an estate sale and finding a few pieces of this odd grey rail on the floor in the family room. I didn't know what it was for, and I wasn't sure what to search to find more of it, so I left it. A few years later I was at a flea market with my friends and I saw a circa 1962 set with the colorful train on the cover and opened it to look at the trains and geared turntable and saw that the track was the same grey with rounded connectors... I did not buy it, but since then I have learned more than I ever really wanted to know about Child Guidance Railroad, mostly as an aside to my Plarail collection.
Trains
Child Guidance trains are fairly small plastic trains similar to other period wooden and plastic trains. They are produced out of a few different colors and toolings which are combined together in different ways to get different colors and styles of rolling stock.
The coupling system is somewhat rough and involves a protruding bulb which can be fit and twisted into a molded slot in the rear of the next car along. The plastic these trains is made from is relatively soft and warps fairly easily, making the couplings somewhat inconsistent and sometimes broken (although not necessarily really any more than any other toy train coupling system - sometimes kids just play rough).
Track
The Child Guidance Railroad track standard is roughly based on the prior Tot Railroad track system as well as similarly-sized wooden train sets. Most regular sets come with grey track while sets with motorized engines often had red track, but track was also produced in yellow and blue at different points in time. Archer Plastics produced the Child Guidance Railroad track in the United States for their sets with Mettoy-Playcraft, Toltoy, and others who used the system producing their track locally - seemingly the toolings and designs were shared fairly freely and this allowed a range of different toys to eventually use this track system up into the 1980s.
Here are two Child Guidance Railroad order forms I have come across, one from around 1964 in the United States and the other around 1968 from the U.K. In both the States and the U.K. parts could be ordered directly from the manufacturer and in the U.K. some track and accessories were sold in hanging polybags similar to Plarail in Japan.
Straight Track (1961)
Child Guidance straight rail measures in around 196mm long. This is similar to Tot Railroad's 201mm standard, which may have been their target length. It is also possible both have shrunken or expanded unevenly over time.
Curved Track (1961)
Yoke (1961)
Being based off of Tot Railroad, the somewhat odd "yoke" rail way brought forward for Child Guidance Railroad as well as Child Guidance Highway.
Switch (1961)
The tight parallel switch that appeared in Tot Railroad was also produced for Child Guidance Railroad.
Bridge Rail (1961)
Also inherited from Tot Railroad is a rather steep ascending bridge rail. Because of the integrated support and handedness of the track connectors, there are separate "up" and "down" pieces.
Risers (1961)
Much more common in Child Guidance Railroad than the earlier Tot Railroad are track supports. These were occasionally called "trusses" in the British releases.
Crossing (1961)
Like the late Holgate "New" Tot Railroad, Child Guidance had a short crossover track piece.
Crossover switch (1963)
New around 1963 was this curved crossover switch which is handy in making figure-eight type arrangements.
Geared Switch (1964)
These geared turnouts were developed in 1964 to go along with the first Child Guidance Railroad sets to use powered locomotives. This style of standard-straight-over-standard-curve switch was used on model railroads but toy railroads up to this point used the tight parallel and yoke switches of Tot Railroad (as was the case with the Playskool, Holgate, and the early Child Guidance sets as well as Plarail) or other parallel switches in the case of wooden trains of the era like Brio, Jack-Built's Snap-Trains, and Skaneateles.
In the U.K. Playcraft produced an all-concave version of the switch for some sets like the Runaway Loco set circa 1968.
"Double-O-Eight" (1964)
This rather neat "double-o-eight" figure eight reversing piece was included in a few sets with battery-powered locomotives to run around the figure-eight bowl. The triangular portion can be lifted out so the train exits the bowl.
A later U.K. version circa 1968 changes the design to use a sliding handle with some Child Guidance Railroad stickers and a white mountain molded onto the triangular directional decider.
Half Track/Short Straight (196)
Like some other track pieces, Playcraft produced this piece with two concave connectors and included a dogbone if bought as an accessory set.
"Dogbone" (196)
At some stage a "dogbone" double-convex piece that adds no track length was released. These were used more in the U.K. where Playcraft had some pieces with all-concave connectors like their version of the geared switch.
Sets
Most Child Guidance sets were traditional push train sets with plastic unpowered trains. The initial box style was somewhat similar to the Holgate "New" Tot Railroad boxes, which was the last style of Tot Railroad sold (throughout 1960 and into 1961, before Playskool began selling wooden Skaneateles trains for the rest of the 60s). A few of the early accessories were also sold individually in this style of box.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 350 Child Guidance Railroad | Small set with loop of track, bridge, and four-piece train | |
| 1961 | 352 Super Child Guidance Railroad | Large set with two trains, three bridges, two of each switch, a variety of straight and curved track, track piers, and small standing accessories as well as two trains |
In 1962 new boxes were designed that showed a solid-color cartoon drawing of the side of a Child Guidance train with a photo of a child playing with the set in the lower right corner. The sides of these boxes still uses the older "red line" logo. New accessories beyond the scope of Tot Railroad like the geared turntable and station buildings appeared around this time. In 1962 Sears also began carrying several larger Child Guidance Railroad sets.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 350 Child Guidance Railroad Starter Set | Small oval set with parallel switch and bridge with station building and four-car train | Can be seen here |
| 1962 | 351 Child Guidance Railroad Intermediate Set | Medium set with one straight, 17 curves, one switch, one yoke, four bridges and eight supports, two bumpers and two ramps, and a geared turntable | Can be seen here |
| 1962 | 4575 Child Guidance Railroad 36 Piece Set | Sears set with decently-sized figure eight layout with elevated crossing, station, and other accessories | Can be seen here |
| 1962 | 4576 Child Guidance Railroad 71 Piece Set | Medium 1962 Sears set with turntable, swing bridge, station, and many trackside accessories as well as a large layout | Can be seen here |
| 1962 | 4577 Child Guidance Railroad 114 Piece Set | Huge Sears set with turntable, swing bridges, sheds, a variety of switches, station, and three complete trains | Can be seen here |
| 1962 | ??? Child Guidance Railroad | Scenic set with medium track layout of 11 curves, one each straight, yoke, bumper, and lead-in, two bridge sections and five supports as well as station, water tower, signal tower, and ten trackside accessories | Can be seen here |
| 1962 | ??? Child Guidance Railroad | Larger trackset with four bridge sections, yoke and parallel switch, crossing, several risers, and selection of straights and curves | Can be seen here |
In 1963 when the accompanying Child Guidance Highway and Guidancetown U.S.A. were released the packaging was updated to be more similar. New track pieces like the curved crossover switch were also released. By 1964 a new series of Sears sets that included more accessories and Guidancetown crossover pieces were released.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 350 Child Guidance 24 piece set | Small oval set with parallel switch and bridge with station building and four-car train | |
| 1963 | 351 Child Guidance Railroad 38 piece set | Medium set with crossover switch and four bridges with six risers to make a neat figure-eight with interwoven additional loop | |
| 1964 | 4690 Child Guidance Railroad 37 Piece Set | Sears exclusive version of the 350 set with added station, signal box, and other trackside accessories | Can be seen here |
| 1964 | 4691 Child Guidance Railroad 72 Piece Set | Big set with 28 pieces of track turntable, six bridge pieces plus rotating swing bridge and girder bridge, station, signal box, and train | Can be seen here |
| 1964 | 4692 Child Guidance Railroad 163 Piece Set | Massive set with 45 pieces of track, three trains, turntable with sheds, station and signal box, girder and swing bridges as well as girders and trackside accessories plus three Guidancetown buildings | Can be seen here |
| 1964 | 4698 Child Guidance Railroad 314 Piece Set | Gigantic set with 54 pieces of track, three trains, sheds and turntable, swing and girder bridges, station, and an entire town full of buildings, accessories, cars, and people | Can be seen here |
Starting in 1964, a few sets with motorized trains were released that used the same rail standard but were not all advertised by Child Guidance as Child Guidance Railway sets.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 4030 Double-O-Eight Runaway Train | Early Child Guidance set with motorized train, in this case a version of the early Plarail 0 series Shinkansen manufactured by Tomy for Child Guidance, this set also features a reversing figure eight section and operating turnouts |
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| 1964 | 4050 Giant Double-O-Eight Runaway Train | Large "double o eight" set with figure-eight reverser, geared turntable with stopper, four straights, two half straights, 17 curves, three pairs of geared switches, and Shinkansen-style locomotive | Box can be seen here |
| Late 1967 | 8000 Child Guidance Kiddie Land | American release of the Joy Ride amusement park train and three operational accessories with figures to ride the train and park rides |
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| 1968 | 8010 Joy Ride | Individual release of the four-piece amusement park train used in Child Guidance Kiddie Land |
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| 11968 | 4685 Coast to Coast Motorized Railroad | Giant Sears-exclusive set featuring over 30 feet of track, motorized amusement park train, and lots of buildings and accessories |
In the mid 60s the traditional sets started being sold in square boxes with the Child Guidance circle-square-triangle logo on the top. Colored square portions of the box surround the set number, age range, and piece count. Two of the box side panels usually contain a suggested layout while another shows children playing with the set. In 1966 three more Sears sets were sold.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| mid 60s | 350 Child Guidance 24 piece set | Small set with crossover switch, two bridges and piers, track to make a figure-eight, and a four-car train | |
| mid 60s | 351 Child Guidance Railroad 38 piece set | Medium set with crossover switch and four bridges with six risers to make a neat figure-eight with interwoven additional loop | |
| mid 60s | 359 Child Guidance Railroad 60 piece set | Large set with geared turntable, two bridges, four risers, a good amount of straight and curved track as well as several small trackside accessories | |
| 1966 | 4790 Child Guidance 50 Piece Set | Upgraded Sears version of the 350 set with girder bridge and pack of trackside accessories to go with the figure eight and bridge rails | Can be seen here |
| 1966 | 4797 Child Guidance 85 Piece Set | Medium Sears set with figure-eight with interlocked loop, turntable, station, and other accessories | Can be seen here |
| 1966 | 4798 Child Guidance 145 Piece Set | Big Sears set with two trains, station, turntable with sheds, swing bridge, and Guidancetown buildings | Can be seen here |
In 1967 after Questor bought Child Guidance Toys the Child Guidance Railroad boxes were updated slightly with the circle-square-triangle in the upper left of all of the boxes and a more rounded appearance, with the piece count and age range moving and being outlines in a thick round border. These sets remained on sale into 1968.
| Year/th> | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 350 Child Guidance Railroad Starter Set | 24 piece set with figure-eight and bridge layout | |
| 1967 | 351 Child Guidance Railroad Intermediate Set | Medium set with 18 curves, one crossover, two switches, two bridges, six bridge supports | |
| 1967/td> | 359 Giant Child Guidance Railroad | Large 43 piece set with turntable, two sheds, four bridge pieces, four risers, and the uncommon diesel locomotive |
In 1978 CBS Toys bought Questor and the Child Guidance brand. Around 1979 slightly redesigned boxes that used the Gabriel logo, who CBS had bought in 1978, were released. It appears that only the two smaller sets stayed in regular production with a 5 suffix .
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 5350 Child Guidance Railroad Starter Set | 24 piece set with figure-eight and bridge layout | |
| 1979 | 5351 Child Guidance Railroad Intermediate Set | Medium set with 18 curves, one crossover, two switches, two bridges, six bridge supports, |
In later 1979 the Gabriel boxes were redesigned as "Busy Railroad" in more colorful packaging. Child Guidance Railroad disappeared from regular American production at some point in the early 1980s, with the Child Guidance and Gabriel brands both fading from regular use around 1985, with CBS Toys itself selling to Hasbro in 1985 who dissolved the brand completely, integrating any remnants into the Playskool brand.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 24-Piece Busy Railroad | 24 piece figure-eight and bridge set in updated box | |
| 1979 | 38-Piece Busy Railroad | Updated 351-style 38 piece medium set |
Mettoy-Playcraft (U.K.)
In the U.K. and EFTA free trade territories the Child Guidance standard was distributed by Mettoy Playcraft. Mettoy Playcraft had their own set of U.K. toolings for track and produced different trains. Playcraft continued to produce some of their own advancements like slight track variations, different slope rails, and later even their own series of motorized trains and sets.
Without getting my hands on some of the traditional British sets, I do not think I will ever fully know all of their tiny secrets and details.
Circa 1963 a version of the American "cartoon" packaging was used with a blue Playcraft logo in a blue oval above the red and black CHILDGUIDANCERAILROAD text.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Child Guidance Railway Set 1 | Small basic set with curves and crossover switch for making figure-eights | |
| 1963 | Child Guidance Railway Set 2 | Small set with oval of track, switch, bridge, and siding with four-piece train | |
| 1963 | Child Guidance Railway Set 3 | Medium set with loop of track, bridge with four piers, two switches, and decent amount of track | Can be seen here |
The next earliest series of boxes have pictures of a child playing with the set on a plane pale blue background with a green box in the upper left hand corner with the round Playcraft logo and Child Guidance Toys Railway name. The range was expanded slightly, with the old 3 set becoming the new 4 set.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~1964 | Child Guidance Railway Set 1 | Small basic set with curves and crossover switch for making figure-eights | |
| ~1964 | Child Guidance Railway Set 2 | Small set with oval of track, switch, bridge, and siding with four-piece train | |
| ~1964 | Child Guidance Railway Set 3 | Medium set with loop of track, bridge with four piers, two switches, and decent amount of track | |
| ~1964 | Child Guidance Railway Set 4 | Large set with two two-part bridges and five trusses, crossing switch, turnouts, sidings, buffers, and ramps | Can be seen here |
| ~1964 | Child Guidance Railway Set 5 | Large advanced set with five straights, one half straight, 16 curves, a crossover, two points, two bridges with supports and a turntable with two sheds as well as two trains and accessories |
In the mid 60s Playcraft seems to have adopted the Child Guidance packaging style, using a photo of children playing with the set on a blue background with a large green-backed CHILD GUIDANCE TOYS mark in the upper left.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| mid 60s | Child Guidance Railway Set A | Figure-eight set with crossover points and four-car train | |
| mid 60s | Child Guidance Railway Set B | Medium set with figure-eight with bridge crossing and siding with four-piece train | Can be seen here |
| mid 60s | Child Guidance Railway Set C | Same as the original set 3 or the later set 4, larger looping layout with two bridge sections | |
| mid 60s | Child Guidance Toys Railway Set D | Rerelease of the large Set 5 with bridges, sidings, a turntable and sheds as well as two trains | Can be seen here |
Around 1968 Mettoy-Playcraft released some of the American Child Guidance sets that used powered trains. These sets used boxes that were fairly similar to their American counterparts.
| 1968 | 88000 Child Guidance Kiddie Land | U.K. release of the Kiddie Land set with Joy Ride train and three operational accessories that the train can power in turn |
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| 1968 | 9520 Double-O-Eight Runaway Loco | UU.K. set distributed by Mettoy Playcraft with double-o-eight turnaround and amusement park locomotive and small layout of track |
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| 1968 | Giant Double-O-Eight Runaway Loco | Large U.K. set with amusement park locomotive, geared turntable with stopper, double-o-eight turnaround, and operating points |
At some stage - the later 60s? - the Child Guidance name was dropped from most sets and the green logo area was replaced with an orange "play craft toys" mark.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late 1960s? | Play Craft Toys Railway Set A | ||
| Late 1960s? | Play Craft Toys Railway Set B | ||
| Late 1960s? | Play Craft Toys Railway Set C | Can be seen here |
IIn the 1973 the packaging was redesigned to show the set being played with on carpet in a circle with similar "play craft toys" branding. Playcraft also developed their own battery-powered train system around this time.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 9520 Junior Railway Set A | Small set with curves and a crossover double-slip to make a figure eight | |
| 1973 | 9521 Junior Railway Set B | Medium set with two-car train, later Mettoy-Playcraft slopes, and figure-eight layout with bridge in 1970s looking "play craft toys" packaging | Can be seen here |
| 1973 | 9522 Junior Railway Set C | ||
| 1973 | 9523 Junior Railway Set D | ||
| 1973 | 9524 Junior Railway Set E | Large set with four long slopes, crossover switch, geared points, and Playcraft's battery-powered train with 'pop-in' people. | Can be seen here |
| 1973 | 9580 Electric Loco with Two Trucks | Playcraft's own design of battery-powered locomotive, sold individually in yellow with red boiler and 9580 sticker with two coaches with a single interchangeable roof and passengers and driver figures |
By 1977 the packaging had been updated to a PLAYCRAFT style of boxes that showed the sets being played with on carpet. The sets were given actual names as well.
| Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Playcraft Starter Set | Rereleased "A" set, small starter set with 14 curves and crossover switch and four-car train | |
| 1977 | Playcraft Sunnytown Express | ||
Toltoys (Australia) (1970s)
In the 1970s Toltoys of Australia also released a series of Toltoys Development Railways, later also called Child Development and Discovery Time, in Australia as well as New Zealand. After the American Child Guidance Highway series had already been discontinued, Toltoys also produced their own version of that system in Australia alongside the Railroad and in some large crossover sets. Some more information about Toltoys Trains can be found here.