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Super Rail D-51 Steam Locomotive System 1 and 2 sets (1972)
Originally written August 22, 2025
The two initial 1972 Super Rail sets, both featuring the reversing two-speed D-51 Steam Locomotive, were the System 1 and 2 sets which both showed off the automatic control features and uncoupling gimmick of the series. Like other 1960s and 1970s Tomy toys, the number 1 set is smaller and the 2 set larger, but unlike some other Tomy toys the Super Rail system was eventually expanded with a great number of other sets, trains, and accessories.
Super Rail Automatic Control D-51 Steam Locomotive System 1
The System 1 set was the smaller of the two initial sets and includes an oval of track with a parallel siding section to one side to incorporate the coupling and uncoupling gimmick. Control plates and the cool two-speed D-51 are included.
Set contents| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 3
pieces |
D-51 Steam Locomotive and Covered Freight Car |
 |
| 5 | Straight Rail |
 |
| 8 | B Curve Rail |
 |
| 1 | Crossover Point Rail |
 |
| 1 | Uncoupling Rail |
 |
| 6 | Single Line Pole |
 |
| 1 | Semaphore Signal |
 |
| 2 | Reversing insert |
 |
| 2 | Speed-change insert |
 |
The D-51 is a classic Japanese steam locomotive and was still in use in Japan until 1975. Like all other Super Rail D-51s, it is number 101, one of the "standard" types of D-51 as opposed to the earlier "slug" type. The box for these sets says of the D-51, approximately: The D-51 steam locomotive is one of the most beloved and representative steam locomotives among steam locomotives. A wide variety of types were produced. Super Rail uses a standard D-51 steam locomotive. Super Rail uses an automatic control system built into the D-51 steam locomotive, allowing you to freely enjoy control such as automatic gear changes and automatic coupling.
The set includes one car, a brown WHAM 80000 type box van, with the spring-loaded couplings required for the coupling and uncoupling gimmick. The doors on each side of the van can be slid open and closed.
This set has a loop of B curves with a crossover point rail to switch the train over to the outside siding where the uncoupling rail is located.
A semaphore type signal and six bluish-grey single wire poles are included to decorate the layout. Initially, these were the only types of Super Rail accessories, with a winder range appearing in later 1972.
The layout is well thought-out, with the crossover rail switching the train towards the automatic uncoupling siding and the shorter branch is perfect for installing a reversing insert to return a train that enters. Coupling and uncoupling is best done at the lower speed, as the cars will often continue rolling forwards past the uncoupling rail and on this layout can be caught by the locomotive, coupling them back up to the train. The crossover allows for the train to cross into and out of the sidings and the whole setup works best with the locomotive facing clockwise around the loop.
Super Rail Automatic Control D-51 Steam Locomotive System 2
The larger System 2 set includes two full concentric loops with a crossover point as well as the multi-function track control base.
The ends of this box have faded, likely due to light exposure. The box shown here, as well as both the System 1 and 2 sets shown here, are from a 1973 production copy of this set - the ST mark has the original 1972 pass year, but the side of the box with Tomy's production mark has been updated from saying N-21 in white to N-22 in dark blue, with the original mark still visible underneath.
Set contents| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 4
pieces |
D-51 Steam Locomotive with Covered Freight Car and Tank Car |
 |
| 4 | Straight Rail |
|
| 8 | A Curve Rail |
 |
| 8 | B Curve Rail |
|
| 1 | Crossover Point Rail |
|
| 1 | Control Rail |
 |
| 1 | Uncoupling Rail |
|
| 10 | Single Line Pole |
|
| 2 | Semaphore Signal |
 |
| 2 | Reversing insert |
|
| 2 | Speed-change insert |
|
The System 1 and 2 sets, as well as the early 1974 10s series sets, all have two-speed gearboxes. The D-51 shown here is from the 1973 System 2 set box shown above and needed repairs before it would work properly - the front battery contact had corroded off and the reversing-neutral switch was not flipping properly. The wheels and some of the stickers were replaced with parts from a later D-51 Steam Locomotive with Headlight.
Included in this set is both the more common brown box van and the dark blue Esso tanker.
This set has two large concentric loops of A and B curves, with the crossover point rail spaced to connect them. In addition to the uncoupling rail also used in the System 1 set, the Control Rail allows a player to reverse a train away, stop it in neutral gear, and change the speed of the train as it passes.
The speed-change function of the D-51 and other later two-speed trains will react differently depending which direction it is facing, not which direction it is going. Two speed-changing inserts are included in both sets with the control rail offering player-controlled speed changing.
My copy of the System 2 set, from which the System 1 set shown above was assembled, included this leaflet showing the initial D-51 sets and their functionality.
Again, it makes the most sense to run the locomotive facing clockwise so that it hits the uncoupling rail and can cross the points sensibly. The ED-75 and other later locomotives can couple from both ends of the engine, which makes them even more versatile on a layout like this. Click the GIF for longer video with sound.
The uncoupling feature is one of the highlights of Super Rail that stayed in continual use in multiple sets across every era of Super Rail. The train can also be run around in an endless loop, of course, and can be switched onto the inside track. If you leave the reverser right at the entrance of the "wrong" side of the crossover switch, it will even be returned back to the outer loop where the control rail can reverse it back again.
Two concentric loops make it easy to play with two trains, although getting two of the big expensive sets in the 1970s was well out of the reach of most children, I would imagine. I have heard that most children who had any Super Rail usually only had only one set, although I also have period photographs showing a bigger Super Rail Black setup.