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Super Rail D-51 Steam Locomotive System 40 Set (1974)
Originally written August 24, 2025
One of the larger of the early 1974 Super Rail System sets that counted up by tens, the System 40 set includes a two-loop layout and D-51 Steam Locomotive similar to the older D-51 Steam Locomotive System 2 Set, with the main difference being the non-inclusion of the Control Rail and one straight rail.
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 | Uncoupling Rail |
 |
| 8 | Single Line Pole |
 |
| 2 | Semaphore Signal |
 |
| 2 | Reversing insert |
 |
| 2 | Speed-change insert |
 |
These early 1974 sets still have the two-speed D-51 - in later 1974 it was converted to be single-speed to reduce the cost.
The D-51 shown here is from a D-51 Steam Locomotive System 2 Set.
The familiar brown WHAM and dark blue tanker are included... the introduction of new rolling stock colors was certainly needed in the early Super Rail era, but its not like the sets were affordable enough to have more than one or maybe two at the time anyways.
The two loops are made up of the concentric A and B curve rails, with the Crossover Point Rail, the only type of point rail before 1974, connecting them together.
Unlike the System 1 and 2 sets, the suggested automatic operation of the train is in the counter-clockwise-facing direction, with the train picking up its cars and heading out of the inner loop across the point and along the outer loop until hitting the reverser there, slowing down to approach the coupling and uncoupling gimmick. Click the GIF above for the longer video version.
The reversing and speed rails can go on any of the straight sections, including parts of the crossover point. Coupling at high speed will make the cars overrun the uncoupling rail.
Of course, the train can also be run just fine around either loop, and the uncoupling rail can be set to stay in the lowered position, but it will still turn around a train that enters from the triggering end - it can also be flipped around or otherwise repositioned as desired - perhaps connecting to the crossover point on the outer loop similar to the System 2 Set. There were not many accessories in the early Super Rail days, but by 1974 several had been introduced... they only really appeared in the largest of the 10s series sets, though.