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Tomy Super Rail

In the early 1970s Tomy decided to develop a larger intermediate train toy to fill the position between Plarail and something like a traditional model railway, and Super Rail (スーパーレール) appeared in 1972. The saying used to be that "when you graduate from Plarail, its Super Rail." A range of different track, trains, accessories, and sets were released. Trains had reversing gearboxes and more advanced types could uncouple cars and change speeds. In the mid 1970s the series was renamed "Super Rail Black" before returning to the original Super Rail name in the later 1980s with sets remaining in production into the early 1990s. Some trains and accessories were discontinued in the later 1980s although they could still be found on store shelves. The series continued to get new sets throughout the late 1980s with the last new set appearing in 1991, almost 20 years after the system first appeared. The larger size and advanced features kept the series going longer than other 1970s train toys like Mini Mini Rail and My Rail, which were displaced more heavily by the rise in popularity of N scale model trains in Japan in the 1970s.

The series was exported to the United States in the mid 1970s as Switch-A-Rail and to Spain by Geyper, both with a few exclusive sets and trains. In Brazil a range of different sizes of sets were released by Estrela as Ferrorama starting around 1979, getting new sets into the later 1990s and a reissue of one of the smaller sets in the early 2010s.

Sets

Super Rail sets ranged from fairly small basic sets with two or three-piece trains and small track layouts to an absolutely massive multi-train set with elevation. The initial sets with grey rails varied in size and were replaced by the cheaper Super Rail Black sets in the later 1970s, with some larger sets appearing again in the later 1980s with the Japanese economic bubble and the return to the Super Rail name

Early Super Rail sets (1972-1974)

The early Super Rail sets used the larger radius curves and primarily two-speed trains, with even the small sets being rather luxurious - the high price of many sets and trains led to the development of cheaper locomotives and eventually the Super Rail Black range. The first three "System" sets were released in 1972 with a second wave of several 10s-numbered System sets in early 1974 and a few of the first cost-reduced sets in later 1974.

Year Set name Description Photo
1972 D-51 Steam Locomotive System 1 Set Smaller D-51 set with oval and sidings with automatic coupling and uncoupling feature
1972 D-51 Steam Locomotive System 2 Set Large D-51 set with concentric ovals, uncoupling rail, and control rail
Early 1974 ED-75 Electric Locomotive System 20 Set ED-75 oval set with freight cars
Early 1974 D-51 Steam Locomotive System 40 Set Two-loop D-51 set with smaller layout than the previous System 2 set

Super Rail Black sets (1975-1985)

In 1975 the Super Rail Black series of sets began to replace the earlier large sets with new black track and more types of trains and cars. During this era many trains gained or were introduced with lights and other features.

Year Set name Description Photo
1975 ED-75 Set Early Super Rail Black set with reversing, two-speed ED75 locomotive and coupling and uncoupling freight cars
1976 Limited Express Tsubame Set Oval with reversing track and 151 series Tsubame limited express train
1978 D-51 with Headlight Set D-51 steam locomotive with oval and siding with automatic coupling and uncoupling feature
1980 Hikari with Headlights Set Small oval set with 0 series Hikari train with lit headlights
1980 Kuha 481 Series with Headlights L Express Set Large oval with lit 481 series L Limited Express train
1982 Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Headlights Set Big oval set with new large 200 series Shinkansen and tunnel

Later Super Rail sets (1986-1991)

Around the time of the introduction of the new 100 series Shinkansen in the mid 1980s the packaging style changed to a white stripe design similar to the Tomix set boxes of the time, with some larger sets appearing during this era. Although new trains were not being introduced, the Japanese economic bubble led to some large new sets in this era.

Year Set name Description Photo
1986 Blue Train EF-66 Set Larger set with offset loop and two sidings with EF-66 hauled Blue Train
1986 Tokaido Sanyo New Shinkansen Set Basic oval set with 100 series "New Shinkansen"
1989 Shinkansen and Steam Locomotive Wide Panorama Set The largest Japanese-market set with a large overpass-style layout with multiple sidings and switches as well as two trains and a variety of cars  

Trains

Super Rail trains are larger than Plarail or common wooden-type trains, and are closer to the size of HO-scale trains. They are made of plastic with reversing gearboxes, with some trains also being able to change speed, with actions controllable by different controllable track sections or static triggers that can be clipped into the rail. All trains have at least a simple reversing gearbox, and the two-speed trains have mechanical speed-changing gearboxes and electrical or mechanical reversers. Because of the momentum of the big trains with C batteries running them, they slow down and reverse nicely after getting triggered to switch direction. Some track sections can even stop a train by holding it in neutral.

Lots of trains run on two axles per car but some 1980s trains have two four-wheel bogies with four-wheel drive on the rear one. Some of the large locomotives like the DD-51 and EF-66 even have three bogies - the later EF-66s have two speeds, headlights, and a whistle as well! Many of the 1980s range of bogied trains with headlights stayed on sale into the later 1980s after new toolings had stopped being developed.

Locomotives and Trains

Year Name Description Photo
1972 D-51 Steam Locomotive The initial Super Rail train, a two-speed D-51 steam locomotive
Later 1972 ED-75 Electric Locomotive Red two-speed ED-75 locomotive used in several original Super Rail sets
Later 1974 DD-20 Diesel Engine The first of the small cost-reduced locomotives, the single-speed DD-20  
Later 1974 D-51 Steam Locomotive Cost-reduced single-speed D-51 steam locomotive for Super Rail Black
1975 Hikari Shinkansen Hikari 0 series Shinkansen with intermediate-car-drive  
1976 Limited Express Tsubame 151 series Tsubame limited express train
1976 111 Tokai-type Express Train Green and orange Tokai-type 111 series commuter train  
1976 Klaus-type Steam Engine Another of the inexpensive trains, the small steam locomotive Klaus  
1978 D-51 Steam Locomotive with Headlight D-51 revised to include a working headlight
1979 EF-66 Electric Locomotive New two-speed EF-66 locomotive  
1980 DD-51 Diesel Locomotive with Headlights Nice large DD-51 diesel with headlights  
1980 L Limited Express Kuha 481 Series with Headlights Bogied 481 series L Limited Express train with lights
1980 Hikari Shinkansen with Headlights 0 series Hikari with added headlight feature
1980 Tsubame Express with Headlights 151 series Tsubame rereleased with headlights  
1980 JNR 111 Series Train with Headlights Tokai-type train with headlights  
1980  EF-66 Electric Locomotive with Headlights and Whistle New version of the EF-66 with headlights and a triggerable whistle
1981 Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Headlights 200 series Shinkansen with nice long bogied cars and headlights
1982 Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari with Headlights Blue and white 0 series version of the nice long detailed 200 series tooling  
1982 Sleeper Express Train with Headlights 583 series Sleeper Express train based on the 481 series tooling  
1984  Yamabiko and Asahi Shinkansen Smaller two-axle 200 series Shinkansen train  
1986 Tokaido Sanyo New Shinkansen 100 series Shinkansen in smaller two-axle style
1986 Sound D-51 Steam Locomotive with Headlights D-51 with headlights and chuffing noisemaker in the tender  

Freight and Passenger Cars

The initial D-51 sets contained two-axle freight cars to show off the spring-assisted automatic coupling and uncoupling gimmick, and with later sets came two-bogie cars that could also be coupled and uncoupled. New types and color variations of freight and passenger cars continued to be produced as time went on.

Year Name Description Photo
1972 Covered Freight Car WHAM 80000-style box van first sold in brown and later also white, and green
1972 Tank Car TAKI 45000 series tanker car sold in three colors
Later 1972 Passenger Car Suha 43 The first Super Rail coach, an older Suha 43 series
1974 Uncovered Car Open bolster wagon type car sold in three colors but most commonly black
  Conductor's Van YO 6000 YO 6000 series brake van  
  Container Transport Vehicle Koki 5000 Long flatbed car that can hold five containers
  Car Transport Ku 5000 Double-decker car carrier  
1976 Tsubame Express Intermediate Car Tsubame Limited Express middle car  
1976 111 Series Train Intermediate Car Individual release intermediate Tokai-type car  
1979 Hopper Car Hoki 2200 Cream hopper car
1979 Uncovered Car Toki 21100 Toki 21100 open car with pipe load  
1979 Sleeper Car Ohanfu 25 Blue Train-style sleeper coach
1980 Passenger Car Oha 50 Red cars also sold in a set with the DD-51  
  Freight Car Set A five-pack freight car set with variations of regular individual release cars  

Rail

Older early 1970s Super Rail track was tannish grey while Super Rail Black series track was black with silver-painted rail surfaces. Three radii of curve and different point rails were produced as well as an elevation system.

Early Super Rail Rail (1972-1974)

Year Name Description Photo
1972 Straight Rail Standard 344mm straight rail
1972 A Curve Rail Largest radius curve from the early Super Rail era
1972 B Curve Rail Middle 344mm radius curve rail
1972 Crossover Point Rail Double track crossover point rail
1972 Control Rail Five-control track that allows for reversing, changing speed, and stopping trains
1972 Uncoupling Rail Straight rail section that will let an incoming train couple or uncouple its cars and reverse away
Early 1974 Half Straight Rail Half length straight rail  
Early 1974 B Turnout Rail Curved turnout rail matching the B curve  
Early 1974 2/3 B Curve Rail 2/3rd length B curve rail  
Early 1974  Slope Rail Two-part, two-straight-long sloping rail   
Late 1974 C Curve Rail Small radius curve introduced at the end of the original Super Rail era  

Later Super Rail Black Rail (1975-1991)

Super Rail Black introduced new black rail with silver rail surfaces. This was carried forward into the later 1980s and 1990s Super Rail sets that dropped the "Black" name.

Year Name Description Photo
1975 Straight Rail Standard 344mm straight rail in black
1975 Half Straight Rail Half length straight rail
1975 B Curve Rail Middle radius curve rail now primarily sold in track packs in rarely in sets
1975 C Curve Rail Smaller radius curve that was the "standard" for Super Rail Black
  Crossover Point Rail Double track crossover point rail in black  
1975  Control Rail Five-control track that allows for reversing, changing speed, and stopping trains
1975  Uncoupling Rail Straight rail section that will let an incoming train couple or uncouple its cars and reverse away
1975 B Turnout Rail Curved turnout rail matching the B curve radius  
1975 2/3 B Curve Rail 2/3rd length B curve rail  
~1976 Return Control Rail Half straight section with controllable reversers for both directions
~1977 C Turnout Rail Tighter C radius turnouts

Accessories

More information, particularly about the small trackside signals and catenaries, can be seen on the Super Rail accessories page.

Year Name Description Photo
1974 Station Detailed station with many stickers and separate pieces
1980 Tunnel Four piece green tunnel with mixed colors in the plastic; later used for Thomas-series Plarail

Catalogues

More Tomy catalogues can be seen on the Tomy Paperwork page.

Title Description Cover
Tomy Super Rail Automatic Control System D-51 Steam Locomotive 1972 leaflet included with the initial two sets explaining the functionality of the system
Tomy Super Rail Later 1978 Super Rail Black catalogue
Tomy Super Rail Catalogue 1982 Tomy Super Rail catalogue, with the later, larger bogied trains
Plarail Super Rail/Action Rail '90 Catalogue 1990 catalogue showing Plarail, the remaining Super Rail range, and a few other Tomy toys

One of the Super Rail sets I purchased on the Japanese auction sites included some pictures from seemingly the late 1970s or early 1980s of a child's Super Rail setups. I think they are an interesting time capsule of the way Super Rail was really played with, so scans of the photographs can be seen here.