fall inside a hole
Tomy Super Rail
In the 1970s Tomy decided to develop a larger intermediate train toy to fill the position between Plarail and something like a traditional model railway. 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. This system was sold as スーパーレール or Super Rail and seems to have first appeared around 1972. In the mid 1970s the series was renamed "Super Rail Black" before returning to the original Super Rail name in the later 1980s and sets remained in production into the early 1990s.
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
Trains
Super Rail trains are larger than Plarail or common wooden-type 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.
The initial train was a two-speed reversing D-51 steam locomotive in a few sets circa 1972, with the red two-speed ED-75 and a few different sizes of set following in the early 1970s. At the end of this original period the smaller, cheaper DD-20 was introduced. In 1975 the series was redesigned as Super Rail Black with the D-51 changing to a single-speed model and the Hikari joining the ED-75 and DD-20. The American Switch-A-Rail exports also appeared in the mid 1970s. In 1976 the 151 series Tsubame Express and 113 Tokai-type express trains were added to the range, and the second steam locomotive, the small tank engine Klaus, was introduced. The D-51 also reappeared with a light feature in 1978. In 1979 the EF-66 was introduced and the ED75 was produced in blue for a set.
In 1980 the DD-51 diesel locomotive and the bogied 481 series L Limited Express were released, and the Hikari, Tokai, and Tsubame gained lights. In late 1981 the Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Headlights and a very nice tooling was released and in 1982 the Tokaido Shinkansen appeared using the same updated form as well as the Sleeper Express 583 series was produced based on the 481 tooling.
By 1984 it was clear that Super Rail was in a decline, and the old two-axle Hikari was reused for a smaller, cheaper 200 series train as well. The last new trains were a rereleased D-51 with chuffing sound in the tender and a two-axle version of the 100 series Shinkansen. 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.
Most trains were driven by their intermediate cars with some freight sets having automatic coupling and uncoupling features. Many of the later trains (and earlier trains that stayed in production) had light features.
All trains have at least a simple reversing gearbox - a hanging lever moves two contrate gears back and forth so that alternating ones contact the motor pinion, swapping which direction the drive wheels are spinning.
The two-speed trains have mechanical speed-changing gearboxes and electrical reversers to reverse power to the motor. 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 EF-66 has two speeds, headlights, and a whistle as well! Freight cars are a mix of two-axle and two-bogie designs.
Rail and Accessories
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. More information about Super Rail track and accessories can be seen on the Super Rail rail page.
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.
| 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 |
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| 1976 | Limited Express Tsubame Set | Oval with reversing track and 151 series Tsubame limited express train |
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| 1978 | D-51 with Headlight Set | D-51 steam locomotive with oval and siding with automatic coupling and uncoupling feature |
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| 1980 | Hikari with Headlights Set | Small oval set with 0 series Hikari train with lit headlights |
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| 1980 | Kuha 481 Series with Headlights L Express Set | Large oval with lit 481 series L Limited Express train |
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| 1982 | Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen with Headlights Set | Big oval set with new large 200 series Shinkansen and tunnel |
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| 1987 | Tokaido Sanyo New Shinkansen Set | Basic oval set with 100 series "New Shinkansen" |
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Catalogues
More Tomy catalogues can be seen on the Tomy Paperwork page.
| Title | Description | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Tomy Super Rail | Later 1978 Super Rail Black catalogue |
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| Tomy Super Rail Catalogue | 1982 Tomy Super Rail catalogue, with the later, larger bogied trains |
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| Plarail Super Rail/Action Rail '90 Catalogue | 1990 catalogue showing Plarail, the remaining Super Rail range, and a few other Tomy toys |
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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.