fall inside a hole

Tomy Super Rail Rail

In the 1970s Tomy developed the Super Rail (スーパーレール) range as 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. Track was produced in multiple curve radii to facilitate concentric loops and switches, uncoupling tracks, and control rails to adjust the train's directions and speeds were produced.

Track

Older early 1970s Super Rail track was tannish grey while Super Rail Black series track was black with silver-painted rail surfaces.

Straight Rail

Super Rail straight track is approximately 344mm long. This matches the radius of the "B" curve. The older grey example shown has cracked track connectors.

1/2 Straight Rail

Super Rail half straight track is approximately 172mm long.

Curved Rail

Earlier Super Rail had both an A and B radius curve rail that fit around each other with a difference in radius matching the width between the tracks in the crossover switch. Curves are 45 degrees each and are eight to a circle.

The "B" radius curves measure in around 144mm, matching the normal straight rail, and the A curves are 60mm wider at around 204mm and the C curves, developed later (presumably because it made sets cheaper and smaller), are 60mm tighter at 84mm. The relation with the crossover switch means the different radii work together well in concentric circles, although mixing different radii may get the track into a configuration that makes it hard to reconnect without an equally varied mix of track pieces to return to the "standard." It is generally easiest to at least use the same radius of curve in a single orbit.

Point Rail

Super Rail Black point rails were produced in both B and C radii.

The straight portion is the same as a half straight rail. The curved portion of C turnouts is the same as a regular curve, but the B turnouts are half the length of a B curve to give a gentler exit angle... I think this can probably mess up your track geometry if you are not careful to use another B switch with half-length curve somewhere down the line, or one of the half-length B curves. Each branch is handily marked.

Crossover Point Rail

The crossover point rail is a parallel track section that adheres to the 60mm difference between parallel tracks with a turnout rail going between one track and the other. Unlike some switches of this type, there is only one actual turnout section so a train can only change tracks if they enter from the "correct" end of each of the two tracks. The original Super Rail example shown is missing the directional lever as well as all of the track connection clips.

Return Control Track

The Return Control Track is the length of a half straight and includes two levers which lift reversing plates up in the path of the reversing peg, reversing an engine that enters from the direction that is flipped but allowing a train to otherwise pass out that way (unless both levers are flipped, causing trains to be returned from both sides).

Uncoupling Rail

This automatic coupling/uncoupling rail has an integrated reverser for turning around trains which enter it, and trains and carriages with the spring-loaded couplings required for proper operation will be switched back and forth between coupling up and being left in the siding when the train pulls away. A yellow swinging lever engages with part of the bottom of the train and pulls back, cycling a little catch that alternately raises and lowers the section of the rail beyond the reverser with two raises ridges which come up to actuate the release levers hanging down from the sprung couplings. By pulling the yellow trigger section for the uncoupling mechanism forwards, it disables the mechanism and leaves the track in whatever position it was in previously, pausing the cycle until reengaged. There are a few variations in the tooling - the original Super Rail version has the reverser positioned before the uncoupling plate with the later Super Rail Black version moving the reversing trigger beyond the uncoupler. There are at least two variations in the black version of the rail as well.

Control Rail

This neat five-lever control track can reverse a train incoming from either direction, change the speed of a train passing in either direction, or stop a train right in the middle. Obviously the speed features do not work on the single-speed trains.

This rail appeared in the earlier Super Rail series to control the two-speed D-51 and ED-75. The stop section doesn't always work on high-speed trains...

The single-speed trains that do not have an electrical reverser can be stopped in the middle if they are traveling slow enough, and any train can be trapped reversing back and forth.

Slope Rail

Slope rails were somewhat uncommon in Super Rail, in part due to how large (and expensive) the train sets already were with just a simple oval. Slopes, bridges and supports were all produced however, with slope rails being two straights long and made up of two pieces of rail. The lower section has a support towards the top, but the upper section requires a support of some kind to stay up properly. The rail surface was not painted silver but instead had a rack of teeth molded into the rail surface to help trains grip the slope.

Accessories

A few varieties of small accessories that clip to the sleepers of the rails were included in most sets. Larger accessories like turntable, stations, and electric railroad crossings were produced and included in big sets and sold individually.

Two types of electrical catenary, a single-pole side-mounted style and a fully over-the-track version made up of three different pieces were produced. The single line poles were later used for Plarail.

A standalone semaphore signal, a clip-in style that sets beside the track, and a clip-in light-type signal were all produced. Later, the standalone semaphore signal was borrowed for Plarail.

A clip-in buffer piece was produced to cap off sidings and reversing and speed-change plates were made that clip into the track on straight sections.

A four-piece tunnel with grey brick portals that was later used with brown ones for the Thomas Plarail series.

Two styles of tree - a harder rounded canopy type and a taller four-piece fir tree that was also used for Plarail.