fall inside a hole

Bandai Go Ahead Thomas (1997)

First written November 8, 2024

The Go Ahead Thomas (それゆけトーマス, Go for it Thomas or Go Thomas) series was a set of five candy Thomas the Tank Engine toys released by Bandai in Japan in 1997 with ramune candy for 300 yen. The series includes Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, and Percy with windup motors. Of the primary cast this notably excludes James - I have a suspicion that he was left out so that they only had to use blue and green plastic to produce the other five characters, leaving out the single red engine.

The engines are molded in one main color of plastic with black details. Stickers provide all the side graphic work and running board details. The winders stick out the right side of the trains. The wind-up chassis has two powered wheels in the rear and a small central front wheel. They are marked made in China and are attributed to Bandai in 1997.

Go Ahead Edward. Because the wheels on the sides aren't real, they could put some nice detail in the driving wheels.

Go Ahead Henry. The faces are the only painted details on these toys. I think I have Gordon and Percy somewhere...