fall inside a hole
TOMIX
First written September 2024TOMIX is the name used by Tomy and later its hobby and scale model subsidiary TomyTec for (mostly) N gauge model trains released primarily in Japan.
Tomix evolved out of Tomy's Japanese imports of American Bachmann N scale trains and accessories beginning in 1969, with Tomy selling Japanese-type locomotives and rolling stock made by Kader, the same Hong Kong company that produced trains for Bachmann, beginning in 1974 as Tomy N Scale.
The range was renamed Tomix in 1976 when Tomy began producing their own trains in Japan. Tomy established a new factory in Tochigi in 1980 to produce Tomix - this is now TomyTec's headquarters. Tomix was handled by Tomy's Hobby Division until TomyTec took over Tomy's Hobby Division operations in September 2001.
A great English website covering much more of the Tomix system can be found here.
Trains
Most Japanese N scale trains are 1:50th scale, with Shinkansen trains often modeled in 1:60th. The N in N scale refers to the gauge of the tracks - nine millimeters apart. Recently (late 2024-early 2025) I have bought several Tomix trains and sets (as well as some Kato N scale) and will hopefully cover much of it here in the coming years. For now, here is Tomix a log wagon with real wood logs that I have had for a few years.
Track
Tomix track is 9mm rail-to-rail and, since 1976, includes roadbed and slots for inserting the track power connector in most sections. A range of curve radii and straight lengths are available, with the "standard" curve radii and straight rail measure 280mm. A parallel track spacing of 37mm was established and different radii including double track sections, graduated viaducts, crossings, and more were released.
In general, Tomix track has an associated letter-number code which says what kind of rail it is and its dimensions. S was used for straight rails, C for curves, and P for points which also used R, L, Y and other letters to signify if the point is to the right or left or a Y point, with the first number after either being the length of the straight rail or straight section or radii of the curve, with the second number on curved products being the arc length in degrees of the curved section.
Sets
I have bought a few different Tomix sets of varying ages as I generally find sets to be good ways to get into any kind of toy train, but especially model trains where power packs and electric rails are required. Older Tomix sets are fairly affordable on Yahoo Auctions and I do not mind spending some time fixing them up.
| Year | Name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
Thomas series
Beginning in 1998, Tomy released a series of Thomas the Tank Engine licensed sets, trains, and accessories that run on 9mm N gauge track but are slightly larger in scale (around 1:140 as opposed to closer to the 1:150 of most Japanese N scale). Some of these products were also exported to Europe and North America.
| Year | Name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Thomas the Tank Engine Starter Set | The first Thomas-series set with oval of track, track mat, power pack, and Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel |
 |
| 1999 | SCRuffy Freight Car Set | Rolling stock pack containing troublesome truck S.C.Ruffy and a troublesome van |
 |
| 1999 | Ffarquhar Station | N scale Ffarquhar Station |
 |
| 1999 | Watermill | Watermill similar in design to one shown in the Thomas TV show |
 |
| 1999 | Thomas N Gauge Series Windmill Set | N scale windmill based on one seen in the Thomas series |
 |