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Playskool Son Premier Train (1958)

First written April 15, 2024
Reformatted June 2026

After Playskool bought Keystone Manufacturing's Tot Railroad toolings and system in 1958 they released two sets based on the standard in Europe, particularly France, as the Son Premier Train sets. Like Tot Railroad they featured plastic rails and wooden trains with basic couplings but they used a light blue rail color instead of the tan used in America. It is believed that this series is where Tomy originated the Plarail blue rail system.

Son Premier Train 406 (1958)

In 1958 in France Playskool released two Son Premier Train or My First Train sets based on the Tot Railroad standard. They used similar wooden trains and the same rail standard but in a light blue. The boxes appear to be translated for sale in German and Italian language territories as well. This box has the 406 number on it but contains an additional straight rail versus previous 406 sets.

This is the smaller of the two sets, with a three-unit train, one of each switch, and enough track to make some small layouts.

Unlike previous Tot Railroad sets, these Premier Train sets use light blue strain-relieved rails. They are a lighter blue than Plarail.

Also included is a leaflet showing more Playskool toys as well as layout suggestions of the 1 and 2 Premier Train sets.

The layout suggested on the top of the box takes advantage of the interaction between the yoke, switch, and a diagonal straight rail to connect a loop back around to itself. It is believed, I think because of the blue rails and the inclusion of Playskool on early Plastic Rail boxes as well as the timing, that this is the version of Tot Railroad that Tomy began to build the Plarail standard off of.