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Plarail Double Track System (1968-)
The Plarail Double Track (ふくせん or 複線 fukusen) system was introduced in 1968 with a series of track and accessories that introduced a second radius of curves with switches and straight rails that set a second rail 60mm further out from the "standard" ~215mm radius curves. Noted here are the various track sections and accessories that work with this standard as well as some ways they can be used together.
Rail
| Year | Name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | R-04 Double Track Straight Rail | Straight track with two parallel lines |
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| 1968 | R-05 Double Track Curved Rail | Four pack of double rail curves with overhead catenaries |
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| 1997 | R-09 Double Track Outer Curve Rail | Separate curves of the outer radius of the double track curve rail |
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| 1998 | R-10 U-Turn Rail | Iconic red turnaround with signal and connections lined up with double rail |
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| 1974 | R-13 Single/Double Point Rail | One right and one left parallel single to double track point rails |
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| 1968 | R-15 Double Track Point Rail | Originally a double track crossover switch and an overhead catenary, since 1978 it includes the crossover switch and the "automatic" double track point rail which causes a train to swap tracks when approaching from one side but head straight across from the other |
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| 1978 | R-16 Automatic Point Rail | Three-way automatic switch with the footprint of a right turnout and single/double track turnout with a half straight rail preceding it. Also includes a signal and a half straight rail |
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| 1981 | R-17 New Point Machine | Three-way switch with large lever to select between tracks. Footprint of two single/double track point rails flipped to opposite sides. Originally with all inboard connectors but later changed to have a convex entrance |
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| 2007 | R-24 Double Track Crossing Point Rail | Double track straight rail-length piece with crossover switch |
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| 2008 | R-28 Double Track Turnout | Very cool double-track turnout rail |
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| 1969 | Automatic Station Double Rail Track | Adaptor rail used with old automatic stations to adapt to the double rail standard |
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| 1996 | Y Type Single/Double Point Rail | Centered version of the double rail parallel switch used in some sets and accessories |
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Accessories
A variety of accessories have been released that either connect to the double rail standard track directly or will otherwise also work with double track rails. Some other accessories can still be used in place of the straight track in one half of a double rail system and a great deal will fit (and look good) beside a double rail section, but only accessories specifically designed to accommodate the double rail standard specifically are noted here.
| Year | Name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | J-04 Big Iron Bridge | Well-known iron bridge that can be configured to carry one or two lines |
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| 1999 | J-06 Double Track Tunnel | Nice double-track curved tunnel with single track on top |
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| 1979 |
J-12 Pedestrian Overpass | Pedestrian crossing that can straddle two lines |
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| 1968 | J-15 Double Track Bridge Girder | Older style of double trail bridge girders |
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| 1997 | J-22 Double Track Block Bridge Girder | Newer double-track piers that fit the block girder system |
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| 1968 | Double Track Iron Bridge | Iron Bridge-style bridge with double track girders and straight rail |
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| 1972 | Large Tunnel | Subway-style tunnel that can accommodate one or two lines. Produced in grey and later light blue |
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| November 24 1995 |
Thomas the Tank Engine Panorama Bag | Plastic storage case that unfolds into Knapford Station with attached yard - although it does not include track, the cutout slots that allow track to be placed inside are the same distance apart as double rail |
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| 1999 | Cranky at the Docks | Very cool motorized crane destination for the Thomas the Tank Engine series with manual stopper on one line and motorized catch-and-release mechanism on the other that makes Cranky the crane move back and forth |
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| June 30 2005 | Thomas the Tank Engine Knapford Station | Four-lane station with each of the two base sections having two platforms spaced apart at the double rail standard |
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Sets
Over the years several sets that used a large amount of double track rails have been released. Sets in my collection that use a lot of double rail include...
| Year | Name | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Double Track Plarail Express Train with Elevated Track Set | The last of the early "Fukusen Plarail" sets featuring lots of double rail, and entirely elevated |
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| 1998 | Tomica World Super Deluxe Set | Huge export Tomica World set with many double track sections, a relative rarity for exported sets |
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| 1999 | Let's Play With Parents and Children!! Shinkansen Set | Nice set commemorating the 40th anniversary of Plarail with a special red and white new power 0 series referencing the 1960s and early 1970s red and white Hikaris and a 500 series Shinkansen plus a loop of double rail track with station |
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| July 31 1999 | Thomas the Tank Engine Strongman Cranky Set | Cool double-track docks and yard set with Cranky and Bulstrode at the docks and yard with Thomas and four troublesome trucks |
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| March 2 2000 | Talking Thomas Set | Large set with Talking Thomas that can speak, speed up, and perform other actions when crossing special triggering track |
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| July 20 2000 | Talking Thomas Talking Harold and Station Set | Even bigger Talking Thomas set with talking Harold station destination and R-09 outer curve rails |
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| September 7 2000 | Lady and Diesel 10 Chasing Set | Double-track loop set with auto switch and powered Lady and Diesel 10 pulling Splatter and Dodge |
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| October 2004 | Sound - Door Opening and Closing Yamanote Line Set | Double track loop set with station and electronic train that plays successive announcements for the stations on the line each time it is stopped, with additional noises when the intermediate car's doors are opened and closed |
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| 2010 | Thomas and Spencer Racing Set | Two-train Thomas-series set with loop of double rail released in some parts of Asia |
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| November 8 2012 | Thomas and Percy Knapford Station Set | Nice large set with Thomas and Percy and two-platform Knapford Station |
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