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R-05 Double Track Curve Rail

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The double track curve rail (ふくせんきょくせんレール) was first released individually and in sets in 1968 as part of the new "fukusen" double rail system. The double rail system offers rail and accessories specially designed to make running two or more parallel tracks easy. The distance between the center of the connectors (and any other translated point between the two rails) are 60mm apart and the radius of the center of the outer curve rail is about 275mm.

Smooth rails (1968-1974)

The first individual release of the double track straight rail was in 1968 in the early Fukusen Plarail packaging. The earlier releases of the double track curve rail included two double track electrical catenaries.

Roughtop rails (1974-1980s)

Around 1974 the smooth rails transitioned to "roughtop" rails to increase traction of locomotives. These rails had "JAPAN" and a mold number molded in near one of the outboard connectors. Mid 1970s double track curve rail released in the Hikari-Go tag packaging included roughtop rails. Three catenaries were included from the 1970s onwards.

Treaded rails (1980s-current)

The roughtop Japan molds were moved to Thailand and were updated with the "transitional" treaded over roughtop rail surface. These rails are marked made in Thailand by the inner curve's outboard connector and have the slot marks from the original molding with the Japan text covered by the other outboard connector.

In 2000 fresh molds were produced with a pure treaded rail surface and different molding marks. A slot number was still included near the larger radius outboard connector.

In the 2000s after the new Tomy logo was introduced both the fresh 2000 molding and the older tread-over-roughtop molding were updated with the squared off Tomy logo and new 2001 markings. The 2000 moldings were updated with date code markers and the pattern of the circular molding marks matches the previous molds as does the slot numbers and covered up Japan marking.

The double track curve rails in this 2016 print run bag seem to be descended from the early 2000s new logo refresh and have similar markings and slightly updated tread. The rear of the packaging explains how it relates to other pieces of track geometrically as well as a suggested layout.

The catenaries included do not have a region of manufacture but do have molding slot numbers in them.

<-- R-04 Large Curve Rail
<-- R-04 Double Track Straight Rail

R-06 Slope Rail -->