fall inside a hole
Palitoy Log Delivery Train Set (~1977)
First written March 25, 2025
The Palitoy Discovery Time Long Delivery Train Set is one of a few Plarail-style train sets put together by Tomy for Palitoy for the British market. In addition to Merry-Go-Train and Merry-Go-Copter, Tomy also produced the components to some small Plarail-style sets that were all manufactured in Hong Kong and used some odd and old toolings and colors. It seems that the molds used to produce these sets in Hong Kong were originally used for Japanese production in the earlier 1970s, as the rails are all smooth despite Plarail gaining roughtop treading in 1974, the older style of flatter couplings is used despite being updated to the almost-modern type around 1977, and other odd tooling details.
On the cover of the box you can see an earlier mock-up version of the box sitting on the floor near the set. It has a slightly different layout and appears to use different pictures of children playing with the set.
Set contents
| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 4 pieces | Old power Hong Kong-made C-12 with two tipping log cars and guard's van |
 |
| 1 | Straight Rail (Hong Kong produced) |
 |
| 8 | Curve Rail (Hong Kong produced) |
 |
| 1 | Stop Rail (Hong Kong produced) |
 |
| 2 pieces | Sawmill |
 |
| 8 pieces | Timber Yard |
 |
| 1 | Signal |
 |
| 6 | Logs |
 |
The train in this set is comprised of a rim-drive C12 with grey side rods and blue stickers with the British Rail "arrows" logo. Like other older C12s, the power switch is linked to the right lamp on the running board. This one is in nicer condition than my other Palitoy C12, with brighter stickers and an intact headlamp. A cam and metal striker cause a sharp "chuffing" sound as the train runs.
Like the rest of the components of this set, the train in entirely manufactured in Hong Kong and uses a different type of rim-drive gearbox than regular Plarail old power C-12s. The chassis has no activation tab catch in the molding and the couplings are all the flatter earlier 1970s style. As discussed on the Hong Kong C12 gearbox page, this C12 tooling was seemingly originally developed to be a reversing Round-Trip Plarail C12, but Tomy seemingly moved the toolings to Hong Kong to use for export sets and never produced the reversing version. The C12 also has metal crank pins, although they are hollow and not the same as the earlier Plarail D51 and C12 crank pins.
Two yellow spring-loaded tipper wagons are included to load and unload the logs included in the set. A brown guard's van is also included like in other Palitoy sets. These are all also Hong Kong production with flared-out axles. One of the wheelsets on one of my log trucks is installed the other way around, but I am not sure if this is from the factory or if the wheels came out of their axle holder and were put back in backwards at some point.
Like other Palitoy Plarail-style sets (not the Plarail Land-based Merry-Go sets) track is all smooth and appears to be manufactured from old Japanese toolings with added or updated Hong Kong text. The molding slot marks and ejector pin locations on the curve rails match one of the curve rail toolings previously used in Japan.
The log loader and unloading pen are similar in design to the Plarail versions dating back to 1973. The sawmill loader is made up of two pieces, the base track section with flipper that the car hits and the upper spring-loaded hopper that will release a log when triggered by the base.
The spring-loaded sawmill has a unique sticker on the front. The plastic of the base is turning green, and I think it is also expanding slightly with age - the hopper is a very tight fit and is hard to get on and then back off again, and it no longer properly fits in its formed styrofoam compartment (which has probably also shrunk slightly with age, to be fair).
The timber yard has a similar straight-rail base structure (that thankfully has not yellowed as yet) that causes the cars to tip as they pass and is constructed similar to some old Plarail stations (really, the original Japanese unloading yard was designed around the same time). The roof has the center third peg to hold the included Timber Yard sign. The yellow supports are keyed on the bottom side, with the round tops only fitting into the roof and not the blue track base.
The fence is made of a different mix of plastic and is more translucent than the Japanese version. It is a fairly soft plastic that has gone somewhat oily with age, but it is sturdier and seems to hold up better than other similar Tomy fences.
The sign can be inserted into the timber yard in line with the supports or hanging out perpendicularly - or any other angle, really, because the peg and hole are round. A Hong Kong production signal is also included - mine has a broken arm.
Six logs are included, which is fairly generous alongside the two log cars. My set is down a log...
Click for video with sound!
Its obvious Tomy was proud of their log loading and unloading mechanics, exporting sets using it to the United States, U.K., and Spain, as well as releasing several sets in Japan... Its a very cool gimmick. The best train set gimmicks always mimic real railroad operations...