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Cleaning Bucket Set (2000)

The 2000 Cleaning Bucket Set (おかたづけバケツセット) was the first of several "bucket sets" released in plastic buckets that the sets could easily be picked up and put away in - boxes that could fit track and trains also appeared around this time, and the lids of the buckets and cases was often usable as an accessory or accessory base. This set includes a partially double-rail loop with stop rail and a D-51 steam locomotive with tender and container car.

The bucket shown here is faded from light exposure - it does seem that these bucket sets are more likely to be left sitting out in a playroom whilst still being held onto, unlike the more traditional cardboard boxes which are often immediately thrown away or kept stored away in a closet when not in use... All of these bucket sets, including the export ones and the Thomas the Tank Engine First Plarail Set in a bucket, can be stacked together.

Set contents

Quantity	Item	Photo
3 pieces	D51 with log car and box van
4	R-03 Curve Rail
4	R-05 Double Track Curved Rail
1	R-08 Stop Rail
1 pair	R-13 Single/Double Point Rail
2 pieces	J-03 Iron Bridge (side pieces only)
2	Standing Tree (one each of two colors, no bases)
1	Signal (no base)
2 pieces	Bucket

The D-51 in this set is a new power type with the light feature of the D-51 Locomotive with Light with a tender - it even has a Plarail sticker, unique to this set.

The container car is also a set color variant with Plarail stickers - a neat addition that certainly elevates the set.

The D-51 chassis is the curvy logo type, and the container car is the type with a wide-brim screw holding the rear coupling in.

The train was produced in my copy of the set was produced in November 1999, so this set was probably originally released in earlier 2000.

The lid of the box has a double-track pattern on it equivalent to a Double Track Straight Rail, and it can hold the included iron bridge sides and baseless signals and trees. Off the bucket regular track can be connected to it and when on top of the bucket it is the height of four Block Bridge Girders, so it can actually be reached and incorporated into a regular layout. Actually, all of the Tomy "cleaning boxes" have pretty neat features like this and will work with many other components as well as following the height and accessory standards.

The track selection is actually pretty nice for a "small" set, with a double-track section and single/double point rails as well as a stop rail to stop the train. The curves are the old Japanese toolings that had been updated for Thailand production and the switches are also old toolings with some text modifications over time. These predate the practice of putting the squared-off Tomy logo in many track toolings - I don't think it was introduced until later in 2000.

The signal and two different colors of standing tree do not have the regular red bases, instead intending to be slotted into the available holes on the top lid.

For a small bucket set, the track layout is pretty nice - I love double rail, and the lid being track and holding accessories is neat, but the star of the show is certainly the D-51 with its Plarail tender and container car.

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