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Thomas-series PlaKids

First written July 30, 2024

PlaKids (プラキッズ) are a series of small semi-articulated dolls made to accompany Tomy's Plarail system, first appearing in 2001. Thomas-series PlaKids and accessories began being produced in late 2004 with a series of PlaKid Town sets and buildings, with some later Thomas Plarail packs and sets including PlaKids and PlaKid Town elements.

PlaKids Town (2004-2006)

In December 2004 the PlaKids Town Emily Set and two additional accompanying buildings were released as part of the PlaKids Town subrange. In 2005 a third individual building pack was released.

PlaKids Town Emily Set (2004)

The December 2004 PlaKids Town Emily Set includes the PlaKids Town Station consisting of the opening office portion and the open-air platform section. The station building has three chairs around a dining table where PlaKids can sit.

The PlaKids Town accessory sets all use a baseplate that has an integrated half straight rail and connection points for the different structures. Different stickers are applied on different sets. The station office is made up of two pieces that are hinged together to let the building be opened to play inside.

The station platform has a base section that fits into the PlaKids Town base that has slots for the two roof supports.

This set includes the same conductor figure as the Conductor's House. I think that originally the color of the figures torso should have better matched the legs and arms, but it seems the blue has darkened over time. The set also comes with a coach in Emily's colors that can open and seat PlaKids.

PlaKids Town Sir Topham Hatt's Office (2004)

Also released on December 27, 2004 was the PlaKids Town Sir Topham Hatt's Office (プラキッズタウントップハム・ハット卿のオフィス).

This pack includes two trees and a reddish building meant to be Sir Topham Hatt's office. Sir Topham Hatt is the operator of the railway on which Thomas and his friends operate, and Sir Topham Hatt would be rereleased in PlaKid form a few times with a few variations.

The building in this pack is a nice red brick. Inside, Sir Topham Hatt has a desk he can sit at and several places he or other PlaKids can stand.

Opposite his office are two trees which can fit into two of the holes in the opposite side of the base.

PlaKids Town Conductor's House (2004)

Released with the initial wave of PlaKids Town toys on December 27, 2004 was the PlaKids Town Conductor's House (プラキッズタウン車掌さんの家).

This pack includes the conductor figure also included in the Emily set with his house and a green water tower.

The conductor's house has nice stickers all around and opens to reveal a similar table and chair arrangement as the PlaKids Town Station with maps of Sodor and other interesting graphics around the room.

The water tower accessory is not super detailed and the ladder sticking out looks a little odd but it is a nice trackside addition.

The building and water tower from this release were also used in the Australian Thomas Mega Set, although it seems the PlaKid was removed for international sale.

PlaKids Town Tom's Post Office (2005)

A fourth PlaKids Town building was released on May 26, 2005 as PlaKids Town Tom's Post Office (プラキッズタウン郵便局員トム). This release includes a PlaKid of the post man Tom Tipper and an opening post office with a station platform on the other side of the PlaKids Town base.

These accessories seem to have stayed in production into at least late 2006.

Year	Name	Description	Photo
2005	Water Tower and Coal Loader	Interactive "functioning" water tower and coal loader released in a sets in Japan and the U.S. and individually in Europe

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Thomas-series PlaKids

PlaKids Town (2004-2006)

PlaKids Town Emily Set (2004)

PlaKids Town Sir Topham Hatt's Office (2004)

PlaKids Town Conductor's House (2004)

PlaKids Town Tom's Post Office (2005)

Other Thomas-series PlaKids

Thomas the Tank Engine Colorful Turn Rail Set (2009)

Thomas 65th Anniversary Birthday Parade Wagon Set (2010)

PlaKids-compatible accessories