fall inside a hole

Plarail Ben (1999)

First written June 25, 2024

Ben is a small yellow tank engine who works in a quarry with his twin Bill. Like Douglas, Bill never had a regular Plarail release and was only sold in Japan in a single themed set, although he was released in Europe and the United States.

Plarail Ben (1999)

Plarail Ben (プラレールベン) was released on July 31st, 1999 and was the second new character in the Thomas series of Plarail trains to be released in 1999. The three-pack release includes Ben with two troublesome trucks with four removable clay loads.

Ben has a nice mix of molded, painted, and sticker details. He uses the AA "flat-type" gearbox developed for Donald. The china clay loads were new toolings for this release and were some of the first removable loads developed for the Tomy troublesome trucks.

The troublesome trucks included are the sad and happy types. The clay tooling was reused later in different colors for coal and rock loads.

These boxes were used up to the point the range was refreshed for 2003. The chassis of trucks from earlier Bens are the 1999 version with a short rim around the screw with the old chassis tooling. Later examples like the 2001 version shown above come with the early 2000s new 1996 dated tooling with centered text and taller screw rim.

4758 Ben (Tomica World (U.K.)/Motorized Road & Rail (U.S.)) (2001/2002)

In 2001 the first Bens were exported in red and blue 2001-style Thomas Tomica World packaging for the European market and in blue Thomas Motorized Road & Rail packaging in the United States in 2002.

In the United States, these Bens had an added warning sticker. This example also has the "V" suffix added to many 2000s export production stickers.

T-13 Plarail Ben (Updated rerelease) (2003)

In 2003 the Thomas Plarail range was revamped and earlier characters were given updated detailing. Ben was mostly unchanged, gaining the new squared-off Tomy logo and new packaging but no major changes in appearance.

4758 Ben (Thomas Motor Road & Rail) (2003)

In 2003 updated Bens were exported in blue Thomas Motor Road & Rail packaging for the European market. A new box style was introduced in 2005 and used until 2008. Ben was not included in the 2008 U.K. Tomy TrackMaster range.

4838 Ben (Thomas Motorized Road & Rail) (2004)

In 2004 Bens were released individually in the United States in hanging plastic box packaging.

Plarail Bill (Set exclusive) (2004)

 

The 2004 Plarail Bill and Ben Harbor Friends Set includes the first release of Bill and his only release in Japan.

This set-exclusive variant uses the original new-logo Ben chassis without the CE and disposal marks present on later export Bills.

4889 Ben with Track (Thomas Motorized Road & Rail) (2005)

In 2005 Ben was released with a single "sad" truck with china clay loads and four curve rails in the United States.

4925 Bill (Thomas Motor Road & Rail) (2006)

In 2006 Bills were released with two coal trucks in blue Motor Road & Rail packaging.

The coal load is the same tooling as the china clay but in black and was only used in this European release.

4930 Bill with Track (Thomas Motorized Road & Rail) (2006)

Also in 2006, Bills with two half straight rails were sold in the United States.