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Plarail Diesel (1997)

First written June 4, 2024

Diesel is a black diesel shunter that causes trouble with the steam locomotives and trucks on Sodor. The Plarail Diesel was first released in 1997 with milk and fuel tankers.

Still from the 1998 Let's play together with Tomica and Plarail! VHS

The prototype Diesel used in some promotional material has a slightly different face and the tankers have a slightly different graphic.

Plarail Diesel (1997)

Plarail Diesel (プラレールディーゼル) was released on July 17, 1997 and was the ninth engine in the Thomas series of Plarail sets, trains, and accessories. The three-pack release includes Diesel and Milk and Sodor Fuel tanker wagons. As Diesel uses a C battery and is similar to regular Plarail trains, he is largely compatible with the Plarail system and no notes on the back of the box are made about any accessories he does not work with.

Diesel is made from a slick glossy black plastic with nice molded detail but little painted detail. The tankers are a new Thomas-specific tooling. MILK and SODOR FUEL are printed on while the fuel tanker has added stickers. This mold would be used for many variations in the decades since.

1997 print run boxes were used into 1999, with Diesel getting a new print run of boxes for 2000.

7449 Diesel (Tomica World) (1999)

First included in the Thomas Giant Set in 1998, in 1999 Diesel was released with the catalogue number 7449 as part of the Tomica World range. The box shown here is actually still taped closed at both ends - the original owner was evidently so eager to play that they ripped right through the box but still bothered to hold onto it for whatever reason. Like other new-for-1999 items, it does not seem that either Tomy or International Playthings imported these individual Diesels to the Unites States, although the Thomas Giant Set which included Diesel and his tankers was sold in the US.

These Diesels are otherwise identical to later 1990s Plarail Diesels.

This particular example dates to October 2000 and still has the older style of rimmed screw on the rear tanker couplings. Later on, this would be changed to a plastic ring and a regular screw.

Plarail Diesel (New number/URL box) (2000)

New print runs of boxes from 1999 onwards included the new Tomy website URL and slightly different phone number information on the back. Diesel received a new run of boxes in 1999 which went into use in 2000, seemingly the last before the range redesign in 2003.

7449 Diesel (second Tomica World box) (2001)

Diesel was released in new blue and red Tomica World packaging for Europe in later 2000 or 2001. Like Oliver, the other new-for-1999 Tomica World train, the three-pack Diesel was not imported into the United States until after the range had been refreshed in 2003.

T-11 Plarail Diesel (Updated rerelease) (2003)

In 2003 the Thomas Plarail range was revamped and the main cast of characters received updated detailing. Diesel, however, went largely unchanged, and was rereleased with the same milk and fuel tanker in updated T series packaging.

7449 Diesel (Motor Road & Rail (U.K.)/Motorized Road & Rail (U.S.)) (2003/2005)

In 2003 Diesels began being sold in Europe in blue Thomas Motor Road & Rail packaging. In 2005 the Diesel and tanker three-packs were sold in the United States at Toys R Us. The European release got a new box in 2005 used until the Tomy TrackMaster box in 2008.

7459 Diesel, Freight Wagons, and Cargo (Motor Road & Rail) (2003)

In 2003 a neat train pack containing Diesel and several troublesome trucks as well as the breakdown crane. More information can be found on the Diesel, Freight Wagons, and Cargo page.

4839 Diesel (Motorized Road & Rail) (2004)

In 2004 Diesel was exported to the United States in individual plastic-box hangtag packaging.

4890 Diesel with Track (Motorized Road & Rail) (2005)

In 2005 in the United States Diesel was sold with a milk tanker and four straight rails.