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Plarail Edward (1996)

First written June 2, 2024

Edward is one of the main characters in the Thomas the Tank Engine television series and the Railway Series books it is based on. Edward is a mixed traffic engine and is one of the oldest standard-gauge engines on the island and, after an overhaul, runs his own branch line.

Similar to other 90s Plarail Thomas trains, a late stage prototype with a slightly different face sculpt appears on some boxes and other material. It is seemingly the case that Edward was developed at the end of the main cast of characters in part because he is so much more cramped and has an odd wheel arrangement (which unlike many ranges, Tomy actually replicates very nicely, with a shorter style of coupling rod). The troublesome truck, and troublesome van, both staples of the Plarail and export Thomas motorized ranges for years to come, were first released in June 1996 with Edward and in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Freight Cars Set.

Plarail Edward (1996)

Plarail Edward (プラレールエドワード) was released on June 27, 1996 and was the sixth engine in the Thomas series of Plarail sets, trains, and accessories. The original individual release of Edward includes a Troublesome Truck, and Troublesome Van, both new toolings for 1996. Original boxes had a shorter incompatibility list.

The truck face is the original 1996 "laughing" face with open mouth, similar to the laughing face on the box van. The open truck and van share a common chassis. Although they were on their way out around this time, very early examples still use the older single-split style rear couplings.

Plarail Edward (new incompatibility list) (1997)

In late 1996 the compatibility of trains was reassessed and the compatibility lists updated for 1997 print run boxes.

Plarail Edward (bolded phone number) (1999)

The last new print run of Edward boxes before the 2003 brand refresh was in 1999. This printing is almost identical to the 1997 print box but with larger Tomy phone number text. Other engines around this time had their axles changed from the older hammered-flat style to the capped style, but Edward did not have any wheels on hammered axles.

Around 1999 the chassis of the troublesome trucks was updated to have a plastic support ring around the screw holding the top to the chassis.

The original battery compartment tooling seems to have lasted as late as 2000. I have two Edwards in 1999 print boxes, one from 2001 and the other from even later in 2002 - the 2002 one includes the short-lived truck chassis that is updated with 2002 license information but not the new Tomy logo. It is also new enough that the plastic mix is the early-mid 2000s mix that yellows and becomes brittle.

7457 Edward (Tomica World (U.K.)/Motorized Road & Rail (U.S.)) (2001)

Unlike most existing characters, Edward was not released alongside the rest of the main Tomica World Thomas range in 1998. Edward was first released in red and blue early 2000s Tomica World packaging in Europe/the U.K. and all-blue Motorized Road & Rail packaging in America in 2001. This was the first international release of the Plarail Edward and is of the painted face variety with original truck and van. Other than a sticker included in the American battery compartments, there is no real difference between these and early 2000s Plarail Edwards.

T-2 Plarail Edward (Updated rerelease) (2003)

In 2003 the Thomas Plarail range was revamped and the main cast of characters received updated detailing. The Edward box shown here is a 2002 print run example that would have been produced ahead of the January 30, 2003 release of the updated range.

As noted above, the blue plastic mix used in the early 2000s turns green and brittle with age, heat, and sun exposure. Edward has a separately-fitted grey plastic face (that also yellows over time) as well as new painted details instead of stickers on the tender and fresh detail on the running board and boiler. Edward still includes a troublesome van but now has an angry faced truck.

The chassis was updated with the squared-off Tomy logo and 2002 licensing info. This example dates to May 2003. The coal cover was updated slightly around this time with an E in the bottom. At this point, the Plarail and international releases split ways, with international releases gaining only the separately molded face.

Trucks in the early 2000s were from a mix of a new 2002 tooling which always had the squared-off Tomy logo and the 2000 chassis tooling which was updated with a 2002 date and slightly later the Tomy logo.

7457 Edward (Motor Road & Rail) (2003)

In 2003 updated export Edwards began being released in blue Thomas Motor Road & Rail packaging in Europe. This release got a new box style in 2005 and Edward was rereleased in Tomy TrackMaster packaging in 2008.

4831 Edward (Motorized Road & Rail) (2004)

In 2004 individual plastic-face Edwards were released in plastic hanging bags in the United States.

4854 Edward with Track (Motorized Road & Rail) (2005)

In 2005 Edward was rereleased in the U.S. with four straight rails.