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Plarail Sound Steam Thomas & Steam Along Thomas (2005)

First written July 8, 2024

Released in 2005 to celebrate 60 years of the Railway Series books that Thomas the Tank Engine is based on, the Plarail Sound Steam Thomas is a special version of Thomas with a cool-to-the-touch water vaporizer system, sound circuitry, and LED light effect to produce a very cool steaming Thomas with sound. The special Thomas was exported in a metallic blue color and released multiple ways in Europe and America as the Steam Along Thomas or Steam Thomas.

Sound Steam Thomas the Tank Engine (2005)

The Japanese Plarail Sound Steam Thomas the Tank Engine (サウンド・スチーム きかんしゃトーマス) was released as an individual train pack in 2005. The Thomas is a nice new tooling to accommodate the electronics, water reservoir, and speaker inside while Annie is longer and based on the 2004 Talking Thomas powered Annie but she is permanently attached through a chunky coupling and holds three AA batteries as well as an additional power switch on the bottom that independently turns on Thomas' sound and steam functions - the motor can be turned on without them (or vise-versa, as Thomas has a sensor in his rear wheel that triggers his sound and steam actions, which can be activated when rolled by hand). Clarabel is the same as the longer Clarabel in the 2004 More Talkative Thomas and has no rear coupling. A water dropper is also included to help fill Thomas with water as well as an additional wick/plug for the water compartment under Thomas.

The Japanese releases are marked with a production code on the outside of the bottom hatch, while later export versions are marked outside and have the battery requirements marked out in white. Still, it seems this design of battery compartment (similar to the kind previously used on Talk 'n' Action trains) was somewhat confusing and often these trains are found with the bottom battery removed but two more left leaking inside the upper compartment where a parent did not realize there were more batteries to remove.

Because of the way the battery compartment is wired, Annie propels Thomas forward faster than usual for the Thomas-type gearbox, making the train rather spritely, adding to its stand-out appeal.

Steam Along Thomas/Steam Thomas (export sets) (2005-2006)

In 2005 the Steam Along Thomas Set was released for the American Motorized Road & Rail and European Motor Road & Rail markets. This was a special set for the 60th anniversary of the Railway Series.

Other than Thomas' body being a metallic blue instead of the traditional design and otherwise lacking the details afforded to the Plarail version, the export Steam Thomas is mostly identical inside. Annie and Clarabel are essentially identical.

In 2006 the Water Tower Steam Set was released in the United States including the functioning water tower accessory released in 2006.

In Australia, there was also a variant of the 2004 Thomas Ultimate Set that included a Steam Thomas.

7536 Steam Along Thomas Water Tower (Motor Road & Rail) (2006)

In 2006 a water tower to match the Steam Thomas was developed that stopped Annie at the correct position for Thomas to be under the lowering water tower spout, with the water tower holding real water which could be squirted into Thomas' functioning water tanks.

In the U.K. this was released individually in blue Motor Road & Rail packaging and in the United States it was included as part of the Water Tower Steam Set. This water tower comes with a small red ladder piece, but as it connects to both the static base and the removable water tower which would be pulled off to fill up with water it regularly goes missing. There is a slot and reservoir in the track bed to redirect overflowing water.

Steam Thomas (Tomy TrackMaster) (2008)

In 2008 in the U.K. the Steam Thomas was released individually as part of the Tomy TrackMaster range in TrackMaster by Tomy packaging. This was the last release of the Steam Thomas.