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Thomas the Tank Engine and Freight Cars Set (1999)

First written April 30, 2024


In 1999 a new version of the Thomas the Tank Engine and Freight Cars Set from 1996 was released under the same name (きかんしゃトーマス&貨車セット) as part of the Thomas the Tank Engine Plarail series. The original set was the first to include the Troublesome Truck and Van as well as Ffarquhar Station and the brown Thomas-version of the old Super Rail tunnel.

This set stayed in regular production into the early 2000s, getting a redesigned box in 2004. The example shown here has a box printed in 2000.

Set contents
Quantity
 Item
 Photo
3 pieces
 Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel (six wheel painted face)
(plastic face on later copies)
2 pieces Troublesome Truck and Troublesome Van
4 R-01 Straight Rail
2 R-02 Half Straight Rail  
10 R-03 Curve Rail
1 R-08 Stop Rail
1 pair R-11 Turnout Rail  
2 pieces
 Ffarquhar Station
4 pieces Tunnel

Copies of this set from 1999 and the early 2000s use a painted-face six wheel Thomas, while the later 2000s rereleased version uses the updated squared-off logo chassis. The trucks included are the original 1996 style with laughing tuck and regular grey van.

Like the 1996 version of the set, Ffarquhar station and a tunnel originally developed for Super Rail are both included. The Ffarquhar is the old curvy Tomy logo type with the painted windows and doors rather than the separately fitted style used later.

While I do think this set is neat for including additional rolling stock, by this point there was a wider range of characters available and most of the other Thomas sets in Japan were getting more complicated... I suppose it is good to have a basic set in the range.

I do think that the regular turnouts are a little more immediately useful when building other layouts, and it means there is overall a little more track and a few more alternate ways to set it up.

Thomas the Tank Engine and Freight Cars Set (2004 rerelease)

In 2004 this set was rereleased in an updated box with a plastic face export-style Thomas.

Set name Thomas the Tank Engine and Freight Cars Set
きかんしゃトーマス&貨車セット		 Release period 1999-2003; 2004, Japan
Train rating Track rating
Accessory rating Overall
Notes:   Price 3800 yen (2000)
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