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Thomas the Tank Engine Bridge and Quarry Mine Set (2006)

First written June 29, 2024

The Thomas the Tank Engine Bridge and Quarry Mine Set (ソドー島の石切り場とおおきな鉄橋セット) is a Toys "R" Us exclusive Thomas-series Plarail set released in 2006. The set has a large oval of track with inner loop and several accessories including two green arched truss bridges and a color variation of the Sodor Quarry Loader. This set is fairly hard to find.

 

Set contents
Quantity
Item
Photo
1 Thomas with tipping wagon and Troublesome Truck (laughing face)  
9 R-01 Straight Rail
3 R-02 Half Straight Rail
6 R-03 Curve Rail
1 R-08 Stop Rail
1 pair R-11 Turnout Rail
4 pieces Slope Curve Rail (two of each "A" and "B" type)
4 J-15 Mini Bridge Pier 
10 pieces Quarry Mine Loader
2 (4 pieces each) Arched Bridge
2 pieces Ffarquhar Station
4 pieces Tunnel
4 Trees
12 Cargo balls

The Thomas in this set is a standard mid-2000s Plarail Thomas, with the one in my example dating to September 2006. The tipper wagon from the standard Sodor Quarry Loader as well as a Troublesome Truck using the original laughing face are included to make up his train.

Exclusive to this set is a slight color variant of the Sodor Quarry Loader with lighter tan hopper and cargo balls. The regular color quarry loader was only sold in the Christmas 2006 Toys R Us exclusive imports of the Thomas Ultimate Set into Japan.

The quarry loader automatically dumps any cargo in the tipper car as it passes, and the lever near the track stopper controls if the train will actually stop and if the conveyer will be set to automatically run from the train's wheels or manually operated by the dial nearby. The rubber belts on the conveyers like to set up over time and will sometimes click along their guide cogs.

In addition to the quarry loader two of the nice green two-straight-long arched bridges are included. Each bridge is made up of two identical side sections, a roof section, and a hanging track support for the rail joint in the middle of the bridge. The two bridges lined up together looks very nice, although I do think it would look better with the grey version of the mini piers that Tomy was using in some Thomas-series sets in the 2000s.

Also included in this set is a Ffarquhar station with separately fitted windows and doors and the Super Rail tunnel that was commonly used in the Thomas series.

The track in this set is mid 2000s track with the squared-off Tomy logo in the "top". The track is a nice sizeable oval with an inner loop passing the station and tunnel.

This is a nice set with a decently sized layout and several accessories including a variant that is the only Japanese release of the operating Quarry Loader. The two nice big bridges look good at the rear of the layout and the trees, tunnel, and station help fill out the layout. A cool Toys "R" Us exclusive.

Set name Thomas the Tank Engine Bridge and Quarry Mine Set
ソドー島の石切り場とおおきな鉄橋セット
Release period 2006, Japan (Toys "R" Us exclusive)
Train rating Track rating
Accessory rating Overall
Notes:      
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