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Thomas the Tank Engine Colorful Turn Rail Set (2009)
First written October 15, 2024
The Thomas the Tank Engine Colorful Turn Rail Set (きかんしゃトーマス カラフルまがレールセット) is a relatively simple Thomas-series Plarail set released on April 16th, 2009. It features Thomas with an open coach, PlaKids Sir Topham Hatt, station, drawbridge, and multi-colored articulated flexi rails.
The original Tomy webpage about this set from when it was released is, as of 2024, still up.
Set contents| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas (face variant) with open coach | |
| 2 | R-03 Curve Rail |
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| 1 | R-08 Stop Rail |
 |
| 3 | R-23 Free Curve Rail (rainbow colored) |
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| 2 pieces | J-02 Block Tunnel (set variant) |
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| 1 | J-05 Drawbridge (set variant) |
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| 7 pieces | PlaKids station platform |
 |
| 1 | PlaKids Sir Topham Hatt |
 |
The Thomas in this set is a slight variation with his eyes looking down at an angle instead of straight ahead - this is also how the Thomas on the box is shown.
The coach in this set has an open top and can seat up to three PlaKids.
The set includes a PlaKids-type station platform made up of the same components as other Thomas PlaKids Town buildings.
The drawbridge is a set exclusive color variation of the classic drawbridge.
Also included is a darker green block tunnel with overgrown portal stickers which still has the old Tomy logo present in the tooling.
This set hardly includes any traditional Plarail, instead opting for three lengths of multi-colored flexible "free curve" rails. The individual sections of rail can be popped apart to adjust the length, and every link rotates with its two adjacent sections to make a snaking flexible rail. Stretched straight each portion is the length of two straight rails, and all three of them together can make up a loop. A start and end section clips into either side to connect with regular track. The white and pink plastic on the curve rail which was showing through the front of the box has yellowed with exposure... The pieces feel pretty tight to pop apart, I think I'll leave playing with it more to the random sections of blue free curves I have come across.
The suggested layout can be curved and reformed into different shapes, or the track sections can be rearranged... if you popped all the flexi rail sections apart and put them back together in different lengths you could make all kinds of track setups.
| Set name | Thomas the Tank Engine Colorful Turn
Rail Set きかんしゃトーマス カラフルまがレールセット |
Release period | 2009-2010, Japan |
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| Notes: | Price |