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My Thomas-series Plarail collection

Stylized Plarail logo used in the 1980s

In 1992, after the success of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends on Japanese television, Tomy began releasing licensed Thomas the Tank Engine characters and sets for the Plarail system. In the later 90s and 2000s Tomy began exporting sets and characters to Europe and the U.S. as well as Australia, Korea, and some other parts of Asia as part of the Tomica World and later Motor Road & Rail ranges. These export sets were some of the best-selling Plarail export toys. The Plarail range has been updated to follow changes in the show, eventually shifting to toys styled after the CGI television series.

Sets Trains Rail Scenery Tomica Catalogues Thomas series Exports

Sets

In the 1990s, Thomas-series boxes followed the style of regular Plarail boxes with a yellow strip on the left and a red stripe separating it from the rest of the cover. Earlier made in Japan sets had lift-off boxes and styrofoam trays while later Thailand-made sets had full boxes and later cardboard trays.

Year
Set name
Description
Photo
13 April 1992 Thomas the Tank Engine Set Includes Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, Wellsworth station, pedestrian bridge, and two loops of track with crossover switch
17 April 1992 Thomas the Tank Engine Basic Set Includes Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, station and drawbridge in a basic passing-loop layout. Rereleased and exported many times
25 February 1993 Henry Train Set Includes Henry with log car and van and the Basic No.2 Set layout with block tunnel and Wellsworth station
1995 Thomas the Tank Engine Basic Set Thailand rerelease of the 1992 Thomas Basic Set with some updated components
July 14 1995 Thomas the Tank Engine and Bertie Set Combination Plarail and B/O Tomica set with the newly produced Bertie
June 27 1996 Thomas the Tank Engine and Freight Cars Set Mixed traffic set with Thomas, Annie, Clarabel, and new-for-1996 Troublesome Truck and Van and Ffarquhar Station plus tunnel borrowed from Super Rail
July 17 1997 Thomas the Tank Engine and Bulgy Set Crossover set with the renamed Motor Tomica featuring Thomas and Bulgy the Bus
October 31 1998 Thomas the Tank Engine and Harold Flying in the Sky Set Set featuring Thomas with "chuffing" Annie and Clarabel and Harold that flies around station
February 12 1999 Donald and Douglas Snowplow Train Set Two-engine set with the Scottish twins Donald and Douglas, work ban, snowplows, and snow-covered station and tunnels
1999 Thomas the Tank Engine and Freight Cars Set Updated version of the 1996 set with Thomas, Annie, Clarabel, trucks, station, and tunnel
July 31 1999 Thomas the Tank Engine Strongman Cranky Set Cool double-track docks and yard set with Cranky and Bulstrode at the docks and yard with Thomas and four troublesome trucks
March 2 2000 Talking Thomas Set Initial large Japanese Talk 'n' Action set with special Thomas that can speak, speed up, and perform other actions when crossing special triggering track
July 20 2000 Talking Thomas Talking Harold and Station Set Even bigger Talking Thomas set with talking Harold station destination
September 7 2000 Lady and Diesel 10 Chasing Set Double-track loop set with auto switch and powered Lady and Diesel 10 pulling Splatter and Dodge
May 17 2001 Thomas and Busy Freight Cars Set Freight yard set with annoyed Thomas and several sidings of cars to pull

In 2001 a new style of box was introduced for the Thomas series with a darker blue stripe on the left side. A few older sets were rereleased in this packaging style. A similar darker blue stripe was used on other Thomas toys from Tomy in Japan at the time.

Year Set name Description Photo
2001 Thomas the Tank Engine Go Out 3D Bag Complete Edition Massive partially-elevated set that incorporates the Thomas Go Out 3D Bag
May 30 2002 Thomas the Tank Engine First Plarail Set Small oval set in a bucket  
June 27 2002 Thomas and Terence Loading and Unloading Set Very cool operating lumber yard set with Terence the Tractor
September 25 2003 Thomas and Elizabeth Railroad Crossing Station Set Station crossing set with Elizabeth, Wellsworth station crossing, and green bridge
December 2003 Thomas the Tank Engine Snow Shoveling Set Small winter set with white rails, snowy tunnel and windmill, and Thomas with snowplow
2004 Thomas and Busy Freight Cars Set Rerelease of the popular 2001 set featuring an annoyed Thomas and array of freight cars with yard layout
July 2004 Plaroad Bulgy Basic Set Plaroad set with the new green version of Bulgy as well as some of the new-for-2004 Plaroad
September 30 2004 More Talkative Thomas Set Second generation talking Thomas set with coal and water depot and oval of track
2004 Bill and Ben Harbor Friends Set Harbor-themed set with twin engines Bill and Ben and an updated green Cranky
December 27 2004 PlaKids Town Emily Set PlaKids Town set with Emily, opening coach and buildings that work with PlaKids dolls
June 30 2005 Thomas the Tank Engine Harold's Heliport Set Oval set with motorized controllable flying Harold
2006 Thomas the Tank Engine Bridge and Quarry Mine Set Toys "R" Us exclusive set with two large green bridges and the only Japanese release of the Sodor Quarry Loader accessory
October 19 2006 Thomas the Tank Engine and Percy and the Dragon Set Set with light-up Chinese Dragon, automatic switch, and shocked-face Percy based on an episode of the television show
March 2007 Rail Map Thomas the Tank Engine Small set consisting only of  Thomas and a single folding "map" piece with integrated track
July 19 2007 Thomas the Tank Engine Doki Doki Mountain Set Set with Thomas and two trucks traversing a spiraling mountain with a steep drop  

In later 2007 a new lighter-blue stripe box style was introduced. This style of box was fairly short-lived, being updated in 2011.

Year Set name Description Photo
July 19 2008 Thomas the Tank Engine and Bertie's Competition Set Small set with road and rail loops and variants of Thomas, Bertie, and Ffarquhar Station
October 2008 Thomas the Tank Engine and Jeremy's Airport Set with the Sodor Airport, a small section of road and road "sky" for Jeremy the jet and a loop of track
October 2008 Thomas and Terence Loading and Unloading Set Updated rerelease of the action-packed automatic timber yard set with Terence the tractor
April 16 2009 Thomas the Tank Engine Colorful Turn Rail Set Small PlaKids set with open coach and colorful bridge and flexible rails
August 27 2009 Thomas the Tank Engine Basic Set Starter set with oval of track, recolored Ffarquhar Station, Thomas, and turnout
April 9 2010 Departing From the Station! Hiro and Thomas the Tank Engine Set Set with Hiro and Thomas, station, and loop of track with siding and shed

In 2011 boxes began using new CGI renders and branding as the show fully moved to digital animation.

Year Set name Description Photo
April 28 2012 Let's Run Together! Fire-Engine Flynn and Thomas Set Oval of rail with inner road passing loop with automatic switch triggered by the fire engine Flynn
November 8 2012 Thomas and Percy Knapford Station Set Nice large set with Thomas and Percy and two-platform Knapford Station

Trains

Most Plarail Thomas trains were released in "three-car" formations like standard Plarail with the powered engine and (usually) two connected cars. Many early trains had faces molded directly into their smokeboxes which were then painted grey. Running boards were left red and rolling stock was a mix of new toolings and existing Plarail rolling stock recolored.

Year
Name Description
Photo
20 March 1992
Thomas the Tank Engine Made in Japan Thomas with Annie and Clarabel
25 February 1993
Plarail Henry
Made in Japan Henry with box van and log car with logs
15 October 1994
Plarail James Made in Japan James with cattle car and brake van
1995 Thomas the Tank Engine Thailand rerelease of Thomas the Tank Engine with Annie and Clarabel
1995 Plarail Henry Thailand rerelease of Henry
1995 Plarail James Thailand rerelease of James
April 14 1995 Plarail Percy Percy with fuel tanker and mail van
October 26 1995 Plarail Gordon Gordon with express coach
June 27 1996 Plarail Edward Edward with Troublesome Truck and Van
May 22 1997 Plarail Duck Duck with S.C.Ruffy and Toad the brake van
June 19 1997 Plarail Toby Toby with Henrietta and troublesome truck
July 17 1997 Plarail Diesel Diesel with milk and fuel tankers
May 22 1998 Plarail BoCo BoCo with tar tanker and troublesome truck
July 7 1998 Plarail Donald Donald with two Troublesome Trucks
October 14 1998 Plarail Oliver Oliver with two red coaches
January 1 1999 Thomas the Tank Engine Individual six-wheel Thomas release
May 1 1999 Plarail Stepney Stepney with troublesome truck and grey brake van
July 31 1999 Plarail Ben Ben with two troublesome trucks with clay loads
September 25 1999 Plarail Mavis Mavis with breakdown train crane and flatbed
July 27 2000 Plarail Diesel 10 Diesel 10 and two matching mustard troublesome trucks
July 27 2000 Plarail Lady Lady and two matching purple troublesome trucks
December 28 2001 Plarail Splatter and Plarail Dodge Two-engine pack with Splatter, Dodge, and connecting van
2002 Powerful Gordon Faster Gordon with angry face and red express coach

In 2003 the range was refreshed with new white running boards and other details as well as separately-fitted grey plastic faces. Some older characters were updated with new rolling stock.

Year
Name Description
Photo
January 30 2003 T-1 Thomas the Tank Engine Updated Plarail Thomas with added detail
January 30 2003 T-2 Plarail Edward Rereleased Edward with troublesome truck and van
January 30 2003 T-3 Plarail Henry Henry with updated details and rolling stock
January 30 2003 T-4 Plarail Gordon Gordon with updated details and green express coach
January 30 2003 T-5 Plarail James Rereleased James with tar tanker and van
January 30 2003 T-6 Plarail Percy Percy with Sodor fuel tanker and troublesome truck
2003 T-7 Plarail Toby Rereleased Toby in new box
2003 T-8 Plarail Duck Rereleased Duck, S.C.Ruffy, and Toad in new box
2003 T-9 Plarail Donald Rereleased Donald with two troublesome trucks
2003 T-10 Plarail Oliver Rereleased Oliver and coaches
2003 T-11 Plarail Diesel Rereleased Diesel and tankers
2003 T-12 Plarail Boco BoCo with troublesome truck and tar tanker in updated packaging
2003 T-13 Plarail Ben Rereleased Ben with two trucks and clay loads
2003 T-14 Plarail Stepney Rereleased Stepney with truck and brake van
2003 T-15 Plarail Mavis Mavis with breakdown train in updated box
May 2003  T-16 Plarail Harvey Harvey with powered works van and flatbed
May 29 2003  T-17 Plarail Salty Salty with two black trucks with crate loads
2003  T-18 Plarail Diesel 10 Rereleased Diesel 10 with matching troublesome trucks
2003  T-19 Plarail Lady Lady with purple trucks in new box
2003  T-20 Plarail Splatter & Plarail Dodge Splatter and Dodge in new packaging
August 2004 T-21 Plarail Spencer Spencer with tender and special coach
December 27 2004 T-22 Plarail Murdoch Murdoch with troublesome truck
January 2005 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends 60th Anniversary Metallic Thomas Metallic blue Thomas with gold Annie and Clarabel to celebrate 60 years of the Railway Series  
February 17 2005 T-23 Plarail Arthur Arthur with troublesome truck and van and fish loads
July 2005 Sound Steam Thomas the Tank Engine Special commemorative Thomas for the 60th anniversary of the Railway Series with sound function as well as water-vapor steam effect
May 2006 T-24 Thomas and the Jet Engine Thomas with fast gearbox, surprised face, and jet engine with light effect  
June 2006 T-25 Plarail Skarloey Skarloey and two blue narrow gauge coaches
June 2006 T-26 Plarail Rusty Rusty with two red narrow gauge coaches  
September 21 2006 T-27 Plarail Dennis Dennis with two faceless trucks with roofing tile loads  
September 21 2006 T-28 Plarail Neville Neville with tender and red van  
September 21 2006 T-29 Plarail Molly Molly with green truck  
September 21 2006 T-30 Plarail Mighty Mac Mighty Mac with powered and unpowered narrow gauge coaches
June 22 2007 T-31 Plarail Rosie Rosie with balloon-filled trucks  
June 22 2007 T-32 Plarail Duncan Duncan with two slate cars with loads
October 12 2007 T-33 Plarail Sir Handle Sir Handle with two red narrow gauge coaches  
August 24 2007 T-34 Plarail Busy Bee James James in bee stripe colors with tool flatbed  
February 21 2008 T-35 Plarail Freddie Freddie with two narrow gauge coaches
2008 T-36 Plarail Emily Emily with brakevan  
December 2009 T-34 Plarail Stanley Stanley with log car and light blue troublesome truck  
2011 T-14 Plarail Hiro Three-pack Hiro release with slate wagon and barrel loads  
November 2011 T-28 Plarail Percy and Rocky Shocked-face Percy with Rocky the crane  
June 14 2012 T-26 Plarail Dash Dash with grey and green trucks with log loads  

Train and Truck Packs

Year
Name Description
Photo
2000 Plarail Troublesome Trucks Not-for-sale two-pack with troublesome truck and van
September 2007 Percy and Pounding Wagons Set Percy with two rocking/shifting trucks and Rocky the crane
December 2009 Percy with Fun Action Freight Car Set Percy with circus-themed animal cars with animated movement when the cars roll  
April 9 2010 Thomas 65th Anniversary Birthday Parade Wagon Set 65th Anniversary pack with decorated Thomas, chocolate tanker, brake van, truck, and Old Slow Coach with Sir Topham Hatt PlaKid  
October 2010 The Legendary Hiro Popular Set
Hiro・Rocky・Spencer
Plarail pack based on the animated special Hero of the Rails with Hiro, Spencer, and Rocky
December 16 2010 Percy and Circus Wagons Set Another circus-themed pack with Percy and themed, operational wagons  
December 16 2010 James and Pasture Wagons Set James with banners and farm trucks including a milk barrel car and pigs  
May 11 2011 Hiro and Aquarium Wagons Set Hiro with water tanker, fish tank, and seal cars  

Talking Trains

Year
Name Description
Photo
March 2 (set)
October 19 (individual)
2000
Talking Thomas First Plarail talking Thomas, exported as part of the Talk 'n' Action series
July 20 2000 Talking Henry First Plarail talking Henry, with van and log car
July 20 2000 Talking Gordon First Plarail talking Gordon, with green express coach
July 20 2000 Talking James Plarail talking James, exported as Talk 'n' Action James  
October 19 2000 Talking Percy First talking Plarail Percy, exported as Talk 'n' Action Percy
April 19 2001 Talking Toby First and only Plarail talking Toby, with Henrietta and troublesome truck  
April 19 2001 Talking Diesel 10 First and only Plarail talking Diesel 10, with Splatter and Dodge  

Road vehicles

A few different road vehicles were released for Tomy's companion B/O or Motor Tomica range, later renamed Plaroad.

Year
Engine
Description
Photo
February 23 1996 Bertie Individual release of the B/O (Battery/Operated) Tomica Bertie the Bus
1997 Bertie Rereleased Motor Tomica Bertie
June 19 1998 Bulgy Individual Motor Tomica Bulgy the Bus
March 30 2000 Lorry Motor Tomica Lorry 1
2004 TC-01 Plaroad Bertie Rereleased Plaroad Bertie
2004 TC-02 Plaroad Lorry Plaroad Lorry 1
2004 TC-03 Plaroad Bulgy Green grocery-stand Bulgy

Accessories

Year
Name
Description
Photo
November 24 1995
Thomas the Tank Engine Panorama Bag Plastic storage case that unfolds into Knapford Station with attached yard, can fit or store track and trains
July 17 1996 J-25 Thomas the Tank Engine Railroad Crossing Station Plarail and B/O Tomica crossing with Elsbridge Station building and signal box and moving crossing gates
1997 J-25 Thomas the Tank Engine Railroad Crossing Station Rereleased Motor Tomica box version of the Elsbridge Station Crossing
July 17 1997 Big Thomas Large Thomas that serves as a multi-level, multi-track tunnel and storage container  
1997 Big Thomas Rail Set Package of straight rail, curve rail, double track curve rail, and girders useful for creating orbits around Big Thomas  
October 14 1998 J-26 Thomas the Tank Engine Fun Scene Set Accessory pack with Harold, Terence, and windmill that move when engines stop at the attached rail bases  
February 5 1999 Thomas the Tank Engine Go Out 3D Bag Large unfolding storage "bag" that holds trains and the components for a small self-contained layout
July 24 1999 J-28 Thomas the Tank Engine Boulder and Thumper Accessory set with small mountain with moving Boulder and Thumper who rotates side to side
August 28 1999 Even More Fun with Big Thomas Set Rerelease of the Plarail Big Thomas with some track and accessories included  
December 27 2004 PlaKids Town Sir Topham Hatt's Office Opening PlaKids-compatible Sir Topham Hatt's office with two trees and the man himself
December 27 2004 PlaKids Town Conductor's House PlaKids Town house with water tower and conductor PlaKid
June 30 2005 Thomas the Tank Engine Knapford Station Four-lane station with rail stoppers and canopies
June 30 2005 Knapford Station Extension Rail Set Track pack with switches and lots of rail that can be used to connect to Knapford Station

Yujin

Tomy's gacha and small-toy subsidiary Yujin released a few Thomas-series Plarail-style candy dispenser toys. Pull-back versions of Thomas and Percy were sold with removable cabs that could hold candy, sometimes sold with rails. Early series of Thomas (and regular) Capsule Plarail were also sold under the Yujin brand before it became Takara TOMY A.R.T.S. after Tomy and Takara merged in the late 2000s.

Year Engine Description Photo
1998 Candy Dispenser Thomas Pull-back Plarail-style Thomas with candy
1998 Funny GO Rail Set Thomas Pullback Thomas with oval of yellow track and punchout scenery kit  
1998 Funny GO Rail Set Percy Pullback Percy with oval of yellow track and cardboard scenery  

The Thomas the Tank Engine Plarail range was first exported to the United States as the Thomas the Tank Engine Battery Operated Rail System in 1997 and then to Europe and America in 1998 as part of the Tomica World range. Thomas-series products continued to be exported overseas into the later 2000s in some countries and into the 2010s in some parts of Asia outside of Japan.

Sets Trains Rail Scenery Tomica Catalogues Thomas series Exports