fall inside a hole

Sodor Quarry Loader Set (2006)

First written August 13th, 2024




The Sodor Quarry Loader Set is a European Thomas Motor Road & Rail that features the Sodor Quarry Loader, Ffarquhar Station, bridge, and looping track layout. This was the only release of the Sodor Quarry Loader in Europe.

Set contents
Quantity
Item
Photo
2 pieces
Thomas with tipper wagon
10 Ball "rocks"  
Straight Rail
Half Straight Rail
11 Curve Rail
1 pair Turnout Rail
1 Stop Rail
1 pair  Y Shaped Points Rail
1 pair Sloping Curve Rail (one each A and B slope curves)
10 pieces  Sodor Quarry Loader 
2 pieces Ffarquhar Station
2 pieces  Rail Bridge (side pieces)
Trees

The Thomas in this set is a standard export Thomas from the mid 2000s, in this case March 2006. The tipper wagon is rather plain and is really more function over form, being adapted from older styles of Plarail ball tipper wagons.

This set obviously focuses on the Sodor Quarry Loader, a neat interactive destination that can be run by hand or by the power of an engine's wheels.

Here is a scan of the original instructions for this set.

Other than the quarry loader, this set has a decently-sized layout with a short bridge and several turnouts that offer a few different paths and some interesting geometry using the Y-shape points.

This set has a nice larger track layout with several turnouts which make it a little more substantial than the accessory-focused sets that are basically an oval like the Harold's Cargo Delivery Set. (Note that I only have one original and correctly-colored ball for this accessory - the two lighter balls are included for demonstration purposes)

I do think that the rolling stock selection is a little bit lacking - why is Thomas taking rocks to a passenger station? Adding another engine with rolling stock adds to the playability of this set dramatically.

Set name 4827 Sodor Quarry Loader Set Release period 2006-2007, Europe
Vehicle rating Track rating
Accessory rating Overall
Notes:    
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