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Tomica World Thomas Starter Set

First written May 28, 2024

The 7400 Thomas Starter Set, as the name suggests, is a small starter-type Tomica World and European Thomas Motor Road & Rail set with Thomas, Annie, Clarabel, and a small oval with turnout.

Thomas Starter Set (Tomica World) (1998)


The Tomica World 7400 Thomas Starter Set was the smallest of the initial Tomica World Thomas range and includes an oval with small siding as well as Thomas the Tank Engine, Annie, and Clarabel.


These early Tomica World boxes were printed for multiple languages for sale in Europe. This copy was imported for the American market and has an added safety sticker on the front and an American Tomy Corporation sticker on the right box flap.

Set contents
Quantity
Item
Photo
3 pieces
Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel (four wheel made in Thailand variant)
8 Curve Rail
1 Stop Rail
1 Points Rail (single "R" type)
Buffer   
1
Tree 
Signal


Early examples of this set include four-wheel painted face Thomases and Annie and Clarabels with curvy Tomy logos from the late 1990s. These early Tomica World sets fell during the period in the late 1990s where grey paint application was noticeably darker than production before or after...

These early Tomica World sets also come with signals and trees with wider bases for some reason. Other than the buffers and little siding, there isn't that much going on in this set...

This really is a starter set - it is neat that you get a stop rail and a turnout, easy to expand it out with literally any set or even track pack... but obviously there is not a ton going on.

Unlike most other yellow-box Tomica World sets, this set was seemingly not rereleased in the 2001 European red and blue packaging. It did, however, return in 2003 for the European Motor Road & Rail range.

Thomas Starter Set (Tomica World) (2003)

In 2003 the set was rereleased in a blue European Motor Road & Rail box. This version comes with updated components from the mid 2000s.

Thomas and Friends Starter Set Series (other-Asia-market Plarail) (2009)

In 2009 when Tomy began producing specific sets for the Korean, Philippian, and other Asian markets outside of Japan this small oval and turnout set was included. One box style was similar to the other circa 2009 Asian market sets with light blue motif. Some regions also received a series of three sets with the same track layout but the choice of Thomas, Annie and Clarabel as usual or instead with Percy with a black brake van and troublesome truck or with James with a troublesome van.

Set name 7400 Thomas Starter Set
Thomas Starter Set
Thomas and Friends Starter Set Series
Release period 1998-2000; 2003-~2006, Europe
1998-2000, United States
2009-2010s, Asia
Train rating Track rating
Accessory rating Overall
Notes: More train points for the Asian-market sets with other trains  
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