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Tomy Rocky (2007)

First written March 9, 2025

In 2007 Tomy first released a Plarail-style Rocky as part of the European Motor Road & Rail range. The original Rocky has a motorized magnetic "hook" and included cargo with the later Plarail releases removing these functions. It seems likely that Rocky was designed specifically for the export market and adapted for sale in Japan later like some other characters in the mid 2000s.

4914 Rocky (2007)

 

Rocky was first released in blue Motor Road & Rail packaging in 2007 in Europe. This was the first and only "three-pack" style release to not have a traditional motorized train - although this Rocky is still motorized, it is the winch of his crane arm that moves. Rocky includes a red version of the flatbeds included with the Thomas and Busy Freight Cars Set (actually, the one pictured is the very similar HiT Toy Company Rocky flatbed, because I think when I imported this Rocky from the U.K. a few years ago it came with that one instead...) and a piece of magnetic cargo.

Rocky's cab swivels on the base and his stabilizers flip out. The crane arm has three positions it clicks into and the front flatbed that houses the single AAA battery has a metal weight under the magnetic hook's home position to attract the magnet. This release of Rocky includes his rear coupling.

The front flatbed has a screwed battery compartment and the power switch. On the rear of Rocky's cab is a spring-return three-position switch that runs the winch in opposite directions. Each direction is labeled with a double-ended arrow because when the winch fully spools out it begins spooling back in again.

Rocky's pistons pump as his winch runs, which is a very nice detail.

In 2008 Rocky was rereleased in U.K. Tomy TrackMaster packaging, which is what this August 2008 example would have been sold in.

Percy and Pounding Wagons Set (September 2007)

In September 2007 the first Japanese release of Rocky came in the Percy and Pounding Wagons Set. This Rocky is unpowered, although the hook is still magnetic and still sticks to the front flatbed. This Rocky does not have a rear coupler. His pistons can still be spun around by hand, and the arm's different heights as well as the stabilizers still function.

The Legendary Hiro Popular Set Hiro・Rocky・Spencer (October 2010)

In October 2010 to coincide with the release of the Thomas special Hero of the Rails the Legendary Hiro Popular Set Hiro・Rocky・Spencer was released including, as the name suggests, Rocky. This version of Rocky removes the magnet and replaces it with two pegs that hold the even-less-functional hook in place. Like the previous Plarail Rocky, these Rockys do not have rear couplings.

T-28 Plarail Percy and Rocky (November 2011)

In November 2011 Tomy released a three-pack with a surprised Percy and an unpowered Rocky as T-28 Plarail Percy & Rocky. These Rockys do have rear couplings!

TS-17 Plarail Percy and Rocky (June 2012)

In 2012 the Percy & Rocky pack was rereleased in new CGI packaging with the new designation TS-17.

In 2018 Percy and Rocky was rereleased again in darker blue packaging.

These later production Percy and Rocky packs use the newer shade of grey paint that is bluer and thus Rocky's painted parts do not match the sticker covering his controls...