fall inside a hole
Tomy Express Set 02 (1989)
First written November 20, 2023
The Tomy Express Set 02 is a German-market Tomy Express set based on the 1987 Plarail 2-Speed Shinkansen Set. It features a two-speed 100 series Shinkansen with added "TOMY EXPRESS" text, dark blue rails, and an Elevated Station localized for Germany. The box for Tomy Express Set 02 can be seen in the Plarail Museum.
Set contents| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 3 pieces |
2-speed
100 series Shinkansen with TOMY EXPRESS text on the power car |
 |
| 1 | Straight Rail (Tomy Express dark blue) |
 |
| 10 |
Curve Rail (Tomy Express dark blue) |
 |
| 1 | Stop Rail (Tomy Express dark blue) |
 |
| 1 |
Turnout Rail (one pair) (Tomy Express dark blue) |
 |
| 1 | Elevated Station (Localized German stickers) |
 |
| 1 | Block tunnel (front and rear sections only) |
 |
| 4 | Catenary |
 |
| 2 | Standing
Tree |
 |
| 2 | Signal |
 |
The Tomy Express 100 series is based on 1987's new power 2-Speed Shinkansen and has large "TOMY EXPRESS" text in red on the power car but is otherwise the same as early 90s Thailand-made 100 series trains with white power switches.
There is no production sticker on my Tomy Express 100 series, meaning it was either manufactured in 1989 or 1990 before the adoption of the production stickers or the sticker has come off over time. The engine and cars are all marked Thailand and other than the Tomy Express text are identical to the standard period Plarail release. The older single-split couplings were still in use during this period.
All of the track in this set is made in Thailand and is the same dark blue as other Tomy Express sets as well as the Tomy Train sets on sale around the same time in America and other parts of Europe. It also suffers from the same shrinking and splitting problems as Tomy Trains track.
Unlike the Tomy Express Set 03's panel station, the Elevated Station was localized for the German market. The side of the platform reads "hauptbahnhof" or central station and the destinations shown on one of the signboards are Hamburg and München. The kiosk sticker is the same as the Japanese release. Similar to the original, the red roof, yellow supports, and kiosk can be disassembled from the platform base.
The standing trees, catenaries, signals, and block tunnel are also all made in Thailand and use the period Thailand moldings.
Using the classic Basic No.2 Set layout, this set offers the typical oval with passing loop affair with the added playability of a two-speed train.
I have so many Basic No.2 Set-type sets that individual examples do not usually impress me much, but as part of the much smaller (and shorter-lived) Tomy Express range I think it fits in perfectly as a medium starter set. There are a nice amount of trees and signals that would help to fill out the layout if it was expanded with separate track or additional sets. The localized station stickers are cool to see.