Question About this Thomas Version

**Super** · **Super** 06-01-2015, 02:39 PM Track Engineer

I just received this new Thomas and it seems different from all the other Thomas's I have seen. There looks to be holes (circled in picture) that go right through the chassis that look like they could hols another set of wheels. Anyone know their purpose or what they are used for?

chrisjo · chrisjo 06-01-2015, 03:00 PM Investigations Dept.

(06-01-2015, 02:39 PM)Super Wrote: I just received this new Thomas and it seems different from all the other Thomas's I have seen. There looks to be holes (circled in picture) that go right through the chassis that look like they could hols another set of wheels. Anyone know their purpose or what they are used for?

Not sure why, something to do with packaging maybe? They appeared on the re-designed model in 2012. Other external features to note include the front splashers moved forward of the front wheels, longer boiler, shorter smoke-box, lamp vanished, the shadow between the splasher and the tanks changing from black to blue, and the slots in the coal-box coloured in black. Also a new face.

sunhuntin · sunhuntin 06-01-2015, 05:36 PM out of the game

ucwepn and i both have one, and his theory is the chassis was altered for the revolution thomas, with the wheels furthur forward and back. we both got ours out of sets, mine was the wild whirling ol' wheezy.

**Super** · **Super** 06-01-2015, 07:43 PM Track Engineer

That would be a long wheel base. Very strange.

***Ucwepn*** · ***Ucwepn*** 06-01-2015, 10:10 PM The Fat Controller

I believe it's because they intended to have a secondary external gear to activate in track accessories, there was a drawing of a prototype shown in the behind the rails video

**Super** · **Super** 06-02-2015, 12:22 AM Track Engineer

Thanks Ucwepn

***Ucwepn*** · ***Ucwepn*** 06-02-2015, 08:52 AM The Fat Controller

sunhuntin · sunhuntin 06-02-2015, 09:59 AM out of the game

thats neat, chris.

DalaGStanator · DalaGStanator 06-02-2015, 10:23 AM a.k.a. TheIsraeliSudrian

That's the 2012 Thomas. I bought it in Hamleys with Edward when I was in the UK.

**Super** · **Super** 06-02-2015, 11:39 AM Track Engineer

Very interesting. I wonder if this design is before they redesigned the drive wheels in Trackmaster Revolution to have the gear type traction tire. Maybe their first designs where still using the original Trackmaster track using only special track for inclines. I would be curious to know what their thoughts were on how extreme rear gear would mate with the track as it looks that it would be constantly in motion through the pinion gear to the drive axle. Extreme front wheels may have initially been for the beginning of a steep incline so the train would ride the wheels and not bottom out in the front. It also hints at their possible thinking why the Trackmaster Revolution isn't free wheeling as they thought they needed to slow down the descent so the train didn't fly off the track. Thanks Ucwepn, a great find on this Version "D" design drawing. It would be neat to see all the other design ideas too.