Tomy Super Rail System

Have any of you guys got/had/seen the Tomy Super Rail product range?

Here's an example here; Tomy Super Rail Black - 485 Express Set

Although a totally different (i.e. realistic) type track the trains seem reasonably similar being battery powered etc...

I was just curious if anyone out there had any experience of this range and what you thought about it in comparison to 'Blue Track' PlaRail?

Have any of you guys got/had/seen the Tomy Super Rail product range?

Here's an example here; Tomy Super Rail Black - 485 Express Set

Although a totally different (i.e. realistic) type track the trains seem reasonably similar being battery powered etc...

I was just curious if anyone out there had any experience of this range and what you thought about it in comparison to 'Blue Track' PlaRail?

I would've bought a D51 set, used, but complete in box for 60 bucks on eBay, but Mom wouldn't pay that kind of money, and bidding ran out of time before I could even ask her. :/ From the looks of it, it doesn't seem like it'd run on blue track. The D51 looks pretty similar to a Plarail Advance train.

I have no idea of the scale for certain, but my gut feel is that it is probably closer to HO scale (or similar to Tomy PlaRail). The track etc... tends to look more realistic so I wonder if it was a Tomy attempt to bridge the gap between PlaRail and Scale models. Of course this is all conjecture on my part and it seems all the listings are pretty old examples so it could have just been a failed experiment or something on their part.

I don't think it is PlaRail Advance scale though as that is nearer to N scale models, just not quite as detailed - although they are definitely good for the money

Good point. An average KATO N scale 8 car trainset is nearly 300 dollars! Even though this is only 4 cars. It's totally worth it.

That looks awesome! It reminds me of G Scale or some other type of "real model train system" as I call them.

Do they still sell these today, or was it some experiment that didn't really work as planned?

No idea if they are still made, I suspect not as I've never seen any retaliler carrying the system and everything that shows up on the Japanese auctions seems to be old/used. Shame as it does look like quite a good system, although I'm not biting as I've got fingers in enough scales/systems for now...

I know a bit about this!

The Super Rail system was also released in several countries outside of Japan. It briefly saw North America under the name Switch-A-Rail (There was an F3!), but found the most popularity in Brazil under the Ferrorama name.

A challenge was held in 2010 in which the Estrela company offered to revive the Ferrorama name, if a steam could get a single train to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0NmZb2PxWE8

The challenge was completed, and Ferrorama made a 'return'. (As a line of cheap plastic trains simply using the name! )

i have a merry go zoo tomy set with "estrela" stamped on the underside of one piece. always wondered what the connection was.

its the underside of the giraffe base. its not very clear due to glue or something, but there none the less.

is this set from this range? its something im considering buying, just because. lol.



im also having trouble telling if its complete or not? looks like the pylons on the box are missing, replaced with those pale blue/green things?

That looks about right, but TOMY super rail had black track I think.