Diolch yn fawr, Chris! That's exactly it. Not only does it predate the Thomas version (as I thought), but it even looks to have more play value and doesn't look awful in station mode. I unironically like how the cab turns into a control tower and the orange tracks become the roof. They even made platforms in addition to the stop/go bars! It might even be passable as a central station in one of those large urban themed layouts (or maybe an entrance to an open air railway museum). Again, thanks for the info on it.
![[Image: g102433582.3.jpg]](https://auctions.afimg.jp/item_data/image/20111030/yahoo/g/g102433582.3.jpg)
So, the device makes more sense than what I imagined. It does have track connectors at both ends, but it uses a turntable and stop/go bar (along with switches, levers and buttons) to detect what the engine is doing. I couldn't seem to find gameplay of the actual game, so I'm still holding out for Futaba's video. I even found a similar device for Tomica cars, which must mean there was also another game for them.
So, the device makes more sense than what I imagined. It does have track connectors at both ends, but it uses a turntable and stop/go bar (along with switches, levers and buttons) to detect what the engine is doing. I couldn't seem to find gameplay of the actual game, so I'm still holding out for Futaba's video. I even found a similar device for Tomica cars, which must mean there was also another game for them.
![[-]](https://www.blueplastictracks.org/images/collapse.png)