Y'know, for broken motors/burnt out motors, if you don't have an appropriate donor engine to hand, if you go to Aliexpress and search for 'Mini 4WD' motors, designed for the Japanese 'Mini 4WD' hobby car kits, those are just right as a direct replacement for Tomy motors, being the same size.
Bear in mind though, try and get one with a lower RPM for the Thomas engines, as some of the motors run into the 1000's of RPM, which is great for replacements on Shinkansen models [gives em' a good speed boost] but the lower ones are great for steamers/Thomas models as they give great performance when coupled to the gearbox.
Also another useful tool [and nessecary to get the gear off and on the motor shafts] is a 'gear puller' - Again, Aliexpress, search 'Mini 4WD gear puller' - These make getting gears off and on motor shafts, axles and other rods much easier, and I suspect is what they use when assembling Plarail engines in the factory
Bear in mind though, try and get one with a lower RPM for the Thomas engines, as some of the motors run into the 1000's of RPM, which is great for replacements on Shinkansen models [gives em' a good speed boost] but the lower ones are great for steamers/Thomas models as they give great performance when coupled to the gearbox.
Also another useful tool [and nessecary to get the gear off and on the motor shafts] is a 'gear puller' - Again, Aliexpress, search 'Mini 4WD gear puller' - These make getting gears off and on motor shafts, axles and other rods much easier, and I suspect is what they use when assembling Plarail engines in the factory
Been building Plarail worlds since 2001; Building when I can in 2023