TP-?? Technology Series

Guys, I got a quick question for you, does anybody know what the PlaRail 'TP-?? Technology Series' actually are? On first glance I thought it was just the power cars from the standard bullet train type sets.

But then when I've looked into it a bit more I get the impression that they are not actually powered but maybe 'push-along' trains that when pushed generate power to provide lights and sounds maybe. But some pictures I've seen also show the standard plarail type connectors.

Anyway trying to get more definitive info I've tried googling etc, but so far have come up empty so I thought I'd ask the experts.

The reason I'm asking is that its occurred to me if these cars do light up and/or produce sounds when in motion then maybe, just maybe either these could be used as substitute power cars (putting the real power car at the back and reversing the power polarity so it goes backwards)

or

leave the power car where it is and replace the standard trailing car with one of these to add some lights etc... to the train.

Sure that would then probably entail adding lights to the actual power car, but it would be cool to have a train with lights at both ends and maybe sound also.

Of course putting the car as a trailer may need some fettling to reverse polarities on that if it for example only works normally going forward, but it shouldn't be impossible to achieve

Any thoughts?

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Actually I've done some more googling and did turn up some info, apparently it is the 'tecology' range (i.e. misspelling of technology and ecology combined).

The idea is that the products are self powered by a small generator that then powers LED's in some form or other.

There are two ranges, Tomica Tecology (i.e. cars) which feature things like a police car with working lights and Tecology Plairail (TP-??) which are train power cars with working lights. However they thought it through a bit as when going forwards they have working yellow led's, when in reverse they change to red led's.

So the idea of substituing the rear car or whatever would seem a possibility. Or indeed if a way could be found to motorise a centre car then one of these tecology cars at each end would give lights to both ends.

I suppose the other possibility may be to cannibalise and use these mechanisms in non-tecology trains?

i think they have also released 3 each of thomas and chuggington engines like this.

It's actually "Tecology".

@sunhuntin: Yes, they did.

I have one of these. Conservation of Energy means your train runs slower and battery runs down faster (a lot faster). It is also noisier.

There are no sounds, just lights.

-plarnold

i just bought two of these, the dr yellow and hayabusa, from a local seller for $15nzd each. figured for that price, why not? something of a novelty for occasional running, plus something plarail for the collection.

I still think they are pretty good, especially if you want a trailing car with lights to go with a train that has lights at the front