Rarest Plarail/Tomy Trains

....These ones are all after the mail hook was changed to a second tree, I know at least one exists in the earlier mail pole form. Add in the Tomica World one, and the Thomas version was released in both styles, although the mail hook version didn't make it out of Japan before the second tree was introduced

Here's a couple of pictures that I've lifted from another thread:



I would like to add that the pole on the station platform has nothing to do with collecting mail bags, it's there to collect a ring or hoop which is generally known as a TOKEN.

To be more accurate the actual token was a separate object, bearing the name of the rail line section to which it belonged, secured inside a pouch or clamp attached to the base of the ring, which was there simply to facilitate the transfer of the token from train to signal station and visa versa.
 

    

[Super]

Thanks Dr Chris
I don't know why I can't remember this info, maybe its just easier to call it a mail hook for an old man

There were Plarail sets that replicated the use of railway tokens? Not even model railway companies offer such things, so it really surprises me to see them in toy sets (let alone one with a Thomas themed variant). I don't see an average child being likely to know what they're supposed to be, even if they've read Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine and understood the line "He slowed to exchange tablets". I can only wonder what other such unexpected real railway features were rendered in Plarail.

Speaking of a "mail hook": Check out this neat custom mechanism for un/loading TrackMaster Mail Coaches while they're in motion. Genius compared to the "loader" accessories in official sets.

[Super]

That is a great custom Mail Bag trick Lag. Those magnets must be pretty powerful to grab those bags on the move like that.

Wow this thread revived again.

In my personal opinion, if you combine all Plarail, new or old together: it will be a tough debate between the Golden Thomas, the 近郊型でんしゃ, and the 福岡地下鉄（天神）.

According to people in this forum, there are only 10 Golden Thomas units manufactured. So that is a strong hint of rarity.

近郊型でんしゃ (Suburban Train) has 2 colours: Yokosuka colour (left) and Kansai colour (right). It is hands down the uncrowned king of all phantom gems of Plarail, and much more rare than the 1973 rotary snowplough. They were only manufactured in 1976 for less than 1 year. These 2 types of trains only came in a set, no single item. Many survivors were thrown away or not found, and only 2 survivors of each colour were found till this day. It is said that the Kansai colour is 150 times more rare than the Yokosuka colour because it was never featured on the box art, so a risky gamble is to be taken when trying to collect the Kansai colour. There is only 1 auction in history for the original box, ending at 107000 yen for a junk item.
Moreover, Kansai colour's only official printed appearance was only found in the sample layout of the 1976 catalogue.



福岡地下鉄（天神）(Fukuoka Subway) (Tenjin Subway) is one of the most legendary Plarails that a collector could lay his hands on. It is manufactured in 1980 for less than 1 year. The Tenjin was only distributed in Fukuoka region and had 2 types of boxes. One of them is the yellow EC06 box, and the extreme phantom gem box is the blue Fukuoka box that looks like a EC box but it has no EC number. There were no confirmation for the box until a Mercari listing appeared for 100000 yen around last year or early this year. What is worse is that there were no sign of it's existence in the catalogues, researchers were blind to the fact that Tenjin Subway existed until around early year 2000 when a certain collector shown the Tenjin Subway to the museum owners. The number produced is unknown, but it is estimated to be much less than the C-62こうかセット which was manufactured in 1978 for only 5 months. Although the C-62こうかセット is manufactured for only 5 months in 1978, it will not be listed here as the rarest because the number of confirmed survivors with the box are 5 or 6 so far.

[Super]

The chrome Fukuoka Subway train is pretty cool. I have always liked that picture of a driver on the front. Aren't there other Plarail trains that had something similar or are the ones I have seen in the Japan auctions the same?

Though it has been theorized that only 10 Gold Thomas’ were produced, no one really knows...
However, only 2 have ever been seen at auction. The second one is very VERY poor condition.
It was first listed separately at auction, but did not sell, and was then re-listed in a lot along with Silver Thomas and Blushing Thomas by a Japanese collector for $15,000, but again there were no bids.
It has never been offered up again, and there have been no other sightings of any others in several years.

The chrome Fukuoka Subway train is pretty cool. I have always liked that picture of a driver on the front. Aren't there other Plarail trains that had something similar or are the ones I have seen in the Japan auctions the same?

Chinchin Densha, and the normal green belt underground train has those images too, but the image is completely different from the Tenjin Subway's.

 

Though it has been theorized that only 10 Gold Thomas’ were produced, no one really knows...
However, only 2 have ever been seen at auction. The second one is very VERY poor condition.
It was first listed separately at auction, but did not sell, and was then re-listed in a lot along with Silver Thomas and Blushing Thomas by a Japanese collector for $15,000, but again there were no bids.
It has never been offered up again, and there have been no other sightings of any others in several years.

Was there an advertisement for that Thomas? There should be some information on the number of winners.
I have seen that auction too Muddy, I think that same listing was available on Mercari in one point in time but I didn't really check when it was listed.

Yeah the Gold Thomas is a weird one, I remember the old wiki photo of it, and everyone thought that it was fake, or a custom until I found one on Yahoo in mid 2016 with the original box and certificate of authenticity (I sent the link straight to Muddy and thankfully he won the auction). No one knows when or why or the number of them produced, but I think was a giveaway prize in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Thomas and Friends. People suspect around 50 were produced, but that number is definitely not certain. It is a true mystery as to what it is, why it was produced and of course how many were produced, however I hope someone else could shed some light on the situation in the future, or like Vio said, maybe come forward with some advertising for it.

And Vio, I really love the look of the Tenjin Subway, there is just something about the blue and white stripe that just appeals so much to me. It's a shame that it is so rare though, I'd love to own one

Edit: Just found this image, what an absolute FIND

Considering a 2 car set of this train in horrible condition sold for 50,000yen

I could imagine what this guy would be thinking when he came across this

i have a feeling the gold thomas may have been a kuji prize. i watch a few videos posted by an american couple who live in japan who play kuji, and there are certainly rarer prizes within the range, including items that are only given out if you buy the last ticket from that particular lottery. it could be the gold thomas was like that, or something rarer still.