Inside Gold Thomas

that thomas is beautiful, both inside and out! interesting about the wheels. wonder if they left them off because of the likelyhood of damaged paint from them "snapping" back into position?

I can think of a couple of reasons they didn't use any of their different designs to include the middle wheels...the gold finish would have worn away with continuous use if they had used the spring loaded kind, and the other kind with the removable fake wheel piece that screws off to open would have also have worn off, and would have been very brittle too...I suppose they could have just molded completely fix wheels and just painted them gold, but it may have come off looking cheesey...idk but I am glad they didn't!!

My very first Thomas, from the Tomica World Starter Set, has no middle wheels either. I got it when I was two (and it still runs like a charm 18 years later), but I'm pretty sure it never had any as I was pleased to see them added when I got another Thomas in the Adventure Set. There's no sign that they were ever there and broke off or anything like that. You can just see in the box art of the set I got him from that the one shown there doesn't have middle wheels either. http://thomastrackmaster.wikia.com/wiki/...Setbox.jpg

My very first Thomas, from the Tomica World Starter Set, has no middle wheels either. I got it when I was two (and it still runs like a charm 18 years later), but I'm pretty sure it never had any as I was pleased to see them added when I got another Thomas in the Adventure Set. There's no sign that they were ever there and broke off or anything like that. You can just see in the box art of the set I got him from that the one shown there doesn't have middle wheels either. http://thomastrackmaster.wikia.com/wiki/...Setbox.jpg

Super duper cool!!! I am excited to see this!!
It's hard to tell just from the image, but I will take your word for it!!
I am always amazed at the vastness of these variations...it seems endless!!
You've given me yet another variant to seek out for our collection!! thank you

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God I love BPT!!
I went directly to eBay to search for the Tomica World Thomas starter set, and low and behold...just like that the quest is complete!!

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Just when you think you are done..........

Just when you think you are done..........

YES!?!? It amazes me how one thing always leads to another!! It seems like everytime something is discovered, something completely new is always uncovered in the process...gee wiz lets hope the path ends here!!!

I never realized this was a rare/unknown variant, so now I'm very happy to have it!

   
   
   

So funny that only finding the Gold Thomas would hold the key that would lead me full circle back to the Original Thomas!! Just crazy!! Thank you StephOfTheEast...very much appreciated!!

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There are 54 different variant versions of Thomas in the Plarail/Tomy/HitToys/Trackmaster 1 line...from 1992 to current( this includes the newest "Original Green Thomas" just released by Plarail)
Of the 54 different versions, only 12 are different from each other in their design and construction, but no matter how Thomas is made or put together he has ALWAYS had a middle wheel included in his design.
These are the 12 different variants and configurations of different components that have made up Thomas' undercarriage construction that have been released.

I STAND CORRECTED!!

helps give a rough date for gold thomas, too. this thomas must have been one of the very early releases, as the magnetic range also had covers that just unclipped. i guess safety around batteries lead to the middle wheel mechanism being added.

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i guess safety around batteries lead to the middle wheel mechanism being added.

I hadn't thought of that being the reason for the spring mechanism but you are probably right as little hands would not be co-ordinated enough to open the battery compartment...heck, I have had trouble with those spring loaded clips on occasion myself.

same here. have to make sure i have some fingernails to get a proper grip, lol. in a way, i prefer the new models with screws as they are easier to get into.