A Christmas to remember (story).

So I had definitely had a lot of different Thomas toys growing up (ERTLs, Take Alongs, and of course Tomy/Plarail/Trackmaster), but as I got older (and by that I mean when I got to be around 10 or 11), I ended up concentrating on TOMY stuff since they didn't have to be pushed and I liked the build-ability of it all. Nowadays if I'm gonna buy plarail items it's more likely to be the ones based on real trains (I like Shinkansens and Japanese steamers).

Anyways, one particular Christmas is when I hit the absolute jackpot.

I was about 11 and it was probably Christmas 2005. From what I remember the items I got were.

1. The metallic steam along thomas set.

2. The turntable (the old one that clicks when you turn it.

3. The harbor thing with cranky bugs

4. A track pack (I think)

5. Emily (wanted her a lot).

6. Stepney (really wanted him, but thought he was only available in the UK)

7. Arthur

9. Salty

10. Edward


Prior to that Christmas my collection was pretty much the main steam team (all of them sans edward) and a fair amount of track.

If I remember right it was also the year I got my platinum gamecube (wish I still had that, so that year was also my introduction to gaming), and I remember for at least two years after that, my tomy collection grew just about overtime I had money to spend and we went to walmart.

Nowadays I have probably a mile of track, but unfortunately nowhere to set it all up (I have to adult now). Someday I'll have my own house and a permanent layout. Although when that time comes I'll probably mostly run the plarail models I have of real trains. I didn't get into collecting those until a few years ago (they don't really sell them here in the states, so I get them online), and I find them more interesting nowadays. Also a lot of my old Thomas ones are really showing their age (some don't work too well anymore).

Idk, just thought I'd share this story with you guys.

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What a great story and one that takes me back to the day when Xmas was so magical for a young lad. Your progression sounds pretty normal from the push along trains to the motorized Thomas and Friends and now the the Plarail trains modeled after real ones. There will come a time when you have your own place with room for a layout or....a man (woman) cave...or both. Hope I am still around to see the pictures of what you come up with. Thanks for sharing your Xmas story with us P&PFan

Wow, what a cool story! I think I was also around 10-11 the Christmas I got my "big" train set. But that was a Tyco Silver Streak, so we're talking ancient history here.

Anyway, I hope my kids also have some fond memories of Christmas like this. Heck, the Sky High Bridge Jump made a major impression this year!

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Anyway, I hope my kids also have some fond memories of Christmas like this.