These Oldie Tracks Are Strange

[Super]

Anyone recognize these original tracks and what exactly they are for?

They both show the original Tomiyama Logo with the bear which was used between the years of 1924 to 1967. They are both switchless switches where the direction a train takes is determined in the rail and can't be changed. This system is used quite successfully withe the Automatic Transfer Stations. What I find is strange is that both tracks in the 2 pack are the same where in my mind they should be opposite with one being male and the other female. Then...what the heck are those short pieces for?

Those odd 'short' pieces you mention look as though they are wedge shapped (i.e. the non keyed end is thinner. I suspect that the idea is you would fit them to one of the 'Y' ends (i.e. the forks) and use it as a rolling loader for your trains. If you check out the special Advance track set that was released a year or so back you will see it has exactly the same feature. A specialised set of points with a sloped dead-end to allow you to roll the train onto it, turn it on and let it load itself onto the rails rather than fiddle around trying to seat it correctly.

[Super]

I have seen those Plarail Advance tracks but I thought those wher made because the Advance trains are aren't easy to line up. Its also curious that in the first package the short pieces are both female where in the second package there is a male and female one.

I have seen those Plarail Advance tracks but I thought those wher made because the Advance trains are aren't easy to line up. Its also curious that in the first package the short pieces are both female where in the second package there is a male and female one.

There was already a 're-railer' type piece of straight track that you usually get with each Advance set, but its not so easy to line up two axles on four carriages even with this track. The idea of having the re-railer points that you just drive the train onto and it sorts itself out is quite inspired and to be applauded.

Perhaps back in those days the trains weren't motorize like the wooden trains.

You are correct leylandvictory2. The Plarail range wasn't a battery-operated system until 1961, so the first two years were a simple plastic hand moving system.

[Super]

Of course, that makes perfect sense. It hadn't dawned on me that the tracks pre-dated the motorized trains but I guess that Logo should have made me curious. Hmmm, wonder how brittle that plastic is? Thanks Jdog and Leyland.

During the Tomiyama era, weren't the tracks more brittle?

[Super]

They are now lol. I think that back in that era of plastics not much was known about the science of longevity or how the environment impacts its structure especially the UV rays of the sun whether it be direct or indirect. Just my uneducated theory.

looking at the cardboard tags, i dont think they have seen much sun at all. if they had, the tags would be faded to almost nothing.

i always wondered how these non-changing switch tracks worked. darn good idea for bringing literal change to a layout without it being obvious or needing intervention. when i use the auto transfer station, i get many parents panicking over perceived crashes. i actually think some dont realise the station has two sides, even though its always at the very front of the display.