More Talkative Thomas, how rare is it, and if there are more out there somewhere.

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments...140614.png (photo and edit by me)

the more talkative plarail thomas, a anomaly it is.

rarely talked about, rarely seen, mostly seen in those old plarail ads but thats all i know.

face of a steam along, even has a long annie and clarabel, its like a mimic.

this model of thomas is one of my favorites and im here today to discuss it, how many were sold, how many are still out there, and where i can buy more of it.

first off.
-what is more talkative thomas?
from my knowledge, it is a plarail japan exclusive variant of thomas, part of a new range called the ''More talkative series'', came with that one watertower and coaling plant in a set, to my knowledge it was only released in this set, but was used for marketing in other sets.

second off.
-its rarity.
how many were sold? was it TRULY exclusive to that one set in japan, or were there more releases secretly slipped out to other countries, why is he so rarely talked about?, why is he so rarely seen.

third off.
-where do i get more?
im hoping to buy more of the lil guy, kaikki im kinda suspicious of, they sent me one with a busted annie and offcenter eyebrows (the one pictured) and it took 2 MONTHS! to arrive, so i probs wont buy unless theres nowhere else to go, ive also been considering purchasing a more talkative thomas from either hiro-haru or japanesestore_m on ebay, but again, not too sure.

thoughts?

These were the second versions of the Japanese talking engines (after the Talk 'n Action ones). The others were Edward, Henry, Gordon, James and Percy. The Steam Along Thomas came after this and reused the Annie and Clarabel from it, albeit with three batteries in Annie to make the steam function work better. The face isn't identical either.

Fun fact: the tender engines are actually the same as their normal 2003 variants, only with talking coaches that are technically removable by unscrewing.

Someone please make this thread more useful by posting pictures of the sets in question and their contents.

i do not own the sets in question, nor do i know their contents, although i do have their photos. 

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/yAMAAOSw3...s-l500.jpg (set thomas came in)


https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/tttetr...0306043915 (a set thomas was shown on for marketing purposes)

There are several tools provided in this forum for easily inserting images into posts. Direct links to eBay images are problematic in that the images disappear a while after the auction is finished. These are the two sets that Ronnhaha has referenced in his post above.

More Talkative Thomas Set (もっとおしゃべりトーマスセット) 2004


Thomas the Tank Engine Knapford Station [きかんしゃトーマス ナップフォードステーション] 2005

The 2nd generation “more talkative” Thomas at the Coal Hopper set, isn’t really as rare as it is expensive… There seems to have always be one up for auction somewhere over the past 10 years, and I have seen many on the Japanese auction houses and eBay, however it’s the price that has gone from a BNIB set costing around $50, to it currently fetching $1500!!
It’s a weird designed engine, and being tender driven (the Percy model is also) probably wasn't the most popular of Thomas versions.
Is sad because the other “more talkative”characters: Gordon, James, Henry, and Edward are all conjoined 3 piece units, and are among the greatest designs and quality that Tomy ever produced.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/More-Chatty-Tho...632-2357-0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Plarail-More-Ch...632-2357-0
https://www.jauce.com/auction/u131327392