Motor Road and Rail

This article is about 'the original name for the British range'. You may be looking for 'the Japanese range'.

Motor Road and Rail (previously known as Tomica World and currently Plarail Thomas in Japan) is a battery-operated railway system manufactured by TOMY. The engines run on plastic blue track and the roadway vehicles run on a grey road. "Thomas Motor Road and Rail" is not compatible with other toy brands, although the vehicles in the range are the same gauge as and fit well on Wooden Railway track and vice-versa. Outside Asia, HiT Toy Company bought the licence for the range in 2007 and replaced it with the TrackMaster range.

TOMY Trains

In 1992, TOMY announced a line of Thomas and Friends characters in their TOMY Trains range (now discontinued). The trains were larger, had magnetic couplings and ran on dark blue tracks. The following locomotives were made in that year:

Thomas with Annie, Clarabel, and Sir Topham Hatt
Percy with trucks

There were also two sets available:

Thomas' Day Out: Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel with an oval of track
Thomas and Percy's Big Adventure: Thomas, Percy, Annie, Clarabel, and trucks with sheds and raised tracks

In 1994, TOMY released the following engines, each with a tender and a driver:

In 1998, the range was discontinued and replaced with a new line, based upon the Plarail system already in use in Japan.

Engines

Plarail (Asia only)

1992

Thomas with Annie and Clarabel

1993

Henry with Troublesome Van, log wagon and three logs

1994

James with cattle truck and caboose
Percy with Sodor fuel tanker and mail van

1995

Gordon with green express coach

1996

Edward with Troublesome Van and Troublesome Truck
Toby with Henrietta and Troublesome Truck

1997

Duck with weathered S.C. Ruffey and Toad
Diesel with Tidmouth milk tanker and Sodor fuel tanker
BoCo with Troublesome Truck and tar tanker

Tomica World / 'Plarail (Asia only)

1998

Donald with two Troublesome Trucks
Oliver with two burgundy coaches

1999

Ben with two Troublesome Trucks and four rock loads
Stepney with Troublesome Truck and brake van
Mavis with break down crane

2000

Lady with two magenta Troublesome Trucks
Diesel 10 with two mustard Troublesome Trucks

2001

Splatter and Dodge with works unit coach

2002

Douglas with red Troublesome Truck (outside Asia only)
Bill with two Troublesome Trucks and four coal loads (outside Asia only)

Motor Road & Rail / 'Plarail (Asia only)

2003

Thomas with Annie and Clarabel (re-introduced, Asia only)
Edward with Troublesome Van and Troublesome Truck (re-introduced, Asia only)
Henry with Troublesome Truck and Troublesome Van (re-introduced, Asia only)
Gordon with green express coach (re-introduced, Asia only)
James with tar tanker and Troublesome Truck (re-introduced, Asia only)
Percy with Sodor fuel tanker and Troublesome Truck (re-introduced, Asia only)
Harvey with motorised works unit coach and flatbed
Salty with two black Troublesome Trucks and four tarpaulin loads

2004

Emily with one of her coaches
Murdoch with Troublesome Truck
Spencer with Duke & Duchess' coach

2005

Arthur with Troublesome Truck, Troublesome Van and two fish loads

2006

Molly with green truck
Neville with red van
Dennis with two trucks and four roof tile loads
Skarloey with two blue narrow gauge coaches
Mighty Mac with motorised green narrow gauge coach
Rusty with two red narrow gauge coaches

2007

Rosie with two trucks and two balloon loads
Sir Handel with two burgundy narrow gauge coaches
Duncan with two narrow gauge slate trucks and four slate loads
Rocky with red flatbed with crate (outside Asia only)

2008

Freddie with two green narrow gauge coaches

From 2009 on wards, all Motor Road and Rail engines are sold in Asia only, as Plarail only.

2009

Stanley with blue Troublesome Truck, log wagon and three logs

2010

Hiro with slate truck and two loads of blue paint

2011

Dash with two trucks and four loads of logs

2012

Belle with water tanker and Vicarstown Dieselworks tanker
Flynn with water tank trailer
Victor with truck and flatbed

2013

Luke with red truck, yellow log wagon and two blue paint loads

2014

Stephen with red log wagon with crown load
Connor with aqua express coach

2015

Gator with un-motorised Marion and light blue log wagon with permanent rock load

2016

Ryan with un-motorised Skiff and yellow truck

2017

Streamlined Thomas with Annie and Clarabel (non-motorized & motorized)
Shooting Star Gordon with coach
Ashima (non-motorized)
Philip (non-motorized)

Vehicles

Plarail (Asia only)

1996

Bertie

Tomica World/Plarail (Asia only)

1998

Bulgy (passenger bus)

2000

Lorry 1

Motor Road & Rail/Plarail (Asia only)

2003

Elizabeth

2004

Bulgy (vegetable bus)

Packs

Motor Road & Rail / 'Plarail (Asia only)

2003

Diesel, Freight, Wagons and Cargo (discontinued)
Surprised Thomas with the Jet Engine (second Motor Road and Rail has DVD)

2005

Metallic Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel ('Asia only, discontinued)
Steam Along Thomas with Annie and Clarabel (discontinued)

2006

Thomas with the Chinese Dragon and Troublesome Truck (second Motor Road and Rail has DVD)
Sodor Crane Set (discontinued)
Red express coach (Asia only, discontinued)
Raspberry syrup tanker (Asia only, discontinued)
Blue Troublesome Truck with two grey rock loads (Asia only, discontinued)
Brown Troublesome Truck with two orange barrel loads (Asia only, discontinued)
Green Troublesome Truck with two fruit loads (Asia only, discontinued)
Annie and Clarabel Set (discontinued)
Sodor Passenger Car Set (discontinued)

2007

Busy Bee James with flatbed (discontinued)
Chocolate-covered Percy with Sodor fuel tanker and mail van (discontinued)

From 2009 on wards, all Motor Road and Rail packs are sold in Asia only, as Plarail only.

2009

Percy and Happy Action Wagons
Thomas' Conductor's Carriage Ride
Percy and Circus Wagons

2010

Hero of the Rails Set
Thomas on Parade Set
James and Pasture Wagons Set

2011

Hiro and Aquarium Wagons
Tired Face Thomas with Annie and Clarabel
Shocked Percy and Rocky

2012

Gordon and Zoo Wagons Set
Fire-Engine Flynn and Diesel 10 Rescue

2013

Patchwork Hiro
Mystery of the Blue Mountain Pack

2014

Percy and Dinosaur Wagons
James and Amusement Park Freight Cars
Connor and Caitlin Super Express King of the Railway Set

2015

James Freight Car Set
Percy and Zoo Wagons

2016

Doki Doki Treasure Hunt Set
Looking for Pounding Treasure Set
Green Thomas and Black James First Story Set

Talking engines

Talk 'n' Action engines

In 2000, Talk 'n' Action engines were released with the ability to "talk" using special green pieces of track. The engines' first carriage is connected to them and cannot be taken off. Three of them were released outside of Japan.

Talk 'n' Action Thomas with Annie and Clarabel (discontinued)
Talk 'n' Action Percy with fuel tanker and mail van (discontinued)
Talk 'n' Action James with cattle truck and brake van (discontinued)
Talk 'n' Action Gordon with green express coach (discontinued)
Talk 'n' Action Henry with fish van and log car (discontinued)
Talk 'n' Action Toby with Henrietta and truck (discontinued)
Talk 'n' Action Diesel 10 with Splatter and Dodge (discontinued)

Plarail talking engines

In Japan, a line of engines that talk in Japanese were released in 2004.

Thomas with Annie and Clarabel (only in Coal and Water Depot set; discontinued)
Percy with works coach and fuel tanker (discontinued)
James with red Express coach (discontinued)
Gordon with green Express coach (discontinued)
Henry with green Express coach (discontinued)
Edward with mail van (discontinued)

In 2011, the talking engines were discontinued but in 2013, some of the engines were brought back with updated cars and new voices from the ninth season-present voice cast.

Thomas with Annie and Clarabel
Percy with Mail coach and brown wagon
James with Blue express coach
Hiro with red open car
Gordon with express coach

Destinations

Sets marked with an * were only released in Asia.

1994

Panorama Bag* (discontinued)

1998

Rail Drawbridge (discontinued)
Long Rail Tunnel (discontinued)
Road and Rail Tunnel (discontinued)
Engine Turntable (discontinued)
Road Turntable (discontinued)
Country Station (discontinued)
Road Tunnel (discontinued)
Automatic Crossing (discontinued)
Elsbridge Crossing station (discontinued)
Bridge Crossing

1999

Thumper and Boulder Scenery Set* (discontinued)
Thomas Going Out

2000

Talking Caroline at Wellsworth Station* (discontinued)
Talking Trevor at Vicarage Orchard* (discontinued)

2003

Harold and Windmill Scenery Set (discontinued)
Switchyard and Sidings

2004

Sir Topham Hatt's Office* (discontinued)
Conductor's Office* (discontinued)

2005

Knapford Station (discontinued)
Suspension bridge (discontinued)
Engine Sheds and turntable (discontinued)
Water tower and coal loader (discontinued)
Mail Office* (discontinued)

2006

Sodor engine wash (discontinued)
Steam Along water tower (discontinued)
Quarry loader (discontinued)

2007

Cranky and Bulstrode at the Docks (discontinued)
Harold and cargo delivery (discontinued)
Sodor Rail Yard (discontinued)
Roller Coaster Mountain (discontinued)
Thomas Rail Map* (discontinued)

2014

Thomas Go Out Solid Map*
Load and Unload! Cranky in the Big Harbour*

2015

Big Thomas*
Fold up Thomas Storage Box*

2016

Thomas Put Away Play Map*
Pororon Station*

Expansion Packs

2002

Diesel expansion pack - Diesel with milk wagon, fuel tanker, and tracks (discontinued)
Talking Percy expansion pack - Talk 'n' Action Percy and tracks (discontinued)

2005

Railway expansion 1 - fuel tanker, truck, brake van, and oval of track with sidings (discontinued)

2006

Railway expansion 2 - milk wagon, boxcar, truck, and oval of track (discontinued)
Track expansion pack (discontinued)
Thomas Track Expansion Pack
Station Crossing Accessory Kit

Sets

Sets marked with an * were only released in Asia.

1992

Thomas the Tank Engine set (first version; discontinued)
Thomas and Cranky Crane train set (discontinued)
Thomas dump car set* (discontinued)

1993

Henry the Green Engine set* (discontinued)

1998

Thomas Starter set (discontinued)
Thomas Medium set (discontinued)
Thomas Big set (discontinued)
Thomas Deluxe set (discontinued)

1999

Thomas Giant set (first version; discontinued)
Thomas the Tank Engine set (second version; discontinued)
Giant Thomas set* (discontinued)
Donald and Douglas Snowplough set* (discontinued)

2000

Lady and Diesel 10 Chasing Set

2001

Thomas Adventure set (later re-released as Talking Thomas and Harold Adventure set: discontinued)
Talk 'n' Action Magic Rail set (discontinued)
Thomas Bucket set (discontinued)
Thomas and Freight Cars set (discontinued)
Thomas Going Out set* (discontinued)

2002

Percy and Bulgy set (discontinued)
A Day Out with James Set (discontinued)
Thomas and Terence Deluxe Action set/Thomas and Terence Adventure set/Thomas at the Timber Yard set (discontinued)
Thomas Station set (discontinued)
Thomas first Plarail set* (discontinued)
Bill and Ben Harbour Friends set* (discontinued)

2003

Thomas Snowplough set* (discontinued)
Thomas and Elizabeth set* (discontinued)

2004

Thomas Holiday set (discontinued)
Thomas' Big Race (discontinued)
Talking Thomas Coal and Water Depot set* (discontinued)
PlaKids Town Emily set* (discontinued)
Green Bulgy Roadway Expansion pack* (discontinued)
Bertie Motor on the Road Set

2005

Thomas Ultimate set (first version; discontinued)
Steam Along Thomas set (discontinued)
Water Tower Steam set (discontinued)
Thomas and Cranky Deluxe Action train set (discontinued)
The Great Race (discontinued)
Thomas and Bertie set (first version; discontinued)
Thomas' Railway Fun set (discontinued)
Thomas Water and Coal Station set (discontinued)
Harold at the Helipad set (discontinued)
Calling All Engines! set (discontinued)
Thomas at Harold's Heliport set* (discontinued)
Knapford Station Extension Rail set* (discontinued)
Thomas All Aboard Set

2006

Thomas Giant set (second version; discontinued)
Thomas Ultimate set (second version; discontinued)
Thomas, Percy and the Dragon (discontinued)
Thomas Engine Wash set (discontinued)
Sodor Quarry Loader set (discontinued)
Maitwaite Station set (discontinued)
Thomas and Percy Bucket set (discontinued)
Thomas Bridge and Quarry Mine Set

2007

Thomas Mega set (discontinued)
Thomas and Jeremy Airport set (discontinued)
Thomas at Roller Coaster Mountain set (discontinued)
Roller Coaster Mountain set (discontinued)

2008

Thomas and Bertie set (second version; discontinued)
Thomas and Jeremy's Airport set* (discontinued)

2009

Stanley at the Station* (discontinued)
Thomas colourful turn rail set* (discontinued)
Thomas at the suspension bridge set*
Thomas Basic set* (first version)
Thomas Chugs Along Set

2010

Thomas and Hiro set* (discontinued)
Thomas' Cruise set* (discontinued)
Emily Sloping Rail Set
Percy with Action Freight Car Set
Sodor Island Set

2011

Thomas and Wagons set*
Thomas and Bash Log Wagon set* (discontinued)
Back and Go Thomas! Misty Island set* (discontinued)
Roller Coaster Mountain and Engine Sheds set* (discontinued)
Thomas Land Train Set
Thomas and Round and Round Bridge Set

2012

Thomas Works set* (discontinued)
Fire-Engine Flynn and Thomas set* (discontinued)
Thomas and Percy Knapford Station rail set

2013

Thomas Tunnel set*
Thomas Bumpy Mountain Pass set*
Thomas Basic set* (second version)

2014

Thomas Pounding Mountain set*
Let's Create! Thomas Rail Visual Scene set*

2015

Get Started with Plarail Thomas! Simple Combination Rail Set

2016

Move in Voice! My Friends Thomas Set
Plarail Thomas And Bertie Competition! Rainbow Bridge Set

Trivia

Takara Tomy released Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James and Percy again in Plarail, but with more detail.
Elsbridge station was made twice as "Thomas Crossing Station".
Winston and Marion are unmotorised and have a front coupler, hinting they could be used as rolling stock.
The Talk 'n' Action Toby, Henry and Gordon were originally planned to be released to English speaking territories but due to the Talk 'n' Action range being discontinued, they were cancelled.
As of 2014, James now has a separately coupled tender and in 2015, Gordon gained this modification too.
Donald and Douglas were the first tender engines not to have their tenders permanently attached.
Thomas, Annie and Clarabel's models cameoed at the end of The Harry Hill Movie .