Advice Needed: Expanding My Tomy/TrackMaster Layout with Older and Modern Pieces

Daisy_N

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently gotten back into collecting Tomy and TrackMaster trains after a long break (nostalgia hit me hard!), and I’m currently working on expanding a layout I originally built back in the early 2000s. I have a good number of classic blue tracks, some switch tracks, and a few working engines from that era—mostly Thomas & Percy with motorized versions that still run surprisingly well.

Now I’m trying to integrate some newer TrackMaster (post-2014) trains and track parts into the setup. But I’m running into a few challenges when it comes to compatibility. For example, some of the newer engines seem to struggle with the older slopes, and I’m not sure if there are any adapter tracks or recommended modifications to help everything run smoother together.

I’ve also seen some amazing multi-level layouts here in the forums—how do you usually secure elevated tracks without them toppling when heavier engines pass? Are there any custom solutions you recommend (like DIY supports or specific brands)?

Any advice, photos, or links to inspiration would be super appreciated. My goal is to make a layout that blends both generations of the system but still runs smoothly for casual play and display.

Thanks in advance..

Densha

We have used these to connect trackmaster to blue track: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3923998

New Trackmaster engines have less ground clearance than their predecessors. They do catch on any irregularity. However the old trains do run well on the new track, even up slopes.

chrisjo

It’s not clear exactly what types of different tracks you want to connect together, but apart from the ‘official’ converters that were released for a short period with new sets each time the tracks were changed, there are a large number of aftermarket 3D-printed options available. We don’t know which country you are in, but a quick search on eBay UK using the text ‘Thomas trackmaster converters’ produced lots of results. The seller ‘Baymo 3D’ for example seems to offer every conceivable combination. This one connects classic TOMY blue tracks to Trackmaster Revolution

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194378631368

chrisjo

As Densha says above, Trackmaster Revolution (TMR) engines do not run well on the older TOMY (blue) and Trackmaster (beige) tracks because they have an ‘activation’ gizmo underneath that’s designed to interact with various TMR ‘features’ but which catches on various older track items and causes de-railments. When TMR first came out in 2014 there were a series of posts on this forum showing the required conversion, which simply involves grinding off the offending bulge. Like this: