this looks fun

bollard

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRACKMASTER-THOMAS-THE-TANK-ENGINE-RARE-LTD-STEAM-TRAIN-IN-NEAR-MINT-CONDITION/123126928803?hash=item1caaefd5a3:g:6WgAAOSwao1a9ej6

shame though for me as i prefer the non face plarail type locos.

Nigels

Yeah, those real steam trains are pretty cool, although there would be nothing to stop you getting it and de-faceing it as done quite often by Super and Ucewpn. I seem to recall someone even once used a bottle cap as a new boiler door to replace the removed face... 😃

I should add there is also a real steam version of the genuine to life PlaRail steam trains, Mr Ripley would know for sure, but I think its the D51-200 if I recall correctly...

Mind you if you like real steam trains you really want to see this (the cool bit starts about 1.20min

[video=youtube]https://youtu.be/rBKxysVQuA8[/video]

Trainfanz

Bollard, if you're looking for something similar without the Thomas theme, I believe the Thomas set was derived from an earlier Plarail item: the Sound Steam D51 498.

It was available on it's own and in a set that featured all gray track.

ripley802

Here is the other Plarail one. These are very cool, but are pricey with the box.

bollard

not keen on the couplings though

Nigels

How well does the steam work on those D51's Mr Ripley? Just curious as I know they exist but I don't think I've ever seen one running...

ripley802

They look quite nice to me. I think a bit more realistic than the Thomas ones. I have often wanted to try and swap out the led for a white one vs the red to see how it would look but haven’t had a chance yet. 😃

Nigels

Is that to enhance the smoke so its more visible? Would maybe a blue one work better?

Super

Yes, those big knuckle couplings don't look very nice but I guess they served their purpose and won't allow little hands to damage the wiring that runs within them and with separating the train pieces. To me the Plarail D51-498 and D51-200 are the best. I like the 498 more because the gray colored knuckle couplers don't stand out as much as the white ones on the 200 do. and it has the cool blue Express Coach attached.

Here is the video that first turned me on to the real steamers 5 years ago. The video is from one of BPT's original Staff members ToysTrainsThings. I agree with Ripley that instead of a red LED maybe a white one would show the steam better.

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q_hC-jewhs[/video]

fred16850

Nigels wrote
Yeah, those real steam trains are pretty cool, although there would be nothing to stop you getting it and de-faceing it as done quite often by Super and Ucewpn. I seem to recall someone even once used a bottle cap as a new boiler door to replace the removed face... 😃

I should add there is also a real steam version of the genuine to life PlaRail steam trains, Mr Ripley would know for sure, but I think its the D51-200 if I recall correctly...

Mind you if you like real steam trains you really want to see this (the cool bit starts about 1.20min

[video=youtube]https://youtu.be/rBKxysVQuA8[/video]

I've been keeping watch on those live steam engines on eBay for a while now; been hoping a decently-priced one would slip through the cracks. 😃 It's a shame they discontinued the line.

Super

Are you talking about the Plarails or the Hornbys Fred?

Nigels

He's almost certainly talking about the Hornby's super, they were never cheap and as new ones get rarer they are if anything going up in price 🙂

fred16850

Yup, I'm talking about the Hornby's. Some listings are on the edge of passing $1,000 USD and others at at the $2,000 mark!

Nigels

It is a shame they discontinued the range though as you say Fred as they are ground-breaking as well as a truly engineering feat. Even being driven by real miniature brass pistons driven by real steam!

They apparently even suffer from the wheel slip you get with genuine large steam trains as they get going when pulling a good length train 😃

fred16850

Hope we get to see a re-release for sure..

Nigels

Would be great if they did, but as I understand it the company isn't doing so good after taking some financial hits from the failure of some retailers like ModelZone in the UK and various other unpredictable failures (possibly ToysRUs as well I guess). This I think is partly the reason they have just dropped the Thomas licence this year 🙁