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Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
Thomas the Tank Engine Wiki
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Wooden Railway

Revision as of 17:15, 10 March 2008 by 86.129.38.135 (contribs) (→‎Engines)
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The Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway is a wooden model railway system created by Learning Curve.

Product History, Design and Make

The company "Learning Curve" was foundet by John W. Lee 1993 in Chicago. In 2003 the company is acquired by "Racing Champions Ertl" that was renamed in the same year to "RC2". Learning Curve introduced some new designs for the track surface of wooden toy railways, such as the "Clicketyclack" rails patented in 1995 and the newer tracks with a relief to supply better traction grip for battery powered trains patented in 2003. They also introduced a road track that uses the same gauge as the railway tracks.

The original models were constructed mainly from painted wood, with metal used in the coupling magnets and axles, and plastic wheels and faces. These models were relatively primitive having simple wooden stubs for the funnel and dome. Details such as windows, whistles and buffer beams were omitted.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the models were upgraded. The wooden funnel and painted smokebox were replaced with a separate plastic smokebox with a more realistic looking funnel. The tender engines received this an additional upgrade of moulded plastic coal.

These improved designs were manufactured until 2004 when they were replaced with a third generation of design, which included new and more detailed faces.

Learning Curve is rapidly expanding its lineup of locomotive and locations.

Popular items

Over the several years that TAFWR has been made several items have remained popular, while others have been withdrawn. Two of the longest running items are the barrel loader, which remains in production, and the single stone bridge which has recently been withdrawn in favour of the Knapford Covered Bridge.

Engines

Rolling stock

  • Annie
  • Clarabel
  • Henrietta
  • Hector
  • Chicken cars
  • Toad (2006 limited-time reintroduction)
  • Scruffey (2006 limited-time reintroduction)
  • Old Slow Coach
  • Rocky
  • Dairy cars
  • Musical caboose
  • Brakevan
  • Log car
  • Knapford Express Coach
  • Milk Tanker
  • Tar Wagon and Fuel Car
  • Breakdown Train
  • Chinese Dragon
  • Mail coach
  • China Clay cars
  • Barrel car
  • Express coaches
  • Spiteful Breakvan
  • Sawmill car
  • Cargo car
  • Ice Delivery cars
  • Giggling trucks
  • Rickety
  • Boxcars
  • Handcar
  • Aquarium cars
  • Fred Pelhay
  • Catherine
  • Recycling cars
  • Gold Prospector's cars
  • Water Works cars
  • Fog cars
  • Annie and Clarabel (2004 two-pack reintroduction)

Multi-Car Packs

Non-railway vehicles

Limited edition models

Bridges and tunnels

  • Arched stone bridge
  • Single stone tunnel
  • Tidmouth covered bridge
  • Rolf's Castle bridge
  • Double-wide old iron bridge
  • Lifting bridge
  • Sodor Bay bridge
  • Henry's Tunnel
  • Mountain tunnel
  • Curved viaduct
  • Suspension bridge
  • Collapsing suspension pridge
  • Arched viaduct (1999 2-piece reintroduction of the curved viaduct)
  • Drawbridge
  • Knapford covered bridge
  • Sling bridge
  • Quarry tunnel
  • Castle clocktower
  • Waterfall tunnel
  • Toll booth bridge
  • Holiday tunnel
  • Suddery swing bridge

Buildings

  • The roundhouse
  • Special engine shed
  • Elsbridge station
  • Elsbridge platform
  • Windmill
  • Gristmill
  • Lighthouse
  • Knapford platform
  • Sodor log loader
  • The Works
  • Roundhouse
  • Crane
  • Barrel loader
  • Sawmill with dumping depot
  • Cranky
  • Transfer table
  • Stop-and-go station
  • Sodor engine wash
  • Grain loader
  • Coal station
  • Water tower
  • Switch tower
  • Fire station
  • Sodor dairy farm
  • Conductor's shed
  • Wellsworth station
  • Abbey repair shop
  • Over-the-track signal
  • Airfield tower
  • Honey depot
  • Rescue hospital
  • Service station
  • Musical carousel
  • Chocolate factory
  • Brendam fishing dock
  • Cargo drop
  • Scrapyard
  • Tidmouth timber yard
  • Sodor oil depot
  • Cement works
  • Gantry crane
  • Toby's Windmill

Sights and Sounds Buildings

  • Cargo transfer station
  • Mountain overpass
  • Sodor Scrub and Shine
  • Smelting yard with Oliver
  • Deluxe Roundhouse
  • Deluxe Cranky
  • Icecream factory with Sir Handel
  • Power station
  • Echo tunnel
  • Recycling center
  • Deluxe fire station
  • Deluxe over-the-track signal
  • Lighthouse bridge with Bulstrode
  • Pig shed
  • Deluxe Knapford station
  • Deluxe crossing

"Lights and Sounds" Engines

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