I've started this page on the 1970s plastic Toltoys trains only because, if
you search for Toltoys products on the net, you see plenty of material on Star
Wars and many other collectable items distributed by Toltoys, but almost nothing
on the trains - And this has been commented about in forums elsewhere. So I've
made a start to try and include some photos of the range and (hopefully) others
can assist me to fill the gaps.
This page added 26 August 2008
Page last updated
27 August 2008
As a child of the 1970s myself, my brother and I were each presented with a
Toltoys road and rail set for Christmas one year and naturally we both had a lot
of fun with them, joining them up to cover the floor with the red train track
and the blue road track. Over the years, pieces went missing or got broken and
eventually the leftovers were disposed of.
The trains turn up now and then on eBay and other auction sites, but the road
system rarely appears. Presumably it was not made for very long.
Below are photos of the items I have today, with a list below that of items I
remember from my own set in the 1970s and 80s. Perhaps if you have any
information on these toys and photos of items not shown here, you might like to
and help complete the
record on this page.
I know little about the history of these once popular toys. Distributed in
Australia and New Zealand by Toltoys. I understand they did appear (with slight
variations) in other countries as well, presumably under a different name.
Although the rail track was always red and the road blue, the colours of all
other items in the range appears to be randomly produced in red, blue, yellow
and green.
Toltoys red plastic track toy railway system.
Locomotive
Open wagon
Passenger Carriage
Straight Track
Double-sided
Curved Track
Double-sided
Curved Track without sleepers and ballast detail
From battery set??? Double-sided
Turnout - without switch
Double-sided
Left-hand Turnout w/ switch
Right-hand Turnout w/ switch
Double-slip crossing
Double-sided crossing with "slip" tracks
Bridge ramp (male connector)
Bridge ramp (female connector)
Bridge pier also shown (blue)
Bridge pier
4 locating pins broken off top corners - very common
Buffer stop
End of track ramp
Allows trains to be "driven" off the track onto the floor or table
Telegraph Pole
with broken base
Signpost (or signal)
Usually referred to as a signal, looks more like a road signpost to me
Other items in the range not
illustrated (yet)
Short straight track w/ 2 female
connectors
Double male track connector.
Basically a figure 8 of red plastic
Turntable
Station
Signal Box
Railway Crossing sign
Boom gate
If you can help with photos of
missing items, please
Matching road system.
Although apparently not as common, there was a
road system to complement the rail system.
The road pieces were interchangeable with the red railway track.
The road pieces were a light blue with a moulded centre line.
I do not presently have any examples of these. This list is those pieces I
can recall and may not be complete.
Straight road
Double-sided
Curved road
Double-sided
Road Junction -
similar to railway turnout, but with the two
ends parallel like a divided road. Double-sided
Road bridge ramp.
Same style as the railway bridge ramp
Road end
End of road ramp.
As with the railway version, allowed road vehicles to be
driven off the road onto the floor or table.
Truck with
interchangeable body.
Tray, tanker, van and more (I think).
Gooseneck street
lamp
Larger base as with railway items. Was possibly intended as a
station or railway yard light
Modern street light
Road crossing
Road version of the train crossing with double slips
Assorted colours of the locomotive.
Green, Red, Yellow and Blue
Assorted wagon colours
Yellow wagon with red underframe
Passenger carriages
in 4 colours
Yellow carriage
Red carriage
Green carriage
Blue carriage
Blue wagon
Green wagon
Yellow Locomotive
Red locomotive
Green locomotive
Online Auction photo
From New Zealand
Shows gooseneck lamp, station and boom gate. Yes, you have to look hard. :)
Scanned image
eBay image
Showing turntable
I
understand there were sets with battery-powered locos as well. I recall seeing
these and have part of one in my own collection. I can also recall seeing
similar sets using blue train track, but they were probably a different make.
The connectors were square rather than round.
If you have or know of other items in the range, feel free to contact me.