Tomytec - 121 - Pedestrians - People - Entertainment

Road Name History: What would any model railroad layout be without people? The conductors, engineers, passengers, passers-by and all the many things that people do in their daily lives are what make a model railroad come alive.

Model railroad figures are typically made from molded plastic, but are also available made from resin, pewter and even 3D-printing. They can come in either painted or undecorated form and are available in a wide variety of activities. Not just passengers and crew, but more obscure types of figures are available such as bee-keepers, skaters, sunbathers and fire-fighters.

Brand/Importer Information: Tomytec is a subsidiary of Takara Tomy, a large Japanese conglomerate of companies that makes toys and games for the international marketplace. The Tomytec subsidiary focuses on toys which are scale models of real and fantasy prototypes. The Tomytec range includes trains, vehicles, aircraft, dolls and other items (camera lenses?). Most importantly (for us) the Tomytec brand name lands on certain N Gauge models.

Generally, but not always, Tomytec branded N Gauge items have some element of "collectibility". Sometimes they have packaging that obscures the exact item being purchased which encourages the consumer to buy multiple items to complete a set. Sometimes they produce limited edition releases which are quickly retired and replaced by a new similar item with an alternate series marker (A, B, etc). The brand also is used for their operating N Gauge bus system.