CoolProps Co.,Ltd. was a Japanese company that specialised in manufacturing film and television replica props.
History
In December 2018, they announced that under the "CoolProps Vintage" range, they would be producing limited edition replicas of the live-action Gauge 1 models used for filming the first twelve series of the Thomas & Friends television series. The prop replicas were developed with assistance from the Hara Model Railway Museum in Japan, where some of the original models are located, for reference. The prop replicas were planned to be sold only in Japan for rights reasons, but CoolProps later acquired new rights to sell them in the UK and US as well.
The prop replicas feature moving wheels and eyes, working front and rear lamps, and interchangeable faces. Each vehicle comes with its own display pedestal with a rail piece and ballast. The lower part of the pedestal can be opened up to store accessories.
After numerous postponements in production due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shipping delays, the first two products were shipped to the US and UK on 13 August 2023 and to Japan on 11 January 2024. In June 2025, it was announced that the company went bankrupt on 21 May 2025, leaving the other announced products unreleased.[1][2]
On January 22nd, 2026, the manufacturer covered the shipping costs from pre-order sales for Green Thomas and shipped them to Japanese fans.
Products
| Image: | Name: | SKU: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Thomas with Annie and Clarabel Prop Replica | 4580401805115 |
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Thomas Prop Replica | 4580401805122 |
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The Adventure Begins/Green Thomas 75th Anniversary Edition | 4580401805139 |
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Bill and Ben Prop Replica |
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Trivia
- The prototypes were made with a 3D printer.
- A diorama of Brendam Docks with Cranky was also exhibited with the products, but was not for sale.
- The chassis blocks are geared like the original props. Despite this, CoolProps stated that the props were not built with the purpose of having a motor, or eye mechanism fitted as the prop is meant for display. However, they once said that they will “leave it to the owner's own judgement whether or not it's possible to install a motor on their own”. This supposedly leaves the possibility open.
- The tracks are based on Tenmille Products.
- The Thomas with Annie and Clarabel Prop Replica and Thomas Prop Replica faced numerous delays.
- Production had to pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When production had resumed, it had gone slower than usual, and the products did not have a scheduled release date for a while.
- The products were originally scheduled to be shipped between October and December 2021. This was later postponed to Spring 2022.
- On 16 January 2023, CoolProps revealed that they had gotten the final approval from the licensor, that production would start after Chinese New Year, and that they would have a shipping estimate in early February. Not too long after, they stated that they would start shipping in June.
- On 27 June 2023, they stated that while production had completely finished, they would start shipping around mid-late July.
- The products were finally shipped to the US and UK on 13 August 2023 and to Japan on 11 January 2024.
- In July 2021, a poll was held for customers who had pre-ordered the Thomas with Annie and Clarabel Prop Replica and Thomas Prop Replica to vote for an additional new Thomas face as a gift for the delays. Out of the four options, the winner of the poll was Thomas' current smiling face with a 51% vote.
- His angry/suspicious face finished with a 44% vote, his worried face with a 28% vote, and his sad/upset face with a 15% vote.
- CoolProps later announced in January 2023 that they would also include the face with orders of The Adventure Begins/Green Thomas 75th Anniversary Edition.
- The Adventure Begins/Green Thomas 75th Anniversary Edition is the only item not based on an existing prop from the live-action animation television series. It is inspired by the CG animation television series instead.
- On 29 June 2022, CoolProps posted that they corrected the colour of the wheels for The Adventure Begins/Green Thomas 75th Anniversary Edition. Previously, the prop was shown having thin white lines in its wheels with the outer portion still being green. The update to it has the white lines on the outer rim, like in The Adventure Begins. They stated this to be a sample of the final model.
- Christopher Awdry would later autograph one of the Thomas replicas, which was later sold as part of the Propstore's Thomas & Friends Online Charity Auction 2025.