Best train tracks/set for toddler?

[Exceptionalroar]

Family are all contributing to train set - something we can keep building on with extra bits, tracks etc - so we can afford for it to be nice. DS will be 3.

Have NO idea of best makes. Any suggestions?

My sister recently gave my dd her kids old brio train set which also has bits I played with as a child so despite some of it being over 30yrs old its still going strong. We've added some cool extras and got some more on order for Xmas.

Brio brio brio! My DS LOVES it and you can keep adding to it. You can get battery operated locos as well, and it's wooden and practically indestructible!

I got the Tesco own brand one last year which came with the play table too. Paid for most of it with club card vouchers and it has been used most days since last Christmas. Brilliant value, the table is also great for craft/Lego/playmobil. Getting dd a battery operated brio train to go with it this Christmas.

Brio.It's compatible with Ikea wooden track too so could start off with that and add bits on.Great present for a boy. My 4 year old has played with it ever since getting into Thomas 2 years ago,progressing to building track himself now he is at school.

The wooden ones are best, we got my brother's old brio and I got more second hand, a mix of brands all vg and v popular with the small boy, go for it!

I got ds a wooden train set when he was 2, think it was john Lewis or elc. I really good present, has had loads of play.

Big jiggs. It's wooden And still compatible with brio etc but more exciting and less expensive. Ds 2.5 loves it!

Definitely brio or compatible

Brio, and there are loads of compatible bits, too.

Another Brio vote. My 19 month old plays with my 18 year old brothers old track, it's still going strong. You can get it discounted on eBay. Most wooden tracks are brio compatible. We have bigjigs track and bridges tunnels etc and also the wilko own brand track - all fit all natural wood, lovely set to build on for years & be passed down.

DS has a Thomas The Tank Engine wooden (not plastic) track set. It is Brio compatible.

We got dd a brio one from tk maxx recently - it was a bargain, though it's a Xmas present so no idea if it'll be a success yet!
We liked the fact that you can add on if/when you want/can afford to.

You can't beat Brio. Ours was played and played and played with. We added extras and as they got older we bought extra bits and they build elaborate layouts. It is virtually indestructible. I still have it in the loft for potential grandchildren.

Recommend the John Lewis wooden set plus extension pack then brio add ons. The red battery operated locomotive is excellent. It's actually powerful enough to go up bridges pulling loads.

You don't need to get exclusively brio. Cheaper starter sets from another brand (John Lewis & tesco) but buy the extra track bits that rip have millions of.

A crane or station would be nice too.

I got the Aldi wooden set & that adds to the fun.

They're all made in the same factory in china probably

Definitely Brio or compatible. DS started with his when he was about 3 and he was still asking for bits at 6-7. He played with it for hours and he has a cousin a year older who used to come and stay every summer and even up to age 10 they would still get it out and build an enormous set it up all round the upstairs landing and through the bedrooms.

We had a big clear out recently and that was one of the things DS ( now 16!) wouldn't part with-its stored in the attic "for my kids".

We had a station with a recording facility for making station announcements- it still has a recording of DS voice from 6 years ago on it. Made me all teary listening to his little childlike voice- now its all gone deep and manly!

Brio and bigjigs - they are interchangeable. Big jigs is half the price. We have a mixture, both boys love it - ages 3 and 1.

Brio and bigjigs are interchangeable, big jigs is half the price. Both boys love it, ages 3 and 1.

Another vote for bigjigs here - it's been through a lot and still in perfect condition! We've added a few bits of others here and there e.g. Brio, and totally compatible - wouldn't really know the difference.

Sorry, stupid phone.

Brio is fab! other versions are available (big jig I think) they are compatible with each other. My lot LOVE, LOVE, LOVE theirs!

We got the bigjigs train set and table for ds's 2nd bday recently and he loves it. The table is great for general play too, and has a landscape scene painted on to it. But then ds won't play with anything unless it's on a table!