Recommend me a train set please!

[YummyorSlummy]

I'd like to get a woooden train set for DS (aged 2) as his main Christmas present. It needs to fit on his toy unit so it can't be more than 50cm in width (I'm planning to get a train table later on). I've looked at the Thomas ones in ELC but they don't give measurements, and I'm not sure if they are compatible with other wooden train tracks for if I want to expand it. So if anyone has one and could tell me whether it's big etc that would be appreciated! The other one I was looking at was the small wooden one in GLTC. If anyone knows of any other nice ones out there I'd love to hear about it.

this is in the Asda sale section the measurements are under specifications. You get the table too!!

We have the Ikea train set which is very basic but is compatible with Brio train engines, which are expensive but fun.

My DS (2.5) has this Brio starter set which he loves. Not sure if the figure of 8 is wider than 50cms though. He just plays with it on the floor though. You can get some play mats for use on the floor too I think.

John Lewis also do a nice one here too. The layout is flexible so I'm sure you could lay it out to fit your toy box.

Brio/Thomas wooden railway/Bigjigs/Ikea/Tesco/John Lewis wooden railway stuff is all compatible. Watch out though, there are some Thomas ranges which aren't compatible with all the others.

Most wooden railway sets are labelled at age 3 plus, but I've found my DS has been fine with these from about 18 months with supervision.

HTH

thanks for your replies! will definately be having a look at the ones you've mentioned.

we have various ones. i have to say i like the proper "thomas" wooden track you can buy because it's slightly thicker and smoother wood and it has sleepers on! lol

i'll be honest with you here and say, don't bother putting it on a table. waste of time.
just buy tons and get stuck in.
mine are a little older now and spend HOURS making huge tracks round their room
when they were little I used to love making big tracks.
having it on a table really limits what you can do.

Ds has the tesco one, its only £10! Its really good, he also has lots of the thomas sets & big jigs, they all fit together!

Have to agree with thisisyesterday on the table, DS is coming up for 2 1/2 and has started putting track together himself. On the floor he's free to do what he wants - not as easy when constrained by a table.

We have the tesco train set. Had 18 mths of good use and still played with.

Table is a waste of space.