Best train set for a 4-year-old?

[ali23]

Any recommendations? He has a brio first train set which is very basic but has been used loads. Not sure whether to add to it by buying additional sets or whether anyone could recommend a good one. PDFs loves tractors, cranes etc so anything with these as accompaniments would be ideal. Thanks!

Just keep adding to the brio so you can build bigger and more complex tracks. Bridges, junctions etc.

Brio is the best. Keep adding for birthdays and Christmases. Ds's have loved our collection and although they don't ask for things to add anymore they still play with it making tracks that wind round the upstairs. They are 10&8

Definitely stick with brio. I spent a lot of money on ds brio/Thomas the tank set. Still 12years on its in fab condition. Currently pregnant with ds2 and can't wait for it to be passed down.

Thanks! Incidentalky, PDFs?! No idea what that was meant to be! Benefits of breast feeding/typing :)

Definetely add to your wooden set. Bigjigs have good pieces and are cheaper than Brio (compatible with Brio though) including a big crane. The basic track sets which allow you to reverse direction, points, split the track etc make it possible to build more exciting layouts.

I would agree with Brio. Money well spent and you can ask people to give you a wee carriage or piece of track for birthdays etc.

We had nearly 20 years of daily use from Brio which is now in loft for any future grandchildren

Ikea train stuff is also compatible with Brio and John Lewis also did their own brand version - both excellent for additional things to add in with the set.

I would add bridges tunnels etc to your existing brio!

just a note on the ikea stuff we have had a few bits from them that have snapped at the join (sticky outty bit thing)
Possible that under identical conditions the other makes would have failed as well but in 12 years of owning brio and years of having it as a child I have no previous experience of a breakage.

I'd also keep a look out on Preloved and Gumtree in your area for people selling job lots of wooden railway like Brio, Bigjigs. We bought a fantastic set for £80 from our local area - second hand but good nick - and it had loads of track, Thomas trains, Cranky, bridges, tunnels, etc. It is still played with daily 2 yrs on.

Bigjigs