Best wooden railway accessories

[Hotchocolate86]

We have a basic wooden track already and yesterday I ordered this one as a Christmas present to add to it.
www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/pre-school-and-electronic-learning/wooden-toys-and-puzzles/squirrel-play-toys/squirrel-play-wooden-rainbow-train-set/p/166199
I’d like to get some extra accessories like a tunnel or bridge but I’ve been looking on amazon and eBay and there is so much choice I’m a bit stumped what might be good. Can anyone recommend any accessories that have been well loved and worth the money? DC is 2 if that helps.

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/pre-school-and-electronic-learning/wooden-toys-and-puzzles/squirrel-play-toys/squirrel-play-wooden-rainbow-train-set/p/166199

Tried again with the link.

I’d say it depends on age, partly because you can give add-ons as gifts for several years!

A tunnel and a bridge sound perfect to start. I’d look for a solid bridge that’s easy for little hands to manage rather than one that balances on blocks or a suspension type that has sides in the way of little hands.

I’d hold off on junctions and crossings for a while because it can be quite frustrating switching between male/female track sections (I think it might be the ikea track that has plastic connectors that can be switched out with brute force )

I’d hold out on battery operated trains for a good while as I think they change the way they play. Also the connectors can be cuddly and frustrating until the fine motor control catches up.

As they get more creative with track you can add more pieces. Bendy track is great for finishing awkward designs.

If he likes Thomas & Friends there are some nice pieces like the sheds where all the trains sleep. Some are better for slightly older ones; We got Cranky the Crane at 6 and he needs to be gently operated.

Have a look at Big Jigs. They have lovely wooden train sets and accessories

Missed where you said he was two
That set looks gorgeous.

Thanks alana that’s really helpful. I hope he will enjoy the rainbow set. I think it may be a little young for him on its own but added to the basic track we already have I think he will enjoy it. I have seen the bendy track. It looks great so it’s definitely something I’d like to add in the future. I hadn’t considered about suspension bridges being awkward for little hands. Looking at Bigjigs they do a bridge they call a clickety clack bridge which I think could be a good choice.

The engine shed has definitely got the most use at our house.

Something like this mumoftwo

Bigjigs Rail Wooden Triple Engine Shed - Other Major Wooden Rail Brands are Compatible www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0016474OE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AkaGBbSFRFMSC?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Sorry that was meant to have a question mark

Second vote for big jigs stuff. Really nicely made and not as pricey as brio.

Yes

Ours is a lot bigger with about 6 individual doors but DS is 4 and he got it last Christmas. He did have a smaller one but it was his only Christmas request! A big Tidmouth sheds!

We have a lot of Thomas trains and track but have found Brio/Thomas/Ikea track all to be compatible. Looks like they are too which is a bonus.

The raised tracks were more hassle than they were worth as they were forever knocking them over.

We got lots of bigwigs accessories for ours. The two additions that got years of use were the bell which dings when a train drives past and the log loader.

Tunnels and bridges are good, but go for a simple solid option. I remember lots of frustration with bridges that collapsed too easily.

Bigjigs not bigwigs.

Bigjigs stuff is lovely. We have a mix of all sorts of stuff and have added from every company where it's interchangeable. The kids love it.

I look after two boys aged nearly 3 and 4 and they love their train set. They like the tunnel and station but I would advise getting plenty of junctions, "bendy tracks", short and long straights and those pieces with two knobs or two holes on them, hill tracks and the supports. This will allow him to make more interesting and imaginative layouts (also makes it more interesting for you as you will be required to build the track to start with!!!)

My two always liked bridges, but as a previous poster has said, not all bridges are equal. Look for self supporting ones rather than ones which have to stand on blocks of wood and are always falling over. There was usually a tunnel and an engine shed or a station put out for me to fall over as well.

The kit from various manufacturers is interchangeable, although Ikea has funny plastic lugs which don’t always fit very well. It is worth getting some Ikea track though, because you can push the lugs out and make bits of track which are the same fitting at each end. When you start building stuff freestyle, you always end up needing a female/female or male/male piece.

I don’t don’t if it’s still made but our most loved extras were;

Brio fire station
Cranky crane - now he wasn’t being made a few years ago and I got him from eBay.

Thank you everyone. I think I’ll definitely try to get hold of some short pieces and maybe a couple of junctions but I’ll probably add most things like that as and when we need them.
Does anyone by chance have this bridge?

Bigjigs Rail Clickety Clack Bridge - Other Major Wooden Rail Brands are Compatible www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00745K644/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BxgGBbZHZEJKS?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I saw some bigger engine sheds and also some without doors but I think he’d love the doors and I imagine a small engine shed would easily suffice for now. The bigger ones do look impressive though.

I don’t have that bridge in my collection..but have added into my Amazon basket
Mines a really old train set now
Originally Brio, which was my younger son’s when he was a child (he’s 37 now)
Have added to it over the years for my grandsons who are now 8; 6 and 4
It’s kept at my house and they all still play with it
Have lots of bigjigs accessories and also John Lewis is compatible and have a couple of trains from there

www.woodentoyshop.co.uk/wooden-train-track/ I’m about to order a few bits from this website, seems to be cheaper than other places.

Yes! We have the clickerty clack bridge! My eldest got it for Christmas 3 years ago and it’s been played with lots by all 3 DC and is still going strong. Can definitely recommend that and an engine shed!

My sons loved a little crane that they could load bricks onto the train carriages, bridges and tunnels!

The bigjigs flexible track section is brilliant too. Much more useful and interesting than it appears!

Yep, we have that bridge and it’s great. I would also recommend Bigjigs bendy track and tunnels, they are sturdy and easy even for little ones to play with.

We also had this from a young age, makes a gentle ding when a train goes past and was well loved:

www.brio.uk/products/by-age/3-years-and-up/accessories/magnetic-bell-signal-for-railway

Can buy from amazon etc but I can’t see how to post a link without my name appearing 🙄

Thank you for all the ideas. I am going to be spoilt for choice. I’m thinking the clickety clack bridge, Bell and some bendy track may be good for starters. John Lewis have some lovely bits as well but I suppose there is always his birthday.
Thank you for that website minty. I’ll have a good look through it.