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Original poster

Buying Brio - tips please...

14 replies

tassis · 30/09/2005 18:50

We've decided to get ds Brio for his Christmas and I wondered if you had any tips for me?

Is the Tesco/Asda stuff as good?

Can I get Thomas trains that can be used with Brio?

Where's cheapest to buy?

TIA

OP posts:
LIZS · 30/09/2005 18:54

iirc Wooden Thomas trains are only made by one company (think it is Learning Curve)and most commonly sold in elc. We found the Tesco stuff fine and compatible with Brio, elc etc and defintiely better value for money for basics unelss you find an offer on for a Brio basic set such as the figure of 8. The talking station from elc is fun.

Original poster
tassis · 30/09/2005 18:58

sorry, i'm being dense - is the thomas stuff in ELC compatible with brio?

OP posts:
LIZS · 30/09/2005 18:59

Think so

Millie1 · 30/09/2005 22:18

Yep, Thomas ELC trains are compatible - we've loads and they're great. We bought a couple of Brio trainsets and then just buy engines in the ELC. Probably not the cheapest way to do it but it's all great quality and our boys play with theirs most days.

puff · 30/09/2005 22:22

I found the Tesco stuff fell apart whereas the Brio stuff is much sturdier.

I have found some great Brio stuff on ebay too - new in boxes for much less than shop prices.

RachD · 30/09/2005 22:34

Puff, I didn't realise that the tesco stuff was bad.
My bf bought loads of it and swears by it.
I have just bought tesco stuff on e-bay.
Oh dear - maybe I have made a mistake.

puff · 30/09/2005 22:40

RachD - ds1 is very hard on his toys - I think that has been more the problem!

fqueenzebra · 30/09/2005 22:41

Tesco stuff has been very good quality for me, RachD (some of it now 3 years old, and still fine). The only caque set or pieces I've bought was at a ridiculously low price in a charity shop (so am not complaining) or on a street market.

Aero · 30/09/2005 22:58

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hannahsaunt · 01/10/2005 12:01

NB Ikea wooden train sets are NOT compatible with Brio. ELC stuff (we have the road/car tracks) are fine and the whizzy Brio accessories set it all off.

nellie245 · 01/10/2005 13:31

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gingernut · 01/10/2005 13:36

We have mainly Tesco track and I think it's fine. A few bits have broken (ds is also hard on his stuff) but generally we just glue it back together. We have loads of Thomas trains from ELC which fit Tesco and Brio track. Just a word of warning, don't buy the ERTL Thomas trains or `Take along Thomas' trains because they do not fit standard Brio track. The ones that fit are this type .

geogteach · 01/10/2005 14:21

We have a mixture of M and S, Tesco and Tchibo which all fits together fine and hasn't been brocken despite some heavy use from 3 under 5's.

Nemo1977 · 01/10/2005 14:23

glad to hear tescos is ok as pil have bought it for ds 2nd bday present next week..have bought a thomas train and a scoop brio to go with it.

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