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Original poster

BRIO Wooden Train Set - Where do I start?

30 replies

Mum2Ela · 12/10/2004 17:24

Theres too much of the stuff!!

Want to buy a starter set of this for DD (2 years old) for Christmas so we and others can add to it as she gets older.

I have had a look on Amazon and its mind boggling! Thers soooo much of the stuff!

Can anyone recommend a good part of the set to start with?

Thanks.

OP posts:

BadHair · 12/10/2004 17:45

Does it have to be Brio? There's lots of other makes that are compatible with Brio and each other for a fraction of the price. There was a thread somewhere recently ...

bundle · 12/10/2004 17:46

we have some tescos stuff, v cheap

Original poster

Mum2Ela · 12/10/2004 17:49

I saw that thread Badhair. I just thought Brio would be good as I have seen box sets that pack away into a plastic storage box-thing. I could then ask people to get her something for her Brio train set when they ask what to get.

So, pref. Brio.

OP posts:

oxocube · 12/10/2004 17:56

Second hand!! The stuff is really expensive

BadHair · 12/10/2004 17:57

We got given a really basic figure of 8 set, bit like the safari one halfway down this page . That was a really good starter.
We bought some extra trains and track from Tesco and over the space of a year we've added bits and pieces - but just watch out cos it can get out of hand!

BadHair · 12/10/2004 17:57

Should add that personally I'd never buy Brio as its just too expensive for what it is. Same for Thomas stuff.

iota · 12/10/2004 17:59

mum2ela - the Brio or lookalikes habit can get out of hand.....we just lob it all into a big storage crate

hmb · 12/10/2004 17:59

Tescos! Just as good, far less expensive and fits with Brio

gingernut · 12/10/2004 18:09

We have the Tesco track and it's fine. We supplement it with a few more interesting Brio bits and Thomas engines. M2E, I'd go for a cheaper make and buy a storage crate spearately, especially as you're likely to add to the initial set so will grow out of the the storage crate provided anyway. And Brio is really a horrendous price for what is exactly the same kind of track. We started with a basic figure of 8 with arched bridge from Tesco, about £10 at the time (came with engine, carriages and some buildings and animals).

misdee · 12/10/2004 18:27

seriously go for the tesco track. my dd's got it last year. it takes up a huge crate, but theres enough track and road to cover the living room floor and out the door, for about £60. we have added extra trains adn houses and things, and this year am getting them the new peices, like the bridge and a couple of battery trains.

bundle · 12/10/2004 18:28

the ikea stuff is pants though, doesn't really fit with other stuff imo

Original poster

Mum2Ela · 12/10/2004 18:44

Thanks. Will have a look at the Tesco stuff, though may start with Brio and perhaps add to it with cheaper stuff. Only because I am getting this for DD for Christmas and not planning on getting her anything else (really don't want a house overrun with toys and she'll get plently from family).

Mothercare had a Brio set that I think was £50 and another for £125 (or those figures may be the no of bits in the set). Will need to do a bit more research . .

OP posts:

maddiemo · 12/10/2004 18:49

We have Brio, Tesco and ASDA sets, all compatible with eacth other. No noticeable differnce in quality but big difference in price. I would perhaps buy cheaper tracks and splash out money on the Thomas trains and tunnels from Brio.

popsycal · 12/10/2004 19:10

we have bought tesco stuff for ds for xmas....dh has it set up under our bed at the moment....testing it out apparently!

JanH · 12/10/2004 19:59

Never buy the little boxes with a few bits of Brio track in, they are daylight robbery.

Probably worth looking out for fancy bits - bridges, engine shed, turntable etc - on ebay but only if you can avoid a bidding war.

Also look out for small ads locally, you can often get about £200 worth for about £50.

Note of caution - 2 is a bit young for Brio really - it's not very exciting to look at and as they get older redesigning the track is at least half the fun!

popsycal · 12/10/2004 20:00

tesco do a turntable....

I am looking for a figure of 8 attachment thingy....
anyone?

Hairyfairy · 12/10/2004 20:25

Hi. Would definitely agree with maddiemo about buying cheaper track from somewhere like Tesco (it really is identical in every way to Brio), and then spending the big money on character trains and bits which nobody else has (like the water tower) from Brio. Brio have all the Thomas trains and my son was really cross with me for buying 'faceless trains'! Also don't know if you have a 'Wilkinson'(Wilko) store near you, but last Christmas they were selling a MASSIVE wooden set including a wooden play/storage table for about £100. BARGAIN!

roisin · 12/10/2004 20:33

Popsy, what's a "figure of 8 attachment thingy?"

lulupop · 12/10/2004 20:38

We bought a Brio box set for DS's 2nd bday too. He loves it, and on the plus side, once you've bought a boxed set like that, there's no need to get any more. Bear in mind though that with a set that large, you will not be using the plastic storage box to pack it away in, as it takes a while to set up and your DD won't be putting it all together herself for quite a while!

We made a new table top to fit on top of an existing low table we had, painted it green, and set it up on that. Much cheaper than the "play tables" you see in catalogues.

Our boxed set cost about £240. Gulp. We did it for bday and Christmas combined, although of course that was before I'd discovered ebay. Also, all of the tracks are much of a muchness, so get a Tesco one maybe. With Brio you definitely pay for the name. And our DS never plays with all the Brio trains that came in the set as he only likes the Thomas the Tank Engine ones, which of course have been bought separately (£10-£15 each!).

I suppose what I'm saying is shop around, and think of it as an investment!

popsycal · 12/10/2004 20:44

roisin - it is a 'thingy' which allows you to make your track into a figure of eight

roisin · 12/10/2004 20:49

A bridge?

Or a crossroads? Well obviously not a crossroads, as it's a railway!

I've seen both in Tescos.

popsycal · 12/10/2004 20:50

erm............
hold on

popsycal · 12/10/2004 20:52

one that will let you make the track look like \linkwww.elc.co.uk/key-04400/p1-Discover/p2-26/SubCategory.do\this - third pic down}

we have tesco track - straight and curved and afew bridges etc but want a 'thingy' to do that!
will try my bigger branch of tesco as our regular one (big but not huge) doesnt have one

roisin · 12/10/2004 21:05

this will do it - and more

this will, but out of stock

Millie1 · 12/10/2004 22:46

We bought DS1 a boxed set too for his second birthday - think it was the farm set - then that Christmas we got him the Mountain set - put them both together and he's got a brilliant train set. We've bought engines etc (Thomas et al) from the ELC but no additional track as we've really got enough. He's just turned 3 and got Cranky for his birthday this year. It's one of his best and most enduring toys ... and just gets chucked into a plastic storage box at the end of the day. Go for it!!

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