Can someone please explain thomas the tank engine toys to me......

[frostythesnowmum]

I know that there is a blue track but what is the alternative and what trains go on each track. Also are the different tracks for different age groups?

THere are three kinds of track I think? Take-Along, Brio (wooden) and possibly another one? Where do the metal trains fit in?
We have the Brio and it's great. I don't think they are age-specific until you get to Hornby and it's all electrics.

The blue and Brio (and all its wooden imitators) are the same gauge so all the trains fit all the track. Then there's the Take Along Thomas stuff which has metal trains which don't fit the other types of track. I've never come across other makes that are compatible with the Take Along stuff, although others may prove me wrong?!

The Brio would be my recommendation. The engines are pretty much silent for starters. Some of the talking Thomases (I think they come with the blue track) are more irritating than Ruby Wax. And it's a nice small track which can be picked up dirt cheap just about everywhere, new or secondhand (Brio, Tesco, Thomas, it's all the same stuff). The resale value on Ebay for the engines is very good.

DS, who's 2 1/2 is going to get track and various engines for Christmas. I am confident he will wet himself with excitement.

Is the blue compatible with the Brio? Track to track, I mean.

ok, so i am a thomas the ruddy tank engine expert... ......

firstly, there is tomy road and rail (blue plastic track)- has loads of bits to add on, trains are quite large and all battery powered and approx £15 each. they run round the track on their own. ds2 has this set

secondly, there is take along thomas which uses the small metal eengines which are the cheapest and the trains are between £5 and £10. some add on bits but afaik not that many bits to add on. we have this too!

thirdly the wooden set, not sure if its by brio tbh, quite
pricey and all the add on bits that are in the thomas range are expensive (£60 for an engine shed anyone??!) but it is compatible with other cheaper wooden tracks eg elc one. some trains are battery powered (approx £30!) but most are just push along £15. its the dearest option but def the nicest. ours was ds1s originally and he is now nearly 10 and its still in great condition.
we have this one too!

the thomas trains that talk and talk to each other dont fit on any track but they are quite cool but rather annoyingly you cant turn them off and they go off at random times when youre just sitting down minding your own business.

phew! hope that helps!

corriedale, the tracks dont mix and match with each other at all.

There are websites - Thomas2u comes to mind - where the wooden ones are reasonably priced. Not cheap, but reasonable. But Ebay is a good source too.

I thinkt he blue one seems to have the most options. Hamleys in London has a huge set up with tons of track. ds1 loves it. The road and rail is a good start up track, I think it costs about £40 iirc. Then you can pick up other bits as they come on offer. ds1 has the turntable with all the sheds, the airport, the quarry - it's great!

the dts got bought one of the carryalong sets, and they aren't v good imo. The track was difficult to set up and was very unstable - it jsut keeps breaking and falling apart.

I think for either tho, be better for 4+. Unless you go for the basic brio wooden one, but that's rather pricey, when you consider you can get a non thomas wooden train set very cheaply. i think we got a huge set from asda one year for £20.

We have the lot.

Ds gets cross with the blue track, as it comes apart quite easily.

He loves the take-along set, it was his birthday yesterday and he got 5 new trains for it and slept with them all