want to buy DS (2.3) a train set, any recommendations?

[oneplusone]

A friend of mine has a great magnetic train set ie the carriages have magnets at each end and stick together. She's on hols so i can't ask her where she got it from so was hoping someone on here could recommend something.

Thanks!

Brio or Brio compatible. John Lewis do a good starter kit (loop of track, train, few other bits) for around £20 (can't see it on their website atm). Makes a good starting point. I think Tesco do one too.

we got the tesco one, was a bargain. Still going strong.

great thanks, will look into both of those!

we bought this one for DS's xmas, he loves it and we'll be adding more bits to it for his b'day.

www.jesters.com/acatalog/info_bjt016.html

a brio or brio imitation one. All the woodne ones you can get are compatible, that's what you want and then as your DS gets older he can add trian tracks and other bits and peices.

DS has a lot of the additions that tesco do, pretty cheap really, plus metres of track and trains passed down from my bro that I think are the original brio.

You can also get imitation brio at Ikea. It's (just about) compatible with the real stuff. DS has a mixture of both, the brio came as presents from Grandparents and we added to it with the cheapo stuff. He seems a little bored of it now though (he's 2.8), but did play with it constantly a while ago.

Bought a 'Thomas' 'Edward the Great' set manufactured by Learning Curve for my 2.4 month old son 3 weeks ago...it's more pricey than the others but he's a big Thomas fan and Daddy (who bought it for himself really!) was adamant that we get Thomas...
DS loves it, so does Daddy, Grandpa, Uncles...DS can now name his trains (we've already added to it-he loves it that much) and refused to go out today 'cos he wants to play with Thomas (most unlike him)
I looked at the Tesco one and would have bought that if left to me as much better value.
Main thing, make sure theres a bridge, or one in the range to get later...that seems to be favourite bit with big and small!
WE LOVE IT!

There are great deals on Brio and brio compatable train sets on ebay, some used some brand new - worth a look. Ebay is also good if you want to add to it later.