Train set for 2 year old DD

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She loves trains that "go"...so we want one with a track and batteries...but they all seem SO expensive! We onlly want a simple and robust one...any advice please?

Why not get a Brio compatible set (wooden) but no battery-operated parts?

I sort of want one with batteries...one that goes on it's own so to speak...

The Big Jigs sets are cheaper than Brio, but compatible. They do powered engines as well as basic ones. Plus lots of set extras - houses trees etc. They do ready made sets, then lots of stuff singly/small packs so you can add to it.

You can't buy from this site, but ti gives you an idea of what they have

See this page for the full range

This looks like a good price, then you could get some battery engines to go with it.

Basic Wooden brio-compatible set + one battery operated train to go on it. Will last for years and you can build on it.

Wow that Bigjigs one is great! Thanks so much all...I will go and look at Brio ones too...I love Brio stuff!

I'd suggest a brio type track (got a nice figure of 8 one in toys r us for our neice for her 2ns birthday) and a battery operated engine . They have basic sets in tesco and argos as well I think.

Ikea wooden track is the same gauge as most of the other wooden stuff including Brio and looks really nice so you could always buy Ikea wooden track cheaply and then spend more money on engines, stations and other fancy bits.

My mate is going to Ikea...she said she was getting that track...I might just get he to get me one too! SO I could get Brio engines etc and they wuld fit the Ikea tracks?

We have built up a collection over a couple of years and it is played with EVERY day in winter & several times/week in summer.

Ikea is the least good fit with the other wooden tracks as the curves seem to be on a slightly different radius. But it's not too bad. Tesco do a good set, usually £10 but sometimes on offer.

Ebay has lots of brio & bigjigs, and also often people selling off big sets / joblots that kids have grown out of - they get LOTS of bids though.

The 'proper' brio or thomas train last the longest. On the cheaper ones the magnets seem to lose strength over time and cause major frustration when can no longer pull a 10-carriage monster train, etc.

For bridges, try to get ones that come in one piece. Ones with fiddly tops/riser bits are difficult for young DCs and fall apart constantly as kids kick them over by mistake.

Not that I'm an expert or anything

Yes - brio trains fit ikea track etc. I've not yet come across any bits that don't fit together (except the Ikea curves slightly off, as above)

We have only Ikea track but plenty of fancy trains and they work just fine :)

eBay is also great for bits and bobs of Brio - I've supplemented DS's set with things like wooden trees to make a forest near the station!

Does the Brio battery operated train work with the GLTC train set here