Reviews (16)

Worth every penny!
Because this was such an expensive item I did my homework before purchasing the table. I looked at some cheaper tables to begin with but found that they couldn't come close to the Thomas table by Learning Curve. This table is made of solid wood and took me about 5 minutes to put together. I was able to get the playmat for free with the table through a promotion Toys R Us was having at the time of purchase. Another thing that sold me on the Thomas table was that this is the same table they have at Barrnes and Noble and you can imagine how many children play on that day after day. We have the table set up in our son's playroom since it is such a large piece. Unlike many other toys we have purchased in the past, this is one that we will save for years to come. They are expensive, but they are also made well and come with a lifetime guarantee. If you have a problem with one of their products you simply send it to them with a letter and within about 1-2 business weeks they will send you a brand new item. If you are looking to buy a train table I would highly recommend this one. Though it is more expensive, it is worth it in the long run. Why spend $80-$100 on a table that is only going to last a year or so when you can spend a little more and save it forever? One other hint...Michael's Arts and Crafts and A.C. Moore Craft Stores also carry a decent amount of the wooden Thomas toys. Look in your local paper for their 40% off coupons. They apply to Thomas and Friends which makes it a lot more affordable. :)

$$$ TRAIN TABLE PRICE IS EXTREMELY TOO HIGH****
Hello, my son is 3 and just was newly introduced to Thomas, he loves it, there are so many trains to collect from 2004 and past years. This table is so over priced, we decided also to build one $60 for materials (all oak) and a few hours and its done, personally its beautiful and stained it looks like an expensive piece, (thanks to my brother-in-law builder and my husband), if you are not as lucky to have someone in your family build it for you here is a suggestion..get in touch with your local school, or the woodshop teacher and see if you can get one of the students to build it as a project (they get graded for this) and your helping that student learn, or get plans and build it yourself, dont have the saws? your local home store may cut the wood for you. Its just a suggestion because thomas stuff is great but I would rather spend my money on the trains (which is the REAL enjoyment. Hope this helps

Time For Thomas
The Thomas train sets are great modern versions of the classic indestructible wooden train sets.Simple enough to avoid the toddler age frustrations of getting the cars to run on the track yet complex enough to engage a wide range of ages (up to and including Grandpas).All the stories help with the imagination part....the books & videos provide an endless source of adventures that can be acted out, although most kids are perfectly capable of inventing their own episodes.

Here is my advice, if you are trying to work your way through the maze of start-up options:

First of all, you can spend a fortune on a huge set....even if you can afford it, I would start with something small and give the child the joy of receiving a chain of small but intriguing presents over a long period of time.It fosters the joy of giving/receiving and helps teach them to come back again and again to the same toy...watching it grow, asking for specific items from the stories they hear, etc.Several reviewers suggest painting an old coffee table and this is a great idea.

I suggest the Figure 8 set (the most popular one) or if you want to spend a little bit more, the Conductors Figure 8 set.Both are complex enough to be interesting, but simple enough to give lots of room for growth.Almost immediately I would add a new present of one of the inexpensive engines (you can ask the child which story they like best and get that engine for them....or buy the engine to go with the video or book in the same gift)....these would be Percy The Small Engine, Bill The Yellow Engine, Treavor, (or a bit more $ for:) The Lady Engine, James The Red Engine, Gordon The Express Engine (he's one of the best stories, I think), or Henry The Green Engine.

Now for the good stuff!Give it a month or so, and then reward the child with something really cool like the Barrel Loader or Rusty the Construction 3 Car Set.

I honestly can't see the point in the huge multi hundred dollar system sets.If you want to impress the neighbors or something, go for it, but I'm telling you.....most kids will enjoy a large number of small thoughtful gifts, not a "keep-up-with-the-Jones" effort on your part.

Good behavior can be rewarded with a pick-your-own trip to the store (there are sometimes when a real time shopping trip can't be beat)

By the way, the Thomas stories are based on real restored engines that run in England on the Mid-Hants Railway Watercress line near Winchester (you can read about them an even plan a trip to ride on the real Thomas trains by checking outwatercressline.co.uk).They are a day trip from the London rail stations, although I recommend using a B&B in the Winchester area and staying overnight if you decide to go.Winchester was the center of the old Saxon kingdom of Wessex of King Alfred as well as a major early medieval site (the Cathedral has the tombs of many of the Saxon Kings as well as Jayne Austen and Izaac Walton and it was where Richard the Lionhearted was crowned.)

... Read more

Subjects:  1. Furniture    2. Wood    3. Train Set Accessories    4. Preschool    5. Vehicles    6. Trains    7. Train Accessories   

Reviews (4)

Cool but Ionly wanted the construction cars
What I meant by my title is that I already had Rusty and I just wanted the Construction Cars. The cars sway from side to side and they can survive a lot of damage. I was suprised at how durable these were. The sets are a lot of fun because you don't need any additional things to go with it for immediate fun. These toys are really good for a car trip to keep a child busy when they are bored. I would higly recommend getting this set but don't buy Rusty first.

Rusty is good
Rusty is great. i got him as a present for christmas one year he has 3 cars - rusty a dumper and a cement mixer you can use him with cranky or anything with a magnet. he is also in some episodes on a video.

Rusty & Construction Cars!!
The Thomas & Friends wooden railroad gives you Rusty and 2 Construction Cars. This set provides hours of fun for your children because they can use this set to recreate stories about Rusty and his construction fun. Its educational value shows children how man-made things are built and they will probably use this set with thier Lincoln Logs and other construction kits. This is also a very sturdy set, but sometimes the mixer's top will come off and will need a frequent fix-up! Other than that, it's a wonderful set and a great gift idea! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Vehicles    3. Trains    4. Activity    5. Push and Pull Toys    6. Dolls    7. Train Accessories   

Reviews (20)

Love all the peek a blocks
I got this for my son for christmas when he was 14 months old . He has a lot of the peek a blocks toys. He really likes this truck. He likes putting the blocks in and dumping them. He will play with it for a while and he is picky about his toys. The dump part however does come off easy and I do wish that part was made better because it does get annoying haveing a 1 year old keep bringing it to you to put back together. And he gets mad at it cause he trys to put it back together and he cant. But I dont regret buying it. It was a good deal for the price.

My kids LOVE this
My 10 month old twins love this. We received it as a gift with an extra set of blocks. Yes, the blue and green part of the truck come off easily but that is part of the fun for my babies. They love taking it apart and I put it back together - no big deal. Even without those pieces on the truck they like to push it around. The music is not annoying at all and does have two settings. The wheels even hold blocks so when you put them in and they push the truck, the blocks make noise. Each block has something different inside but most of them have something that rattles. My babies love to play with the blocks as well, even without the truck. They love it when we stack them and the can push them all down. I definitely recommend this toy.

Cheap dump truck
It seemed like a good idea when I bought it but my 10 mo old easily ripped off the back of the truck in the first couple minutes out of the book.

I put it back together and it just comes off again within seconds.

It makes a good noisy truck not a dump truck.Its one saving grace is a volume switch for quiet, loud, and no sounds.

I don't like how the block holder for the driver's head doesn't hold it as well, but the wheels can easily pop in blocks for some extra rattling effect.

... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Blocks    3. Learning   

Reviews (3)

TERRIFIC TRAIN SET
I HAVE 2 BOYS (3 AND 4 YEARS OLD)AND THEY LOVE THESE SET. THEY PLAY WITH IT EVERYDAY. I BOUGHT A COUPLE OF THE SETS AND THEY HAVE A WHOLE CITY. I CHANGE IT AROUND SO THEY DON'T GET BORED. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM.

The Best Toy!!!!!
I bought the whole set of Geo trax for my sons 3rd Birthday, and he hasn't stopped playing with it since. He gets this out every single day and plays with it. Very durable toys. I highly recommend this toy. A must have. My son loves to put the tracks together, and it is easy for him. My 2 year old daughter even loves to play with it. Now they have out the mile high sets, and my husband said we had to get him that too. This is a definate toy to buy......... It Lets the kids use their own imagination time and time again.

Great toy for the money!
This Geotrax add-on is great.At first I thought we would be going through batteries like I owned a battery store but it turns out the batteries last a long time and it has an auto shut down switch if you child walks away from the train.We were considering the wooden trains but for the price this set was a better deal.This set actually made noises and had track switch options.We continue to buy add-ons.Our son loves his train set. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains   

Reviews (11)

best toy
My son got this for Christmas when he was 19 months old.He loves it.It is the best.I would highly recomend this to anyone.Hours of fun!

Fun Flash the Fire Truck
This is a great toy for kids. I bought this for a friend's son and he loves it! He is fascinated with the lights and sounds. This is a durable product and it entertains the kids for hours.
For the person who gave this one star, it was inappropriate to buy this product for a 14 month old child. There is a reason for the recommended age on all toys.

Another great FP toy!
I had to write this review after I read a previous reviewer who gave this toy 1 star. My advice to that reviewer: READ THE AGE RECOMMENDATION! Don't call and complain to Fisher-Price that your child's hand got pinched when you buy a toy that is for 18 months up for a 14-month-old.

I am always impressed with the durability and imagination-inspiring design of FP Little People toys. You will never be sorry when you purchase them. I still have sets from the 70's when I was a child!

... Read more

Editorial Review

Gordon is a long, blue express locomotive who supplies water for Thomas and tows a coal tender.

Based on the award-winning PBS television series Shining Time Station by the Rev. W. Awdry, the Thomas the Tank train system is the perfect child's train set. Each wooden vehicle has a different name, character, and face. The magnetic bumpers make linking up easy. Friendly characters will engage your child in hours of imaginary play. Designed to support your child's development, the system encourages the use of new motor and cognitive skills. --Sandy Hirsch ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Gordon's the Best!
If you have a train lover in your house, or are just beginning your child's collection, Gordon is a definite must.He's in almost every story and is the fourth engine in the shed.He's huge, shiny, and always boastful, but a good friend to Thomas.Ours gets taken to bed, along with a couple of the other engines, which is always the true test for a toy!These trains come with a lifetime guarantee and are just a must if you have little boys in particular.Gordon has made a zillion trips along his line in our house and he's probably one of the most enjoyed too.Grab him and see how much fun your little one has with him - he's highly recommended!

Gordon sure can pull a lot of coaches at once
When my sister plays express with Gordon and all the coaches she sometimes has a hard time pulling them. Then when I help her I realize how many coaches Gordon can pull. It amazes me how strong gordon really is. Like all Thomas trains the magnet is very durable and it can be used for hours of use.

Express Engines
Gordon is a big express engine who is fast. He is the same size as He is in some story stops like Gordon takes a dip and Henry and the elephant. He has a tender with the number 4 on it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains    3. Wooden Train Sets    4. Preschool    5. Activity    6. Push and Pull Toys    7. Train Accessories   

Editorial Review

Kindhearted but noisy, Harold the Helicopter likes to drop in on the Island of Sodor to visit his railway friends. This 4-inch sturdy wood helicopter is white with a sleek red racing stripe above his name. With a rotating propeller and plastic landing pontoons, Harold is ready for action. Based on the popular Thomas the Tank Engine series by Reverend W. Awdry and the PBS television show Shining Time Station, this flying fellow is part of the much-loved wooden railway system, which is compatible with other magnetic train sets. You can reenact all the exciting stories in the series or make up new ones. Thomas fans won't want to miss out on any of these fun, well-built railway characters. --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Master of the skies
Everyone knows who Harold the helicopter is. He flies around the Island of Sodor taking visitors, cargo, and sometimes Sir Topham Hatt. Harold can sometimes tease the engines but is always there when a friend is in need. I have had this toy for about 12 years and it is still in mint condition, that shows you how durable it is. I don't play with it anymore, now it is for display only.

Broken propellers!!
My son has repeatedly broken the plastic propeller. Why can't it be made of wood like the rest of it. I was disappointed with Harold being plastic. Luckily they replace it for us. We love the thomas toys

Lots of fun, but easily broken
My 3 year old son did chores around the house to buy this toy himself. We were very disappointed when one of the rotors broke off within a month. I was with him when it broke. He was not doing anything rough with it. He didn't even drop it. We did not realize there was a guarantee. We've glued it back together at least 10 times. I don't know if that voids the guarantee or not.

Otherwise, it is a great toy. My son carries it all over the place. He says it is his favorite. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Push and Pull Toys    2. Trains    3. Train Accessories    4. Vehicles    5. Helicopters    6. Wooden Train Sets    7. Wood    8. Preschool    9. Train Set Accessories    10. Planes    11. Activity   

Editorial Review

James the Red Engine is one of the Thomas the Tank Engine series of train cars and is made of real wood. James has a cheery, smiling face on the front of the engine, promising an adventure as soon as the train leaves the station. James the Red Engine pulls his own coal car, so he won't run out of fuel. The cars attach to each other with magnets. This is a toy that encourages imaginative play and requires no batteries. Engine with attached coal car measures 5.75 inches in length. --Margaret Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great toy - Great size!
My two-year-old son loves all his wooden Thomas trains!They keep him busy for hours and are extremely durable.Someone gave us some metal/plastic Thomas trains, and he plays with them too, but their plastic parts break quickly (ie: Harold's plastic helicopter blades, the plastic "link-ups", etc.)The wooden ones with the magnets seem to last forever, with only minor paint wear resulting from lots and lots of playtime!

Used in conjunction with the videos or books, they teach things like proper behavior and all those good "moral" examples.Plus, they teach colors and numbers because of the design of each individual train.He loves James' bright red color.

The fact that they are not battery-powered and do not absolutely require a track is a huge "plus" to me.They can go anywhere, and anything in the house can serve as a railway track.It's only limited by your child's imagination (and climbing ability.) We did visit a friend's house recently who had a battery-powered Thomas, and my son did enjoy it also, so we may possibly be getting a few of those to add to the collection at the holidays.

Another reviewer felt they were "dinky" and was disappointed by the size of the trains.To me, that is one of the best features.As I said, they can go anywhere (keeps him busy at a restaurant!) and they are perfectly proportioned to fit very well into small hands.Plus, they don't take up so much space in your house, especially if you start a whole collection!However, be warned that they WILL be underfoot at all times because your kids will love to play with them so much, so watch your step.

Sometimes the simplest thing is the best thing, and I think that's definitely the case with the Thomas trains.

Hooray for James
James does a great job pulling the coaches along the track. He can pull pretty much anything at a fast pace. I've had my Jame sfor 9 years and it looks almost new. He's a great engine andyou can live the episodes with these trains.

Grandma's Magic Accident
I purchased Thomas the engine without realizing that it was not battery operated.I gave it to my 2 year old grandson for his birthday because I had nothing else to give, and the twinkle in his eyes let me know I had hit upon a winner.The adventures for Thomas and his friends have not ended.I have since purchsed, Skarloey, Ben & Bill, Douglas, Percy, Toby and Bertie.The adventures just don't seem to end for my grandson.He plays with this toy for hours.His vocabulary has increased at the same pace as his adventures.The fact that this is not battery operated is the joy of the toy.I need not turn on the television to keep him occupied, he has Thomas and his many friends and that is good enough for me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains    3. Preschool    4. Wooden Train Sets    5. Activity    6. Push and Pull Toys    7. Train Accessories   

Reviews (7)

Entertaining and Educational
My daughter got this for her 12 month old birthday and she loves it.She loves the song Old McDonald and wants to play it over and over again as she dances to it.The animals are great for her to learn the noises but mostly to identify the animal.I'll tell her to go get the horse and she'll come back with it!It also goes great with the Baby Einstein video Baby McDonald because they use that toy in it and she recognizes it and will go push the button to make the song.Our daughter loves it and has had it for 2 months now and has not gotten bored with it.

dangerous choking hazard
My son loved this toy also.HOWEVER, this morning as he was playing he started coughing.I looked over to find the small hand piece missing off the farmer.When initially examining the toy upon purchase all the pieces appeared safe for a toddler as the package indicated.Obviously that is not the case as one hand piece had come off completely.I plan to contact the manufactor, however I strongly caution anyone who chooses to purchase this toy.As fun as it may seem it is obviously a choking hazard.

Get this toy!
Not only did my 1 year old love this toy when he got it, (as did his big sister) but he has been riding around the house on it for over a year and it is still in good shape!He thinks the trailer is great for sitting on and pushes himself around on it. (And he weighs 25 pounds!)The mechanism for moving itself forward automatically finally gave out recently due to his misuse, but he doesn't seem to mind. The animals are all included.(One person seems to have gotten an open package.) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Push and Pull Toys    3. Vehicles    4. Learning    5. Baby and Infant    6. Toddler    7. Activity    8. Pretend Play    9. Play Sets   

Editorial Review

Unzip this 10-by-14-inch, bright turquoise, soft cloth book, and you'll find two animal-packedalphabet trains spanning both pages. Each train car is a pocket, and each pocket is embroidered with aletter of the alphabet. Inside the pockets you'll find friendly little pillow animals, each one marked with aletter of the alphabet: the pink elephant rides in the E car, and the green alligator rides in the A car.Your child will love taking the animals out of the pockets and stuffing them back in (a favorite toddleractivity). You'll have fun teaching your child the names of the animals and letters, such as N for newtand X for xenops. When playtime is over, your toddler can zip the whole gang safely inside, grab thesturdy handle, and tote the little animals to their next destination. --Elisabeth Fredrickson ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Fabulous Learning !!!!
I bought this for my daughter when she was 1 1/2 years old last christmas.She loves it, (and so do I).She still pulls it out to play with.Amazingly enough, we have never lost an animal for more than a few weeks.Since there is a space for each animal, it is a great storage too.You are able to see if you have everything when it is put away.Which leads to another great part about this toy, my daughter LOVES to put all the animals back in their "garages" (as my daughter calls it).Very soon after we bought this, she was memorizing her letters and telling me what each animal was.Since they all have matching letters on the animals and their "garages" it helps the younger ones find out where each goes.I can't say enough good things about this.I hate to buy toys that get put in the toy box and never get pulled out again.But this one has definately kept her attention.When you put that with the educational opportunity, how can you resist it?It is cute!Oh and you know how you get tired of playing the same toys with your children?This one is fun for the adults too. I forgot to mention one of the most important details.There is a form you get with the toy to order more animals if you lose any.

My favorite toy for my kids!
This was a gift to my newborn boy, but my 2 1/2 year old adores it!
Pros:
1.helps teach letters (each animal has the letter that starts its name on its back)
2.compact, portable
3.cute!
4.animals good for other play (my daughter likes to pretend to "save" them when they are stuck in a tree, or have them ride in her "airplane" (shoe)... and much much more
5.OK for babies (although the animals are smallish, ~ 3inches tall, they never presented a choking hazard for my son -- who likes to chew them)
6.The animals machine wash well (see chewing note above :))
Cons:
1.Lots of pieces to lose -- we lost the lion for quite a while, but he showed up behind the entertainment center
2.Some of the animals are not so recognizable -- I think "N" is a newt, but it's hard to tell.

Despite the few cons, this is probably my favorite toy that my kids have. Thus, 5 stars all around!

A worthy investment
I bought this for my daughter at 17 months and she loves it. Not only is it beautiful, it's the best quiet time toy ever!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    2. Electronic    3. Stuffed Toys    4. Stuffed Animals    5. Pretend Play    6. Vehicles    7. Trains    8. Animals    9. Learning    10. Alphabet    11. Preschool    12. Baby and Infant    13. Toddler    14. Push and Pull Toys    15. Activity   

Editorial Review

Thomas the Tank is the signature bright-blue engine in the Thomas the Tank series. He does light yard work and pulls small passenger cars, such as Annie and Clarabel. Based on the award-winning television series Shining Time Station by the Reverend W. Awdry, the Thomas the Tank train system fulfills all of a child's choo-choo dreams. Each vehicle has a different name, character, and face. It is wooden and 2 inches high with black plastic wheels. The magnetic bumpers at the ends of each vehicle make linkup easy. Children will become friends with each one, developing not only imaginative play but social skills and new motor and cognitive skills as they mature. --Sandy Hirsch ... Read more

Reviews (16)

don't buy thomas the train...unless
thomas the train is the first in thousands of dollars worth of great toys for a child.the only problem is if you buy this train...it starts a fascination not only with your children, but with you as well.my wife and I found ourselves searching out different thomas the train characters and have now spent about a thousand dollars on trains and accessories... it starts with this one blue little train and after a while you have invested a fortune... be warned don't start the addiction!

Durable classic
Thomas the Tank Engine IS my young son's favorite toy. Actually Thomas is just the beginning. When you start adding on other vehicles and buildings, you'll soon have a little railroad empire going. The price is up there a bit, but when a kid loves it like mine does, in the long run it is worth it. We got Thomas for him when he was two. He is now four and still going strong. Thomas will be a keepsake for our child's heritage book long after he has outgrown it.

The one and only Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas is great and it's so fun to pull him along the track woth Annie and Clarabel. When I make the big setes In set aside a branch line for Thomas, Percy, and sometimes Lady. Thomas is great but in order to get the experience you need Annie and Clarabel. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains    3. Preschool    4. Wooden Train Sets    5. Activity    6. Push and Pull Toys    7. Train Accessories   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Play Sets   

Editorial Review

The soft corners and indestructible design of the Little Tikesgiant construction vehicles make them ideal for aspiring junior roadworkers. These tough trucks can handle all sorts of abuse, from haulingdirt across the playground to taking those accidental spills down thestairs. Over 12 inches long, 7 inches high, and 9 inches wide, thissturdy bulldozer speeds around on oversize, hard-plastic tires, and ithas a working scoop that can really dig out, lift, and carry a load.--Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (6)

This toy is tops!
My son recieved it for his 2nd birthday and a year later still loves it. We keep it as an outside toy where he can dig and load dirt with it. Its nice and chunky for little hands and has a handle you push to make the loading part lift up. I imagine this toy will last forever.

Loads of Fun
My two boys(5 and 6) have both the loader and dump truck and they have put about 1,000 miles on tires and they keep going.They enjoy playing in the dirt with these toys..They are kept outside and have lasted along time(3 yrs)..Even when left out in the rain, they have kept together with no problems.

Little tikes diggers and trucks
I am a grandmother of a little boy and little twin girls, all 3 years old, and a Little 2 year old girl. All have fun digging in the sand or dirt with the Loader and Dump truck. I own almost all of Little Tikes Cars, Trucks, and "Diggers" and they provide hours of fun, are safe, and last forever. I have found that both boys and girls love digging and driving. It has given me much pleasure to watch them play. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Construction Vehicles    3. Preschool    4. Push and Pull Toys   

Editorial Review

Peep-peep! Here comes Percy the little steam engine from the ever-popular Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends book series and television's Shining Time Station (based on The Railway Series by Reverend W. Awdry). With its rounded corners and larger features, this chunky-styled Percy is designed for little hands. Made of lightweight plastic and sporting rubber-trimmed tires, Percy, the youngest and most eager engine in the station, heads off down the tracks with his traditional three-dimensional smiling face. A rear coupling prong allows Percy to pull freight and passenger cars of his same chunky style. The 4.5-inch-by-2.5-inch engine has an axle width of 1.75 inches and fits plastic tracks designed for the My First Thomas train series. This toy does not fit the standard 1.5-inch wooden tracks. --Kathryn Gustafson ... Read more

Reviews (7)

No visible scratches had it for 2 years
Most of my trains are pretty old except for the new ones but Percy really hasn't had any scratches and i've had him for nine years. His magnet is still there and it's in working order. Percy is one of everyone's favorite engines and this one is a great buy!

My son loves it!!!
My son is a big fan of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.His favorite is Percy.He takes his Percy trains with him wherever he goes (to bed, in the car, around the house, etc.).We even bought an extra for him just in case he loses one of them.If your children love Thomas (and what toddler doesn't?), I do have a piece of advice--get duplicates of the trains.You never know if one will get lost, or forgotten!I got doubles of most of the trains, Percy included, and it can be a real lifesaver when one gets lost or left behind!

Great
This toy is great.My whole family has fun every evening playing with this train.The just can't get enough of it!

Also, it's able to withstand lots of rough playing.

This is a must! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains    3. Preschool    4. Wooden Train Sets    5. Activity    6. Push and Pull Toys    7. Train Accessories   

Editorial Review

Kids who love Thomas the Tank Engine may recall the fun when Henry and the Elephant came to the Island of Sodor via the Circus Train. Made of sturdy wood and plastic, this set of three cars comes with five wooden animals: an elephant, a lion, a tiger, a zebra, and a giraffe. Like all cars and engines in the system, these link together via a sturdy and reliable system of magnets. Use them as components in a whole miniature world of train-car characters, wooden tracks, and scenery based on the popular Thomas the Tank Engine book, television, and video series. This product has a lifetime warranty. --Joan DeClaire ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Fun, but can't use the pieces
This is a fun set, except the animals do not fit through any of the tunnuls.We use the open box-cars for the barels that go with another set.If you are only going to use the animals without any tunnels, which is difficult with small children (they love tunnels), its a fun set.If you set up big train configs...get something else.

Lots of fun... but size is a problem!
My son recently received the Circus Train for his 2nd birthday. He was really excited to see the animals, and loves to put them in the cage cars and drive them around the track. He has been very frustrated, however, because his train can't fit through any tunnels or bridges when the animals are on board - the animals are just too tall. I think the Circus Train would be a great addition to your Thomas Wooden Railway IF you don't have the bridges or tunnels to worry about. If you do have these items in your layout, I'd suggest the Ivo Hugh zoo set instead, as it is made to fit through those low clearance areas.

Circus Train Won't Go Under Bridges
Why would they meke a train that won't go under their own bridges? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains    3. Wooden Train Sets    4. Wood    5. Preschool    6. Push and Pull Toys    7. Activity    8. Train Accessories   

Reviews (1)

Didn't strike her fancy
My 1 year old received this train as a first b-day gift.It wasn't nearly as exciting as the Sesame Street "Teach and Go" train we inherited from my brother's kids.It doesn't move unless you push it yourself, unlike the Teach and Go train that goes on its own. It mainly sings songs and you can stack it, but the parts of the attachable cars don't have any interactive parts.Boring! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains    3. Learning    4. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    5. Electronic    6. Baby and Infant    7. Electronic Learning Aids   

Editorial Review

Frighteningly high above a deep ravine, Thomas the Tank Engine peers over the edge, wondering how he will get to the station on time. He's saved only by the immediate construction of a bridge that gets him clickity-clacking across in no time. The Reverend W. Awdry created the Island of Sodor as a place for childhood imagination to run free with his Thomas the Tank Engine series of books. The Sodor Bay Bridge expands opportunities for dreaming and connects to any of the tracks from the Thomas Wooden Railway System. Two train trestle bridges connect to span 25 inches. Manufactured by high-quality toy maker Learning Curve, the bridge is sturdily made of wood with blue plastic supports to endure years of adventurous play. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Bay bridge is a must
Starting around age 2 the "World of Thomas" and his train friends became the biggest part of my son's days of play. If you are as deep into Thomas as my family is then the Sodor Bay Bridge is a must have. Hours and hours are spend pushing the toy trains over and under the bridge. Your first three starter purchases should be the trains, the tracks and then this bridge.Good Luck it is an expensive "world" your getting into!!!

I LOVED it ... and so did my nephew
I ordered the bridge and then read the review that said the bridge didn't come with the ascending tracks.My trip to a local independent toy store confirmed the review.After purchasing additional tracks ... and driving 4 hours so that the tracks would make it in time for his 3rd birthday, he opened the box and I shocked to see the tracks he needed to connect the bridge to the rest of his set.I guess the manufacturer has addressed this issue....

I played with it (the bridge, figure 8 set with battery powered engine, and additional tracks) for a good hour before realizing I was enjoying it more than him!The tracks are extremely durable.My nephew and his brother and sister all loved it.

Love this, but . . .
I bought this accessory for my 2-year-old son Sam, and he loves everything about it except the fact that there is not quite enough top clearance for trains to pass underneath -- You have to set the spans on blocks for that. I also agree that the set should include the ascending track, or at least anotice that it's sold separately. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Train Accessories    2. Wooden Train Sets    3. Train Set Accessories    4. Wood    5. Preschool    6. Activity    7. Push and Pull Toys    8. Vehicles    9. Trains   

Reviews (21)

BEEP BEEP!!
It is acute toy to play with for the kids....on the noise level-it is rather on the loud side-and sometimes annoying, especially when it says VA VA VAROOOOM BUM BUM BUM VAROOOM(in an annoying womans voice) overall it is a fun toy.

TOO CUTE!!!
I just got this in the mail today; a Christmas gift for our daughter.And what little I could play with it without taking it out of the package is just too cute!!!Looks like it will hold up just as well as the house we have already.I can't wait for Christmas so we can play with this. I was able to get it at Kmart.com if you are having trouble locating one.

daughter's first little people toy
My daughter received this toy for her first birthday. She enjoys activating the sounds and taking the pepole out of and putting them in the vehicle. I am sure that she will play with it more as she grows older.
I look forward to buying her other little people toys. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

excellent find
Wooden Thomas cars. Many discontinued cars in this pack. My son is a major Thomas fan and loves this set. A bargain as many of these cars sold individually would cost $12 plus each.

Henriettta is Back!
This 5-car pack rocks! It includes:

Toby
Oliver (Discontinued)
Fred (Rare/Discontinued/this set only)
Bertie
Henrietta (SUPER RARE/dicontinued/in this pack only!)

It's retail value $49.99! A Great deal:) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains    3. Train Accessories   

Reviews (3)

A great addition to your Thomas collection.
I umm and aahh about spending this sort of money on a train table and playboard for my children but after doing my homework I decided this is the one I would buy.

Other train tables I have seen in stores are often wonky and seem quite unstable - and this is after they've been played on in the stores. So after seeing poorer quality tables for similar prices I decided to save up for the Thomas branded one and this single sided playboard.

Yes, it's expensive, but as with any "brand", it's the name you are paying for. If you want a Thomas collection of trains and accessories you are going to have to pay. I'm just starting our collection and am buying the "Thomas" trains and buildings, but found a compatible generic track for less than half the price. I was lucky enough to get this playboard at almost half price at a after Christmas sale. It's worth waiting for sales and price comparing.

It's beautifully painted and when used with the table frame is extremely strong (although I wouldn't recommend standing on it).

It's up to you to spend to decide if you want to spend this sort of money but I see this as something I won't ever have to replace and it's something my son can keep for his children. Toys like this will last!

Great fun!
We just received this playboard a couple of days ago.My son loves it!He is almost 2 and really enjoys playing with all of his Thomas trains.This playboard makes playing more interesting.It arrived in fine condition...we didn't have the problem the other reviewer had.My son has a train table (not the Thomas one) and it fits perfectly.The playboard is a great addition to our Thomas the Tank Engine collection.

Makes playing with our trains much more fun!!
We have a collection of Thomas and Brio trains and track, and use this playboard on a table that we built. While it is impossible to actually construct track that stays on "dry land" (some of the playboard scenery is rivers etc) this background scenery does add to our enjoyment of the playing with trains.The whole family (ages 1 to 30-something) enjoys constructing new layouts.

This board can easily be damaged in transit. Our second attempt was successful. I advise you to order this well before you need it.

NOTE: We've had this for 4 years or so now. The plastic coating has all peeled off. It still looks nice though and is being used by another toddler now.When we bought this, it was the only good option for playing with trains;now there are so many basic playtables that could be used for a multitude of activities (puzzles, cars, blocks) - that I would buy something more versatile rather than this train themed tabletop. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Playboards    2. Preschool    3. Train Set Accessories    4. Activity    5. Push and Pull Toys    6. Vehicles    7. Trains    8. Train Accessories