Reviews (1)

Time For Thomas
This is one of the sets that my grandson chose when he was 4.It is a wonderful idea and I guess it's my favorite....not necessarily his.

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. Train Set Accessories    2. Vehicles    3. Trains    4. Train Accessories   

Editorial Review

This sprawling and expansive play set will likely delight any kid interested in transportation. There are 65 pieces in all including trains, forklifts, ships, tugboats, and trucks, along with big buildings, cranes, and bridges. Use the hand cranks to unload cargo from the vehicles with a winch that attaches to the cargo with magnets. We were impressed by the amount of track offered, allowing kids (and probably Mom or Dad too) to lay out endless varieties of configurations. And it's all pretty low-tech, which means fewer flashing lights and ornate special effects but also an endearing simplicity and a mercifully battery-free existence. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Wooden Train Sets    3. Trains    4. Train Accessories   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Construction Vehicles   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains   

Reviews (3)

Great new addition to the train set!
We got to see Jack for the first time on "New Friends for Thomas."If you're not familiar with the story, Jack is a front loader that was brought into the island of Sodor to help with the construction of new train lines.He's very anxious to help and sometimes has to be reminded of his place, but he's a very cheerful and helpful fellow.He proves himself to be a very good friend and worker and gets to stay on the island.

Well, we just had to get Jack after seeing this video.He's been a very valuable purchase in our house - role playing abounds!It's a little weird that they made his shovel solid - it should have been open so that he could scoop up things.Bet this will be a redesigned piece!Anyway, this is a great addition to the train series and he even goes on the track! Highly recommend!

My Son Loves Jack
My son has dozens of both the die-cast metal characters from the Thomas series, as well as the wooden ones.

This new character travels on the wooden railway, and when you depress the top, his scoop goes up.

My 6 year old enjoys pretending that Jack is helping a train that has wrecked, and often pairs him up with Alfie for "rescue and repair missions".

Very solid construction, and a very nice addition to the Thomas line!

Great toy but...
My 2.5 year old son was so excited to get Jack, it was all he talked about for weeks. While the toy is cute and durable like all of the Thomas Friends, we were both very disappointed to discover the scoop is a solid piece instead of a hollow working scoop. He still plays with Jack all the time but comments from time to time that Jack's scoop is "broken". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Train Set Accessories    2. Vehicles    3. Trains    4. Train Accessories   

Editorial Review

The sporty, convenient, and efficient Mini Cooper car has gained a reputation for its friendly design and versatility. Those same elements now transfer to the realm of toys thanks to this clever two-cars-in-one set. Out of the box, it's a standard large model of a big red Mini, fully functional with rolling wheels and realistic detailing. But the larger car can be opened up to reveal a whole network of tiny racetracks, featuring two different levels of play. The lower track allows one car at a time to practice for the big race while the upper track facilitates the two included cars (one red, one blue) in a race. The cars can be moved into place by use of a magnetic lift. The track is probably wide enough to fit many but not all Matchbox-style cars. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (2)

mini cooper's race city
My son Jordan received this toy as a Christmas present from his grandmother.He plays with it every day and takes it every where he goes.

A MINI with a suprise!
It's a fun toy - the little town inside has ramps and bridges and you get two little MINI's to drive around inside.There is a magnetic elevator to take cars up to the top of two long ramps and a way to race them back down again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Play Sets   

Reviews (1)

its pretty cool
This toy is actually pretty cool, if you luanch your fly wheel to far away from the ramp its not going to jump that high.But if you luanch it close enough its really cool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play   

Editorial Review

With this carry bag, your little ones can take their pal Thomas the Tank Engine and all his railroad buddies with them wherever they go. Made of sturdy, washable, reinforced vinyl, the 15- by 7- by 3-inch blue case has pictures of Thomas, Percy, James, and Henry on the front and plenty of space inside for all of them and the tracks they need to keep running. There are small pouches for storing different parts and both a carrying handle and a shoulder strap for transporting the set. This carry bag is a crucial accessory for the tank engine on the go. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (3)

We Love It
My son got this case for his 2nd birthday along with the Figure 8 trian set.He loves it and is so funny trying to carry it around the house.I think it is a great way to carry and store the trian set.I dont know what we would do w/o it.I dont know just how durable it will be because it is still new.I do know that we liked it so much that we recommended it for a gift to another 2 year old and he loves it as well.Basically it has been a big hit all around!!!

THOMAS CARRY BAG
My son received this bag for Christmas 2001, it is very poor quality. It is not durable, the straps tore loose from the bag with in just a few months. If your child is anything like mine, Thomas goes everywhere he goes. This bag cannot handle the wear and tear. If your looking for something to carry your train set in you need to look further.

A utilitarian case for your treasures!
This carry bag, although functional, could definitely stand some improvements.My 2-year old adores his wooden trains and requires us to bring them along wherever we go. My biggest beef with the product is the lack of dividers or any type of organization. Inside, there are a few pockets suitable for holding a few engines/cars, but otherwise the bag is just a flimsy, rectangular piece of plastic. It's great for just throwing some wooden track into and getting on your way, but it would be better if there were separate compartments for curved & straight track and maybe an accessory or two. I gave it three stars across the board, but we have not had it for very long so I cannot vouch for the product's durability.
BOTTOM LINE: If you've got to have a Thomas bag for your trains & track that travel, this is about your only option. But I'd recommend you save your [money] and throw them in a small duffel. ... Read more

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

Reviews (2)

Great value
This 1/18 scale was a much appreciated gift to our son.We loaded it with the batteries and it gets up and goes - with power to go into the short grass.It is a great intro to R/C.
Nikko also has a toll free # to work out any kinks and handle the occassional bad item.

I think the other reviewer's problem is an exception as you see Nikko products and this item in a lot of stores.

I would rate this as a great value!

Poor quality
My 5 yr. old son got this toy for Christmas.He started out having great fun (2 hours) but it never worked properly, there was a problem with the forward control and overall the Jeep movedvery slowly.Later the Jeep would not move forward, only reverse.I am returning it to Toysrus. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good
We purchased this case for our son, for him to take on a family vacation.It's good to carry the matchbox cars.It's not too heavy and easy for a child to open.The plastic casing inside holds different size cars.It's good for the money.

Nice case, but not real durable
This case is a good first case for your little one.However, it's not very tough so it can be damaged very easily.And by ALL means, be sure to keep those removable trays inside the box.My husband stepped on one and punctured his foot!It holds 24 cars but the slots are different sizes for the different cars which is nice too.The sides are split already on ours and we've had it for only 7 months.It doesn't keep the cars from moving around once it is picked up and they completely are messed up and need reorganized if it is moved via the handle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Vehicles    3. Play Sets   

Reviews (1)

Fun but not compatible with wooden sets
This is a fun accessory for anyone who has the Tomy plastic Thomas trains.We got this for our son for his forth birthday and he really likes playing with it.There is a Y track that your child can use to direct the train onto two sets of tracks.When a train runs over the inner track, the track automatically raises up a bit to stop the train.Cranky then swings back and forth through about a quarter turn as if it is loading the train.The train is then released to continue on its way.Note that you can't move cargo up and down, only back and forth.As such, you can't raise or lower any cargo.

The instructions to assemble this are a little weak.You have to insert the top part of Cranky into the base.You need to be careful to align the hex shaped shaft into the base or Cranky will not be able to turn.It took me about three tries to get this right.



Note that the track is not compatible with the (Learning Curve) wooden sets.The connectors are designed differently for the plastic set.If you are not familiar, there are two common types of Thomas sets.The wooden sets are best known.They are a lot of fun if your child likes to push trains along on the track.Tomy makes a plastic Thomas set that uses battery operated trains that run on blue plastic track.These sets are more fun if your child wants a battery operated set because they go faster than the wooden battery trains.Both types are fun to play with, but the tracks are not interchangeable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Train Set Accessories   

Editorial Review

What good is owning a whole fleet of die cast racing vehicles if they end up sprawled across a bedroom floor or buried in the bottom of a toy box? This clever toy within a toy system features 18 racecars of varying shapes and sizes as well as a sizable truck to tote them around with.The truck, which wheels about quite nicely on its own, has 18 individual clear plastic compartments, each of which could probably also hold most Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars. The smaller cars rolled about the tabletop quite capably during our informal test and we liked the idea of a convenient storage system that can join in the fun and excitement of pretend play. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (2)

disappointed little boy
i got this item for my grandson's 3rd birthday and just like the posted recommendation, within 2 days the truck broke and so did my grandson's heart. this item cost me $31 and now it,s all for nothing. whoever is responsible for the quality of the construction of this toy should be ashamed of themself. i know i will never waste my money again on this companies products and will make sure to inform others not to waste their money either.......

Sad Christmas
My 3 year old son asked for this truck for Christmas.I thought it would be nice for him to use AND then keep his cars in.The day after Christmas when we played, it tipped over on the kitchen floor and the plastic side broke.Also the plastic hatch on the back of the truck broke, and the two sides came apart.We had to tape the back end together so he could steer it and take the jagged plastic off of the side.The clips on the sides do not stay latched well either.Great ideas in the truck, but poor design and testing of product. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Play Sets   

Reviews (5)

very durable
I can't count the # of times I have stepped on Harvey! Always fearing the worst, I look down, and there is he still all in one piece. he's loads of fun with his magnetic crane. Harvey is a favorite in our home.

Havey is great but....
My 4 year old adores Harvey and has great fun "rescuing" the other trains when they de-rail.
There is one problem : with the overhead crane feature, Harvey doesn't fit under the Stop and Go station (the crane arm bumps into the Go sign if it is in the forward position).

Harvey Rules
Harvey is a crane engine who was introduced in Salty's Secret. He can pull the other engines along with coaches or trucks. His magnet works perfectly and Harvey is espically good for your money. ... Read more

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

Reviews (4)

Breaks right away.
We have had bad luck with this lovely toy.I think it is poorly manufactured because it broke, we got a new one and it broke right away.Our battery powered thomas runs fine.Skip this lady.

Compatible with wood Thomas sets; More durable than plastic
This metal battery operated Lady engine and her metal battery operated companions (Thomas, Percy, etc.) are for use with the wooden track. There are larger plastic battery operated engines that fit both the wooden track and the blue plastic track by Tomy.

This is a great product. Very well-constructed. Very durable. It can be switched on, go forward or backward, and it can be pushed manually--another reviewer complained that it could not be pushed, but it can be pushed.

Purchasing recommendation:
* Wait until appropriate age: Our son started with Thomas when he was 18 months old, but we did not buy any battery engines until he was 3. We wanted for him to use his imagination in pushing and pulling for a while. Now he sometimes sits back and just watches the battery engines, while at other times he pushes them.

* The metal engines are more durable: The metal engines cost more than the larger plastic battery-operated engines, but they are far more durable. They feel solid in the hand. They go both forward and backwards, while the plastic engines only go forward. They pull the wooden cars that your child may already have. They're just a better fit!

My son loves Lady
My 2 1/2 year old loves all things Thomas.I had bought this for him a while ago as I thought he would enjoy watching it go around the track on its own.Initially he wanted nothing to do with it. Recently however, he started appreciating it more and now any time he is playing with his Thomas toys, Lady must be going around the track.In fact he never wants it turned off!The train itself is very durable and can pull almost all his other trains (and he has a lot of them).I also bought him battery-operated Percy but he doesn't work as well as "Big Lady".In fact I returned Percy to the store twice already as they were defective. I would recommend Lady to anyone who had the train setup, it is great to watch and also makes my son try to logically constuct tracks that she can follow to get around to all the buildings, bridges and tunnels ... Read more

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

Reviews (2)

mini robosapien
My 8 year old son bought the mini robosapien and asked me to transcribe his review.So in his words this is what he thinks of the mini-robosapien...

The mini robosapien does not have a remote control, but it is still fun to play with.It's eyes light up and it can walk.The hands and arms move by pressing buttons on the robots back. The grippers really work and can hold different things. I really like this toy and think you should try one out.

umm ok
this is sort of ok but is nothing near what i expected and i dont no if i would buy another.it doesnt really do much.But if you have a very young child that cant understand the normal one this one is great it is a very good piece to a collection if you use it for show whit other robosapien.overall its ok for show or a yong one not for an adult or hacker of robosapiens. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Cars    4. Racing Cars   

Editorial Review

Parents looking to teach kids a lesson about safety might want to steer away from this wreck-intensive play set from Hot Wheels. Still, the Zero G track is an awful lot of fun for anyone who enjoys the time-honored tradition of Hot Wheels cars smashing into each other at tremendous speeds. After laying out the numerous pieces of track using the included and relatively easy to follow instructions, rev up the one included car and other Hot Wheels cars and let them fly around the track.  The set features a large red set piece that looks daunting but for the life of us we could not figure out what it was for.--Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Mixed review from a Dad
Generally I've not been impressed with Hot Wheels track products.The theme seems to be: make it small enough to sell in a compact box for about $20-$30.Make sure they cannot be expanded or connected.Have each unit have some gimmick -- a jump or a crash involving something that pops off.However, I have to give this set a better-than-average rating.If you buy this with your eyes open, knowing what it does ahead of time ... let's face it, we can see the picture on the box, it delivers what it promises.

I am impressed with the contruction of the set.It does all fit together nicely, but not without some thought... I'm an engineer and it took me 30 minutes at a leisurely pace.Once again 2 heavy D-cells anchor the track in place (sort of).They must be in partnership with Eveready or Duracell!The dual-path track action is pretty cool and works amazingly well.The designer deserves a pat on the back.

I agree with most posters that the play value here is short lived, unless your kids like watching things go in circles over and over again.But for $20, buy it, enjoy it, and in a few months sell it or give it to a charity.You get what you pay for here, so it gets 4-stars.

A Dad

Great hot wheels track if you have lots of cars
This track is really fun if you have lots of cars, and it isn't very hard to assemble. Cars crash against each other and fly off the track all time, and it's fun to send cars as fast as you can. The meteor is very hard to blow up but when you play with it a while it can explode any time. I recommend this track set to anyone who likes hot wheels tracks.

I like this play set!! Dont listen to crappy reviews. BUY IT
I cant belive theres all of these crappy reveiws. Mine works very fine. I love Mattels play sets. they are very fun. This isnt piece of junk. What the hell is wrong with these people. i bet they dont take their time trying to build the car sets. Im a genius at building stuff. i always take my time reading the instructions. Sometimes i just make i own car set out of it.
It is very cool i always test them if they are working fine. buy it if you would like to. and just take your time. everytime i buy mattels car sets nothing goes wrong with them. Dont listen to these crappy reviews. they just dont take their time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Play Sets   

Editorial Review

Much more fun than the plain crossover bridge of the simplest Thomas sets, this lifting bridgehas solid "brick" pilings, green plastic "steel beam" bridge railings, and a simple winding mechanism(driven by a hidden string pulley) for raising the bridge deck.Since a section of rail line goes underneath,this can't be for allowing the passage of tall-masted yachts, but it would be ideal if, say, Percy weretowing a freight car containing an upended dog biscuit.It also has a control tower and two swinging stop sign barriers. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Our first building
I have to say that this is one of those products that if you needed two, even though it's expensive, I'd spend the money again. After having purchased this item, I have bought my son 5 more buildings from the Thomas Wooden Railway System.

This bridge is great and with only two exceptions is perfect.

The first exception is that the little stop barriers come off much too easy and though this isn't a problem for my son, I regularly find them in my 11 month old daughters mouth.

The second drawback is that the track located under the bridge is of an extremely unusual length. I have put a tremendous effort into finding the right combination of tracks to make it so that I can have a nice clean, equal length track matching it elsewhere, but it doesn't seem possible. This isn't a big problem since there is some flexibility in the tracks, but it wouldn't have been nicer if they added a little in the length to make it more like the rest of the tracks.

I would of course not complain about this, but I hope that the manufacturer reads these reviews for feedback before designing other components.

The bridge itself is fabulous. I feel that since the knob which raising and lowers the bridge is quite tight, it has helped my son form motor better motor skills. The detail on the building is excellent, quality design and attention to detail is what makes me love the Thomas series more than Brio and others.

If you're looking for a good first building, this is a great one. I have to say that it has been fabulous for me and my son. Well with the exception that after purchasing the bridge, I had to buy a lot more track to make it fit and explain to my patient wife that "We need it dear... Really :)"

Hours of Fun
I was a bit taken back by the price, but the durability that goes along with these products is worth it.I gave this to my two year-old-son and he has been playing with it non-stop.The crank is easy to use, even for your toddler.Worthy investment.

My child loves this but...
My four year old daughter particularly wanted this Thomas bridge because of its close resemblance to some of the bridges in the videos (unlike some of the new buildings). It is a particularly attractive addition to her set, but (and I regret to complain about a toy brand that has given my child so many hours of intensive play), after only a few uses the string that lifts the bridge is already giving way, causing the drawbridge to slip down after it's been raised.My child still plays with it, and always adds it to her latest set-ups, but the bridge stays down a lot nowadays out of frustration with this slipping.

Also, parents should note the bridge's lower course track connections are on both sides "female" - you may wish to buy an additional "male" track adapter pack if you (ie, your child) still can't resist this one, for ease of construction. ... Read more

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

Subjects:  1. Train Set Accessories    2. Vehicles    3. Trains    4. Train Accessories