Editorial Review

Getting young children interested in toy trains is a wonderful way to teach as well as to have a lot of fun. By playing with train sets, young minds learn how to fit things together, how transportation works, how cities and communities are created, all the while enhancing their imagination through pretend play. This sizable and table kit features a smooth, easy to clean melamine surface on the top with convenient storage compartment underneath. The 83-piece train set sports a wide variety of train cars plus buses, police cars, dump trucks, and other vehicles to operate on the pieces of road, which are included in addition to the track. Filling stations, gates, buildings, bridges, and other modular components add to the magic. Since all the pieces fit together so handily, young train enthusiasts can spend hours designing their own sprawling networks and configurations. We liked how complete this set is and how handily it all stores when playtime is done. Compatible with Thomas the Tank Engine and Brio train sets. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Caleb loves it
My son (3 yo) has had this for about 8 months now and still loves it. Whenever his friends come over to play, they all inevitably end up inside the toy and take other toys in to play with. It is fairly durable and has been fought over and pulled from room to room many times. If your child loves Thomas, this is a good (if fairly large) toy to have.

Kids LOVE it!
I have not had the bad experience as the customers below. My son got it a year ago when he turned 3 and my daughter was 1 and they both love it. So does the kids that come over to play. Now a year later and they still love it, also it's still in great shape. I am now getting it for a friends son. I find that it's easy to fold up, although the kids don't leave it like that very long.

This tent is AWESOME!!!
My husband and I ordered this for my daughter's 2nd birthday. Let's just say she doesn't come out of it much. She Loves It!!! It is so cute and worth every penny. She has gotten so many hours of enjoyment out of it. She likes to take her books and her Thomas trains in there as well. If your child loves Thomas, they will love the tent.

HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED
I bought this for my 14-month old because he likes to crawl under tables, chairs, etc. I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened it - what a piece of GARBAGE!!! It is made of some paper-like product (like a Bounty paper towel) and it smells horrible. My son had ink all over his fingers after playing in it for just a few minutes. I am definitely returning this item. How annoying that the material of this product is nowhere to be found on the box or in the online description.

confusing
My 2 year old son got this for a gift, he loves it, but it falls over very easliy, and I spent half the time standing it back up, also the directions on how to fold it and put it back in the bag are not very clear, ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Nice picture making for an easier puzzle
My 2 year old daughter has this puzzle and thinks its wonderful.

Unlike many puzzles, with just one character on it, the picture is brilliant having lots of different trains, etc on it. It is easy to fit togehter, with parts of a different character or scene on every piece. She can easily put Thomas, the sheds, Harold, etc together thus eventually making the whole puzzle.

This is by far her favourite puzzle. For one, it's Thomas! And for 2, it's well-made and 'easy' to work out how to put together.

Most Beloved Toy
My son who just turned 4 years old in December received this for Christmas. I'm amazed at the beauty and durability of the pieces. He put it together about three times (with help) the first time we opened it! I never seen him so excited about a toy and to my greater surprise--a puzzle! Each time he placed a new piece in (sometimes with my assistance and sometimes not), he'd ask me to turn around and then ask me to look. When I looked I praised him for his accomplishment and he squealed with excitement. He literally jumped up and down almost after each piece was placed! He told me this was his favorite gift for Christmas and believe me he had quite a few more that were more expensive. I'll be buying more Thomas puzzles from this company in the near future as I'm very impressed.

Easy enough for young kids to solve by themselves
My son and I have been doing puzzles together since he was two, but most of the puzzles that claim to be for kids are too complicated or have pieces that are a little too small for him to work with; so he usually "helps" me by talking with me as I do the puzzle and occasionally placing a piece. He likes this big Thomas puzzle because, at age 4, he can do it all by himself. The pieces are big, which not only makes it easier to grasp and manipulate, but easier to comprehend the shape and the picture pattern as well. Of course, he likes that it is Thomas, and he even likes the "cool" box it comes in.

So this puzzle has a lot of replay value, because whenever we start a puzzle session, he will eventually move to this one to show mommy and me that he can do it all by himself, and that makes him feel good.

Big, bright puzzle
My son has enjoyed this puzzle since he was 3! It features a bright picture of his favorite engines. The pieces are large and easy to handle- perfect for a younger child who loves puzzles. It has been great for spacial learning. My son would put this together, again and again. He is almost 5 now and still plays with this. The pieces have lasted for almost 2 years and still look new! (They are a heavy cardboard.) ... Read more

Editorial Review

The starting point for this Fisher-Price train-track set for toddlers is a mountaintop chalet surrounded by lush, green pine trees. Tugging a crate of goods, the blue loader-engine train departs the chalet, winds down the track, kept securely on by a yellow guard rail, and whizzes through an underground tunnel. It's a relatively one-dimensional toy, though the layout can be rearranged to connect to other GeoTrax sets. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Wanna keep your kids entertained??
My Goodness!We started with such a small little Geotrax set and look at what we wound up with!!My 3 year old got a small set right before his birthday and played with it quite a bit.Then he got MORE for his birthday...and NOW, it is the first thing he plays with when he wakes up and the last thing he play with when he goes to bed!The airport set is probably his favorite by far!But he and his big sister LOVE to take it apart and make new creations with all the tracks and play with the battery operated train, fly the airplane, load cargo, you name it!They really use their imagination and work together with all this stuff!

The only downside is I had to buy a REALLY big tub to put it all in when we don't want to look at it all!The control center, construction set, airplane set and all take up quite a bit of room and there are times when we want it just "put away" for a while.But that's the only bad thing I can say about it...this stuff is just COOL!

I recommend this for ANY kid, probably ages 2 and up.I bought a set for my 2 year old nephew in March and my sister says he LOVES it.If your kids like planes, trains, and automobiles, this is the toy for him!

Another great addition to our geotrax set-up
This is a fun addition to the system.Set up time is less than 2 minutes.My girls love it.The only problem is the fight that sometimes happens over who gets to fly the plane.

To infinite and beyooooond !!!!
To wait for new Geo Trax series... some months.

To deliver it at home... less than a week.

To assemble it ... half hour.

To see the happiest face from my child, when he saw the plane flying... Priceless...... 10 Stars !!!

Great as an addition to your train or as a stand alone toy.
This is a very fun toy.I would consider it a stretch, however, to say that this is a necessary addition for your train set.I would say that this is a great toy on its' own merit.The airplane is a big hit.It flies in circles with the control of a hand-held lever.As it flies the propellers spin.There are three different sounds (a jet, helicopter, or propeller plain.)There is a luggage carousel that spins around for cargo.As I said, my son plays with this independently from his train set.It can be incorporated.I would not hesitate to purchase this even if I did not own any other pieces from geotrax.

Like it but prefer some of the other addons better!
My son recevied this for Christmas as an addition to his Geotrax system.He loves to play with it and loves the sound effects it has but, I found it to be more of a play alone part of the geotrax system than an integrated piece.Other add ons like tower clock, rescue squad, etc. are combined into the train system while this is not. It connects to it but the train portions pass by it rather than be part of it. Still a great piece but I think that if you have other toys like my son does his little people airport would have worked just as well by setting it up nearby. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Toot-toot! All aboard for lunch with the very functional Thomas the Tanklunch box, which is made of durable plastic and comes in the traditional Thomasblue with a red handle. Inside the generous container are an 11.5-ounce canteenand a Pecoware double-deck sandwich container, which measures 5 by 5 by 3inches. Both are adorned with Thomas scenes. On the front of the lunch box is anifty front panel--decorated with another happy Thomas scene--that clips open.This compartment is big enough to accommodate another sandwich or is the perfecthiding place to tuck away a secret goodie for your child. Press a button on theside of the canteen, and the cover pops up, revealing a straw. No muss, no fuss.The lunch box measures 9 by 7 by 4.5 inches and can hold a lot of food--forchildren or adults! --Diane Tuman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Most Adorable Lunchbox
This Thomas Train Lunchbox is GREAT! My three year old son was so excited when he saw it for the first time. It is spacious and well constructed. The compartments are large and there are multiple options for use with each piece. The kids (ages 3-5) in his preschool class went crazy when he brought it to school. It is a one of a kind.

Retro cool
I gave this 5 stars for fun, because my son loved it from day one, and would not leave the store without it. He played with it for days while we waited for school to reopen after Christmas.

I rated it 5 stars for educational value, because it made him want to go to school, which is a significant educational achievement indeed.

Unfortunately, I had to mark it down, because the water bottle is already broken at the point where the button to press it open meets the cap. Also, the straw is hard to clean, especially after a young child eats a cheesy snack and nibbles on the straw.
Lastly, the front compartment is very difficult to open, especially for a young child, so you end up not using that section at all.

Other than these, it's tough, it's cute, and it's a retro look that parents remember all too well. Substitute another bottle, and enjoy.

now in its fifth year of use and still going strong!
This is THE lunchbox to get! My six year old son received this as a gift for his first birthday. I didn't think much of it at the time. HA! Little did I know how much we would use this durable and practical lunch box set! I can pack his lunch everyday without one piece of plastic wrap or one plastic baggie! A sandwich fits perfectly in the tray provided and stays fresh and soft until lunch time! Under the sandwich I pack fruit, pretzels or other snacks....again without any plastic wrap or baggy! I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!

Cute item for your Thomas fan, but...
A friend of mine bought this lunchbox for my son and he loved it as soon as he got it. He's 4 and not in kindergarten yet, so this only gets used from time to time when we go out to lunch, etc. It can also be used to carry along small toys, trains, or whatever. Another reviewer has said hers cracked after it was dropped. I can't really comment too much on that since ours hasn't been dropped (yet). The lunchbox is pretty roomy on the inside and even has a side compartment too! There's a snack box inside with a little tray which basically divides it into two compartments. I usually put a sandwich on top and put other things underneath. The biggest problem with the whole set is the cup that comes with it. It is really cute, but leaks into the lunchbox frequently and is a MAJOR PAIN to clean. There's a little spring loaded straw that pops up when you open the top, and goes back down when you close it. You basically have to disassemble these parts each time you clean it and let them dry, then put the whole thing back together again. I think they could've included a simple thermos or something that would have been much easier to use and clean. My son loves the design of the box, so I would recommend this lunchbox. However, I would leave the cup at home and throw in a juice box or something instead!!

The Thomas Lunch Box
My 3 year old son has this lunchbox and he dropped it and it cracked. It's not very durable. Also, it has a compartment for an ice pack, but didn't come with one. It is very difficult to find an ice pack for the size of the compartment. On a good note, he loves the drinking cup and snack box. ... Read more

EDITORIAL REVIEW

Enjoy the pastoral life of a pleasant agricultural community in this charming train set from Imaginarium. It features 51 pieces in all, including special mechanisms for moving hay bales and loading and unloading cargo. Small farm pieces, including a friendly farmer, a cow, and a pig round out the look. There’s nothing electronic to contend with here, no flashing lights or pre-recorded electronic sounds, just the simple pleasure of guiding a train around the track getting some farm work done. The pieces are compatible with other Imaginarium train sets, including Thomas the Tank Engine sets, as well as BRIO Wooden Railway systems. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Editorial Review

This complete, self-contained electric train system, featuresenough "Power Loc" track to create a figure-eight layout over 7 feetlong by over 3 feet wide. There's a realistic Union Pacific locomotivewith a working headlight, six assorted carriages or wagons, a bridge, acrossing, and stacks of signs, people, animals, and other accessories.The included power pack has a speed/forward/reverse control. Alsoincluded is a substantial booklet of tips for creating and maintainingrealistic model train layouts. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Can Be Sold Less Exspensive
Lifelike Trains are good sturdy trains (...). I bought a Lifelike train set for 9 bucks at my local Albertsons. The tracks are great as long as they're on a flat surface. The engines that come with each set are rather unstable but the best thing about train sets all together is that you can always add on and on. So I recommend buying another engine (...). Oh, and after time buy a new transformer.

In the model railroad world you get what you pay for and it varies on how serious you are or it's something to keep the kids entertained.

To make a long story short. These trains are best for starting out but the prices can be brought down a bit.

We were disappointed......
I purchased this train set for my son for Christmas. The details on the cars, tracks and extras were beautiful and the quality of the set as a whole was great! But....it was SO frustrating to operate. You have to have the cars lined up EXACTLY on the track to make them move. When my husband was having trouble lining up the two sets of wheels on one car to get it to go, I knew we were in trouble. When we finally had things moving, we added a few cars - they fell off around the corners going only at medium speed. Great quality, Poor performance is my rating.

Christmas morning disappointment
I purchased this train for my two sons who wanted nothing else but an electic train set for Christmas. What a disappointment. The lifts for the track do not securely fit into the underside of the tracks which results in the lifts slipping out from under the track and the train falling off the tracks. After attempting to rig up a way to secure the track, we set up the train. The engine arrived broken. The electrical component was loose and was sticking outside of the train. We had to fix the train before we could use it. Each time the boys want to use the train, we have to spend much time rigging it in such a way so it will run. Once we get it going, we're lucky to get the train around the track one time without it falling off. I would NOT reccomend this train set.

best
one of the best train sets i have. it dosen't fall off the track or unhitch it's self or stops moving. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Little conductors will have loads of fun with this high-quality figure-eight railroad set from Thomas & Friends. Made of wood, the track features an elevated bridge in the center and a water tower where Thomas can re-fuel; the "water" rises and falls with flicks of the spout. Sir Topham Hatt and a red cargo car keep Thomas company. Other items in the 25-piece set include a railroad-crossing sign, a stop sign, and a tree. The instructions clearly diagram how to assemble the track. The box has a handle and makes a good carrying case. --Andy Boynton ... Read more