Reviews (3)

rear wing falls off
My son was SO excited to get this for his birthday. I put it together with ease.However the rear wing keeps falling off.It fell off within thefirst 5-10 minutes of EASY play.It does click back on but continues to fall off with ease.The front wheel has also come off.The ear muffs and hat do not fit the ground crew man very well.There are very cute mugs and juice boxes that store in the plane that are very easy to lose.One of the juice boxes is actually stuck in between the rear seat and the wall and we cannot get it out.Anyhow We did take the mugs and drinks away and have just been dealing with putting the wing and wheel back on. For the price I would think it should stay on much better.If I had the choice to get another one of these I would not.This was a gift and had I known it would fall apart this easy I would have returned it without opening it and gotten something different.

falls apart
My son recieved this airplane as a gift because he loves airplanes.However much he liked it I didn't like it at all because he was constantly coming to me to put the wings back on or the tail or the door.It was very annoying and eventually the parts begain to come up missing.There are tiny little red squares that keep these parts on and they began to come up missing first.My son loved it but we had to throw it out because it was in pieces in the end with no way to put it back together.I won't buy this or any other playmobile products for this reason.

Sturdy, high quality and lots of fun!
This playmobil airplane is a really great toy. It is made out of high quality plastic, is easy to put together, and stays together (pretty well) during "enthusiastic" play. It comes with the two airline employees (pilot and steward/co-pilot) and the orange-vested tarmac agent. So funny! There are three little play cartons of juice, and four little cups for attending your customers (easy to lose), the tarmac agent has those yellow paddles and ear protectors for guiding the plane in for a landing. The plane has a side door that opens up but also the entire top comes off for easy passenger seating. There's an undercarriage storage area for any luggage that your passengers might carry.
My boy absolutely loves this airplane toy. He has gathered up a whole airport utilizing his Playmobil taxi, some generic helicopters and passengers from various other playsets (Lego, etc). I think the Playmobil Airport Security Screener set is in his near future (yes! I kid you not!). I am happy that he prefers imaginative play with this airplane than with his structured Hot Wheels playsets. A bit thumbs up!
... Read more

Editorial Review

While Thomas the Tank Engine and his various friends have been featured quite nicely in a variety of toys, games, stories, videos, books, and pajamas, it's as a train set that Thomas really makes the most sense. And this sprawling ensemble is certain to delight any Thomas fan. Measuring 62 by 90 inches when laid out in full, it features Thomas and several of his pals including Percy, Harold, Annie and Clarabel, Terrence, Trevor, and Cranky, all of whom are motorized. Tunnels, bridges, and houses add to the authenticity of the set as do three engine sheds positioned around a large turntable with directional switch. 26 pieces of road let you arrange the town according to the prescribed plan or design your own unique layout. --Charlie Williams ... 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

The name Tonka means "big 'n' chunky" to many people, and this dump truck doesn't disappoint. Even the plastic chassis and front end are sturdy, and the tipping truck bed--itself nearly a foot long--is a solid slab of yellow steel. The tires are almost 5 inches in diameter and can ride confidently over any random pile of lesser toys. This is not a vehicle with a great deal of sophistication--the truck bed tilts, and that's it--but it is one that encourages, and can take, a lot of rough use. Included with the truck are a sturdy plastic construction helmet with the Tonka logo and two tools, a shovel scoop and three-pronged rake. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Features

• Special Gift Pack includes:
• Tonka Mighty Dump Truck
• Construction Helmet
• Tools

Reviews (4)

Great toy!
This is such a great idea and wonderful addition to our Tonka collection. It is so cute and sparks such imagination for our toddler. You really cannot destroy these toys either - we've tried!

Hee hee... "Mighty Dump"...
Ya know, it's nice to see some things have hardly changed at all since my childhood days. Take this big guy for example: this classic Tonka dump truck still has the same look it did when I was zoomin' one through my sandbox almost two decades ago! I am a bit bummed that the undercarriage is now made of plastic-- a pretty tough plastic, fortunately-- but otherwise things have pretty much stayed the same over the years design-wise. Most of the cab and the dumper bed are still made of steel, and the exhaust stack is still rubberized for your young'un's safety. Then there's the thing that REALLY hasn't changed after all this time: the difficulty I have holding back snickers whenever I see or hear the words "mighty dump". And judging from the previous sentence, my filthy-minded reaction to certain out-of-context phrases hasn't changed all that much, either...

'Late

Tonka Tough
When my oldest daughter was two, we bought her a Tonka dump truck. She is a junior in high school now, and the truck has endured heavy play from two more of our children, not to mention those of neighbors and visiting relatives. It's moved hundreds if not thousands of loads of sand around the sandbox, not to mention carrying sticks, dolls and even kids up and down the driveway, across the basement and through the kitchen.

I am planning to buy one for my nieces for Christmas.

All Toys Should Be Made This Well
My son received this toy for his first Christmas and we have have been playing with it ever since. -- Two and a half years later, fast forward through his third birthday, and we still play with this even though some of the newer toys and gifts remain untouched and overlooked.

I think the reason why has to do with the freedom my son has to use his imagination and to use this in combination with other toys. Also the size and scale are delightfully easy for small hands, and just small enough to be independently carted out to the back yard to scoop up dirt or snow or whatever the New England seasons dish out. The color and finish looks as bright and shiny as ever and I imagine it will continue look good for years to come. -- And now, Tonka has added cool accessories to boot! Your little Bob the builder fan will be as enchanted as mine, I'm certain. -- The other thing, is that since the toy looks so great, requires no batteries, has really nothing to break, and makes no NOISE -- it is a favorite with the parents in this house as well. Makes a great gift for almost anybody. Grab one. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In this sweet and gentle amusement park themed play set from Matchbox, it seems like the cars are having just as much fun as the people have. After all, it's not often that cars get to go on a Ferris wheel or get shot out from a cannon to knock over pretend space aliens and win prizes. With bright colors and soft designs, it's a silly, non-violent toy option for younger kids. One car is included with this particular set but it's compatible with other Hero City gear from Matchbox, affording the possibility of creating a vast and sprawling Hero City empire. Three C batteries are required but not included. A DVD with two Hero City cartoons is included.  --Charlie Williams ... 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

Mighty is right! This Tonka crane, constructed of heavy-dutysteel and durable plastic, rides high on large, rugged tires.Realistically styled, it has a long, steel arm with a bucket attachedfor scooping up and relocating rocks or dirt. With its deep-cleatedtires and heavy-duty steel construction, this solid vehicle isguaranteed for life and built for endless hours of fun in the sandboxor yard. The bright-yellow cab section swivels, making it easy to steerthe crane to where the work is. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Great Christmas Gift
We gave this to our 5 year old grandson for Christmas and he was thrilled. When we left their house 3 days later, he was still thrilled with the crane. I love the metal that Tonka uses, the plastic trucks do not last with 5 year old twin boys. I recommend this crane for any little boys that enjoy Mighty Machines.

unsafe and frustrating
We got this for our 3-year-old son last Christmas, and he was thrilled with it. He played with it for about 5 minutes and was very frustrated because the arm would not stay in place, it kept crashing down no matter how securely kid (or parents) would try to set it in place. Unsafe for fingers or anyone in the way of the arm when it goes. We tried playing with it for a few days and ended up exchanging it for the excavator instead, which was a big disappointment -- this had been his very favorite thing under the tree. Extremely poor engineering on this one.

Doesn't do the Tonka name proud....
While it's not the cool all-metal stuff that I remember, I know my son enjoyed playing with this. At least UNTIL the lever that keeps the crane up broke. It's a shoddy piece of plastic wrapped by a thin tin shell. I'm very unhappy with this. And as for my son.. it's no fun seeing a 3-year-old cry...

A Fix For The String
I recently purchased the crane, excavator, front loader, etc... The very first time he tried to use it the bucket came off the string. He also has the mini one with the same problem. After you tie it back on put a bead of hot glue on both sides of the knot and press it between your fingers just before it hardens. Neither knot has slipped since! We just found a Tonka track bulldozer that my husband played with 30 years ago and it still works! My son has added it to his fleet. I'm confident these will be around for his kids too!!

Simple and Tough, it will be long life toy.
I bought the crane for my son. He is almost 3y old. This crane is his favorite one and so tough against play at out door ground. (I am not satisfied at just 2 points. 1st one is the stripe on the body. It is not paint but paper seal, weak for wash. 2nd one is spring at baggage. It will be too strong for younger children. ) I also love it because of simple and tough concept. I would like to collect other items for construction role play with my son. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

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

Reviews (4)

Mom of a car lover
My three year old loves all these cars. He takes them everywhere. Not sure I can give more stars to education - not sure what they can do educationally

hot wheels are the [stuff]
i highly recommend this gift to anyone into hotwheels if it wasnt for my godson i would have kept it for myself i think this kids gonna [be very happy] when he unwraps this gift because he loves hot wheels hes going to be 2 years old and he can already tell real hotwheels for [look alike] matchbox cars and other nockoff brand hot wheels is the original and people should only buy hotwheels because any other brand is [not as good]

Hot Wheels are cool for all ages !!!
Hey I am 21 years old and still collect and play with Hot Wheel cars. I have a huge collection of un opened cars but also I have a huge track set up in my shop where I spend most of my time playing with my opened cars when not working. I am always on the look out for new cars I have not got in my collection and I love your new 20 pack of cars. It Is a lot of super cars for only a great low price of under $25 Bucks that makes them a super steal for any age I already have 1 and plan to buy 2 more for myself and a few extra will make super Duper Christmas gifts for family and friends.I think Hot Wheels are for all ages because at times my dad breaks out his 1965 collection for some serious 1 on 1 competion on the track and he usually rocks. Hot Wheels are cool toys for all ages and I have seen many older people break out their child hood memories to play and play as they were kids in their earlier years having a lot of fun. Hot Wheels brings out the Kid in all of us I think That is why they are so cool !! GO HOT WHEELS!!!!

Classic, traditional, yet modern and sturdy
It might seem as if 20 cars is too much at once.

Days as a five year old were best filled with playing in complete abandon. The freedom proffered by youth needed only a few toys to complete the ever-present joy. A few toys which mattered included several tattered but friendly books, a truck or two, an odd shovel and bucket, and, the coup de grace, a Hot Wheels car. Mattel makes a track as well, but a well-made car could take a boy places. This set of 20 is what kindergartners drool over.

A boy has everything in this set: vehicles of all colors, a few truck varieties, some funny looking cars. There are plenty, and frankly, since a few will invariably wind up lost under the couch, eaten by the dog, and buried with other treasures in the garden, having 20 quickly becomes justified.

Why a Hot Wheels car? Because they are made with hard steel. They are painted with a slick color. They hold up to frequent tastings, sand grindings, dirt smearings and other nonsense that comes with power racing in a sandbox. Sticky chocolate wipes off with warm water, and grime comes out with a good spray under the faucet.

The wheels themselves have a bounce peculiar to a genuine Hot Wheels vehicle. That's how my brother and I made sure it had adequate fuel. Ten bounces should be enough, we figured, and usually, we were right.

I fully recommend the "Hot Wheels 20-Car Gift Pack."

Anthony Trendl ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This is a book review for Thomas & The School Trip for MFLP
This is a great MFLP book for Thomas friends old and new. My 3yr.old loves to hear the engines talk while playing the educational games. Thomas and his friends teach shapes, colors, opposittes, matching and problem solving while taking the children on a school trip. After each page is read aloud to your child,(ideally, your child will read along silently) he can explore Thomas's surroundings or choose to play a game. My son loves the games and seems to be appropriately challenged; not frustrated with the content. This is the first book we purchased outside of the MFLP w/ it's initial book. Even so, I think this will prove to be one of the better books.

Great educational toy for youngsters!
I initally bought the regular Leap Pad for my then 5 year old daughter last Christmas. She loves it! But then my 2 year old son started getting into hers, so we decided to get him the My First Leap Pad this past Christmas. He can't get enough of it. He plays with it at least 2-3 times a day, and he has actually learned from the toy. They think they are playing, but they are learning at the same time. I have owned quite a few Leap Frog Products, and every one has been great! I would not hesitate to buy any of Leap's products, they are all good investments in our children's future.

success
I really think the leap frog of thomas the tank engine is really educational. My son loves it and really is learning from it. He has come with new vocabulary everday. Thanks.

Not as authentic as the disney /nick jr theme books
My 2 1/2 year old loves the Pooh bear book for My First Leap Pad, and the Bear in the Big Blue house/Bob the Builder/Dora the Explorer for the regular leappad. Thats because, those include the several theme songs from the actual videos which he really enjoys. And the actual voices of the TV characters. This does not include the catchy Thomas the Tank engine music which is what he, as a toddler, really loves and associates with Thomas! He is usually singing one of the songs as he plays at his train table. The voices too are not Alec Baldwin or Carlin. So, despite featuring familiar characters, since the musical part of this book is on the whole, not very good, he prefers even the Rhyme book. .... the rhyme book for My First Leappad, is much better than the one for the regular Leappad.

a very worthy investment
My two-and-half years old boy loves this! Since we speak Mandarin Chinese at home, he does not learn much English from us. But I was pleasantly surprised that he learned a lot of English words a month after he started playing with this book. I now have all the other books for My First Pad since I am so impressed with its educational value. This is the best return I have gotten from money invested in toys. Now I am concentrating my toy money on Leapfrog stuffs. Thank you LeapFrog! ... Read more

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 (11)

Better than Thomas
Although my 3 year old loves Thomas on TV, for some reason he loves the James toy more than the Thomas one. The coal car is a big deal to him. His 18 month old brother loves it too. These toys withstand two boys playing with them better than any other I can find. I bought the tracks & engine at Christmas & they still play with it EVERY day!

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 and you 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.

JAMES IS GREAT!!!!!!!!
James is one of my favorite engines he is a big engine and the same length as duke edward and mike and he is in a lot of stories like james goes buzz buzz.

Best Investment I Have Ever Made
My 2 year old son loves his James. He likes him best because of the bright red color. His Thomas the Tank train set is the only toy he plays with period and he plays with it everyday. Other than Thomas Trains, he plays outside. When we have guests, he takes them all to play with his train set. To any first time buyer of Thomas trains you will notice the prices seem high for a toy of this size but you have to remember that these toys are not plastic but are made of solid maple and have a lifetime warranty. People have asked me why I buy these trains when they most of the set is not battery powered. The reason is because it has been my experience that children get pretty bored just watching a train go around a track. With Thomas the Tank Trains your little loved one gets to actually participate by moving the trains. All the trains have different colors, numbers and names which help promote memory skills and recognition while having fun. The Thomas Tank Engine books and DVD's teach lessons and morals on hard work, kindness, accepting responsibility, etc, etc, etc...... As your child ages they can begin to build their own track layouts so the toy grows with them. The makers of this series have also included items in the series that are good for people with a tighter budget. If your child likes the trains but you can't buy a full track set, you can always buy a play mat that has track printed on them or you can get Thomas the Tank engine felt boards and stick-ups. I hope this review helps!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great trucks, and a great value!
These trucks are the perfect size for my three year-old construction fanatic. The "mighty" Tonka trucks are too big for him, the "jr. basic" Tonka trucks are too small for him (though they were excellent for him in the sandbox a year ago), and the "jr. force" Tonka trucks are too flimsy for working in our tough Oklahoma dirt! These trucks have a steel body and plastic wheels and accents. The description does not contain their dimensions, so here they are...the grader is roughly 17Lx8Wx7H, and the dump truck is roughly 14Lx6Wx7H. The price is excellent, the quality is very good, and my son loves them! What a deal! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I love this set it is wayyyyy cooler than slimecano.
I realy love this play set. It has a launcher, a swamp beast that trys to knock the cars out of the track and, a hyperpod vehicle that is used to defeat the swamp beast. On this playset the car has to keep going around the track until the way to the swamp beast is open. when its open the car goes to the hyperpod vehicle then the hypervod vehicle goes defeat the swamp beast. You have only 30 seconds to defeat him. each time you defeat him he takes out 2 seconds off your time and when you lose he puts 2 more seconds. Buy 2 alkaline batteries they work the best on this set. thats what it said on the box of the set. I think this set is very cool because


1. It has a very fast launcher.
2. I like the hypervod vehicle
3.you have to keep going around the track and watch out for the swamp beast's arms they will knock the car out the track.

4. you can connect other sets into it if you like.
5. You have 30 seconds to defeat the swamp beast.
6.I like how the track is designed.
7.It is very durable.
8.It is very fun trying to defeat the swamp beast.
9. I like the phrases the swamp beast says.
10. you can push the switch down so the car can go to other places on the track.
I don't realy like slimecano it is very messy because of the slime.

THE SWAMP BEAST PLAYSET IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this playset. On the playset theres one booster a swamp beast with two arms trying to hit the car out of the track and you have 30 seconds to defeat him. Each time you defeat him he takes away 2 seconds and when you lose he puts 2 more seconds. I would recommend this item to anyone who likes hotwheels playsets

Way cooler than Slimecano!!!
We returned the Slimecano (see the 1-star rating it got) and bought this as a replacement for our 5-year old son. This is the Hot Wheels I remember! Plastic, snap-together tracks, motorized accelerators for propulsion, fast, high-banked turns. This product actually works the way it portrays on the box. The beast's arms really go up and down and sometimes knock the car off the track. The beast's voice is neat, it sounds like a swamp beast should (think Pirate's "argh!"). I really like the timer on it, you only have 30 seconds to "defeat the beast" which means complete enough laps to trigger the upper loop diverter so your car goes on the inner track, hitting the "hyper pod attack vehicle" which provides the car with enough mass to knock the trigger and causing the head to pop off. If you win the beast knocks 2 seconds off your time (lose and add 2) and starts another round. The victory sound effects are pretty cool, too. All in all I like this toy, it's definitely worth the $24 we paid for it. ... 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 (9)

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.

Perfect
This huge toy is loved by many; you can roll it around, make a train, play games, and lots of other stuff with it.

Also, it is very durable.

This toy is great!

Here Comes the Express!!
Gordon is the large express engine. He's bigger than the other Thomas the Tank Engine toys. His bright blue paint and smiling face make him a joy to play with. My son just recently got Gordon, and he has quickly become one of his favorites. He likes to attach all of his other cars to Gordon and have him pull them. As with other trains in this family, Gordon is strong and durable and will provide hours of fun, interactive play. Pick Gordon up today for your child; they will thank you for it.

Great toys from a wonderful set of stories.
My 2 1/2 year old son loves the Thomas and Friends trains (and all trains in general). He received a starter set for his second birthday, and since then I've added a number of track expansions, cars, buildings, and a couple of storage boxes to his set. He now has so much that we've filled a large Rubbermaid plastic storage box. His train set is easily his favorite toy; his large collection of "Little People" toys from Fisher-Price are now a distant second.

They have been very durable, surviving many accidental falls off the coffee table in our living room, (now officially the "Train Table"), suffering only a few minor dings and some chips in the paint. (I reduced my rating for durability by a star because of the tendency of the paint to chip from a fall, but we have a hardwood floor, however a vinyl floor, and certainly a carpet, may not cause this.) Even with my son's vigorous, energetic play, not one car, or piece of track has broken in almost two years now of frequent play. The only exception to this is our "Wellsworth Station", where the internal mechanism that moves the passenger and sets the stop sign finally failed, although this was due to my son's zealous pounding on the tower of the station which engages the mechanism. The tracks and buildings are solid wood, very durable, and seem like they will last for years. With the exception of this one failure, all of the parts have been exceptionally durable.

These toys have been wonderful for my son, helping his imagination and creativity, his learning to sequence and order things, the properties of objects as he puts pieces of track together, and using numbers in learning the characters and building trains for playing out his ideas. Many of the buildings have a mechanical action feature that indirectly teaches him about mechanics and physics, such as when he plays with the turntable, Cranky the Crane, or the Coal loader.

We have the new 'improved' track with rails on one side and road on the other, allowing us many options in building tracks and roads for play. We cover our table with a large piece of brown felt, and use other small pieces of different shapes and colors to add roads, fields and crops, mountains, lakes, and rivers to our scenarios. This adds a great deal of extra depth and possibilities to our play, and more opportunities for imagination, creativity, and learning. Playing out scenarios from the stories and inventing our own has provided us many, many hours of quality time together as Dad and son. I feel good knowing that I'm buying good quality toys for him that will last and provide a constructive and positive learning environment, rather than the typical lousy and cheap plastic action figures that glorify conflict and violence. I especially like it when we play out scenarios from the stories that have morals about cooperation, friendship, responsibility, and hard work, etc.

I would not recommend these toys for a child less than 2 years of age as they require more developmental ability than even an older infant possesses, but they are perfect for toddlers. The individual toys and buildings themselves have age ratings on them, varying between 2 to 3+ years, making it easy to pick ones appropriate for your child, and allowing the toy to grow and expand as your child does. As my son has developed new skills and abilities, I've been able to increase the complexity of the layouts we build, and in the choices I make in what new items to add to his set. From my experience with my son, even a small Thomas set and a little bit of imagination will go a long way with a child, and provide hours of good wholesome fun. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Every Fireman needs a Station
I purchased this Thomas Fire Station for my son last Christmas (age 5). He loves all his Thomas the train items and this Fire Station was icing on the cake for my little fireman. He enjoys setting up the track with his Fire Station. As his other engines/trains circle the track a fire surpisingly occurs, than here comes the Fire Engines to put out the fire. This is a must have accessory to add to your set, if you little man loves being a Fireman. At age 6 he is looking forward to Christams and adding more accessories/builings/track/engines to add to his collection. ... Read more