Yowza - how to start on the train set thing? School me!

[LCBMAX]

My 28 month old is ready for tracks, trains, crossing bars, drawbridges, etc.

We're not. And a quick google search has not enlightened me.

Preferences:

minimally commercial (not too much Thomas branding)
mostly wooden
compatible with other sets? brands?
technically within the range of 2 year old hand skills

If you've already learned how to do this thing, please teach me! This seems more confusing than birth plans so far.

[tarasattva]

Check Craig's List.

We ended up with several nice wooden sets (I think the trains are Thomas(?) but they are nice wooden sturdy trains my DD can easily use).

They are clearly used, but in decent working shape and nothing I would consider commercial about them.

I don't know that they are compatible w/ other types, but the lot we got was clearly several sets put together and frankly more than I can ever imagine needing.

[LCBMAX]

Yup, put a "want to buy" post on there last week - small town, no bites so far.

Would love to find some used, but the boy's so antsy, I'm willing to buy new, start small, and add on as things become available. So, are all the brands compatible with each other?

[SparklingGemini]

Yup. All the brands are compatible, M&D, Thomas, IKEA, Brio.

I was dead set against Thomas because of the commercialized aspect but also because they are EVERYWHERE and I didn't want to hear "Oh, look Mama! I need..." You know?

So, we went with Brio. I used to nanny and one of the first kids I cared for is 22 now and his Brio set is still in mint condition, leading me to believe they are definitely excellent quality!

We got a few of the starter sets(over a few holidays and here & there), some extra cars and then some generic track from a local hobby shop. Next on our list is a bridge or two and a train barn.

[just_lily]

We like Ikea. Not a lot of bells and whistles, but a good basic, sturdy set. My nearly 2yo loves them, and can put the tracks together herself. I can't justify spending $20 for a single Thomas engine when I can get a whole set at Ikea for less.

[butterfly_mommy]

We inherited a whole bunch of Thomas sets and trains and stuff. I was against Thomas because of the whole commercial thing. DS knows the train is called Thomas but he calls all of them Thomas there's green Thomas, silver Thomas, black Thomas, etc And besides the train table set up at our local toy store he never really notices Thomas around town. He has only seen the show about 4 times so this maybe why. They are nice tracks and trains but no nicer then the Plan tracks and trains and the Ikea stuff. DS likes all of them and has been playing with his trains and building his tracks since he was a year.

I scored a plan toys set at a second hand store for $15 It has some marker drawn on the track but DS doesn't mind.

I keep the plan toy set in it's box (I like that it has all the pieces and instructions for me) and all the Thomas and Ikea stuff together in a big bin and DS builds from there. He plays trains pretty much daily! He will ask for the plan trains if he wants to play with that.

[Nicole730]

We have the Melissa and Doug, Figure 8 Set and The 45 piece Drawbridge Set and I love, love, love them! We don't do Thomas here, but I would get a Thomas train at a rummage or for a really good price, DS wouldn't know the difference. It is soooo much fun to set up the tracks! I ended up finding more pieces on Craigslist and they fit with our set, I'm not sure of the brand. This is by far the most used toy and my favorite one too.